Animal Facts
Scientific Name
Gorilla gorilla
Range
Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon
Location in the Zoo
African Forest
Cool Animal Fact
Gorillas have unique nose prints and fingerprints. Scientists use nose prints to identify gorillas in the wild.
How We Help Save Them
- The Houston Zoo’s annual cell phone recycling challenge recycled 1,544 devices, reducing the need to mine for materials in gorilla habitat.
- The Zoo provides veterinary and education training, equipment, and support for our African gorilla conservation partners (see below).
- The Zoo provides support for African gorilla conservation veterinarians from Gorilla Doctors to performed routine health checks and medical interventions on gorillas in the wild. They remove snares and/or providing medications to improve the health of the wild gorilla groups.
How You Can Help
Donate now to help save gorillas in the wild.
Gorilla Habitat Cam
Gorilla Encounter
Step into our treehouse and get a up close view into our gorilla’s world. Spend time feeding and interacting with our great apes all while learning about how our global partners are protecting gorillas in the wild.
During this experience you will:
- Go behind the scenes at our Gorilla Treehouse
- Have an opportunity to feed our Gorillas using a special port that is built into the wall
- Interact with Zookeepers and hear stories about our amazing Gorilla family
- Note: All interactions with Gorillas happen behind a plexiglass window
Required: All guests must properly wear a mask during the entire animal experience for the safety of our other guests, staff and animals.
$125 Member/$150 Non-member (per person)
On Sale Through December 2026
Encounter Details
- All day Zoo admission included for you to explore the Zoo before and after your Animal Encounter.
- This encounter is for all ages. If you have someone under the age of 13, an adult will need to be registered with them.
- This encounter is limited to just six people per encounter. If you have fewer than six in your party, you may be joined by other registrants, not to exceed the six persons total.
- For the safety and well-being of our animal residents, there is no flash photography allowed in this area.
Accessibility:
- Walking and standing for 45 minutes
- Ability to go up and down stairs, hand rails available
- Elevator available if needed
- Wheelchair accessible
We are a Zoo for All; if you have an accommodation request, please contact us at education@houstonzoo.org or at 713-533-6739
Our Conservation Partners
How We Help Them
- The Zoo provides support for Rwandan children to plant native plants around areas where gorillas live.
- The Zoo provides support for Rwandan students to participate in weekly programs that increased their understanding of wildlife and gorillas and how wildlife can benefit the local community.
- The Zoo provides support for lambs, latrines, and fuel-saving cooking stoves to be donated to schoolchildren families from CHT classes, providing families with an alternative source of income and decreasing the need to harvest resources from Virunga National Park.
How You Can Help
Recycle your old handheld electronic devices, such as cell phones, as these devices contain a material called tantalum that is mined in gorilla habitat.
Donate to help gorillas in the wild:
How We Help Them
- The Zoo provides support for routine health checks performed on wild gorillas in Virunga, Volcanoes, Mgahinga, Bwindi Impenetrable, and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks.
- The Zoo provides support for African veterinarians to perform 39 interventions to remove snares and/or provide antibiotics for wild gorillas suffering from respiratory and other illnesses.
Gorilla News / More ›
Houston Zoo Mourns the Loss of Female Gorilla
Houston Zoo Animals Vaccinated Against COVID-19
