Community Impact Report
2023
Houston Zoo
Community Impact Report
The Houston Zoo is a leading conservation and education nonprofit providing care to thousands of animals and is one of the most highly attended zoos in the country. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the world’s preeminent professional organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums.
Houston Zoo, Inc (HZI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established when the City of Houston contracted to transfer operational responsibility in 2002. Since then, HZI has invested over $380 million of private sector funds for capital improvements to the Zoo, which remains the property of the City of Houston. HZI has a Maintenance Reserve Fund of $14.1 million, and annually invests approximately $25 million in exhibit and facilities improvements. The City of Houston pays HZI an annual management fee, as specified in the 50-year lease entered into in 2002.
The Zoo is governed by a 35-member Board of Directors, including seven positions appointed by the Mayor.
MISSION
Connect communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.
VISION
Be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife.
STAFF 2023
full-time VOLUNTEERS
hours in 2023 ANIMALS 5k + in our care
part-time seasonal GUESTS
million in 2023 ESTABLISHED 1922
397
602 38,670
55
2.1
FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
Thanks to the commitment and confidence of the City of Houston and its leaders, the Houston Zoo receives steady support from the City based on its 50-Year Lease and Services Agreement. These funds are critical to leveraging the Zoo’s ability to maintain the 100-year old City-owned facility, sustain growth, and remain accessible.
Capital Investment
$380,000,000 in improvements funded privately with earned and contributed revenue since 2002
2023 Operating Revenue
$69,799,000
16% City management fee
ECONOMIC IMPACT
$310,411,534
Through steady increases in guest engagement, visitation, employment levels, construction and business activity, a deep-rooted culture of conservation, and great community events, the Houston Zoo has become an economic engine and cultural icon for Houston. to the Houston area economy in 2023
The Zoo is a cherished destination for Houston’s diverse communities who come to experience our incredible animals and ecosystems.
GUESTS
2.1 M in 2023
LONE STAR CARD
169,085 guests in 2023
FREE DAYS
57,762 guests in 2023
66% of guests received free or reduced-priced admission in 2023
HISPANIC OR LATINO ASIAN AFRICAN AMERICAN WHITE OTHER 40.2% 41% 6.7% 5.9% 6.2% 17.4% 34.1% 38.6% 8.1% 1.8% Greater Houston* Houston Zoo Visitor Demographics
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), U.S. Census Bureau, 2021
*Source:
ZOO FOR ALL
EDUCATION
Field trips to the Zoo are free to all schools in the Houston city limits; in 2023 more than 66,231 students attended the Zoo free of charge.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
579,270 participants in 2023
FIELD TRIPS
70,208 students in 2023 (paid and free)
2023 HIGHLIGHTS
REDUCING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
The Zoo’s journey to phase out single-use plastics isn’t over. This year, we replaced our plastic popcorn bags with compostable bio-based packaging.
RECYCLED IN 2023
12 tons of paper
3 tons of plastic
36 tons of metal
68 tons of cardboard
SUSTAINABILITY ANIMAL CARE
5 tons of glass
1,276 cell phones and electronics
2 tons of holiday lights
Animals at the Zoo receive the highest quality of care. Many are vulnerable, threatened, or endangered in the wild. These animals serve as “ambassadors,” helping to inform guests and inspire action to save their wild counterparts.
SAVING WILDLIFE
The Zoo is dedicated to supporting wildlife conservation efforts and education programs around the world that empower local people to take action to save wildlife. In 2023 the Zoo contributed $3,799,081 to these conservation efforts.
COMPOSTING
The Zoo’s largest waste stream is organic waste, mostly produced by the elephant herd. In 2023, the Zoo composted more than 1,000 tons of elephant manure, landscape trimmings, and food scraps.
37 metric tons of emissions prevented
490,000 kWh of electricity saved
1,100 mature trees conserved
566,000 gallons of water saved
2,500 cubic yards of Zoo waste diverted from landfills
5,428 animals in our care
33 wildlife conservation projects
17 countries
2023 HOUSTON ZOO HIGHLIGHTS
Galápagos Islands Opens
Opened in April 2023, the Zoo’s newest exhibit, Galápagos Islands, is the first major exhibit of its kind to showcase the remarkable wildlife of the legendary island chain. From California sea lions and Galápagos tortoises to our One Ocean aquarium and a Zoo first – Humboldt penguins, this exhibit immerses guests in an environment evoking the archipelago’s unique landscapes and oceanic habitats.
Saving Texas Wildlife
Every time you visit the Zoo, you’re helping us save native Texas wildlife as part of the Zoo’s wildlife-saving efforts that take place behind the scenes. In 2023 the Zoo provided medical care and support for 43 injured or stranded wild sea turtles, released 47 Attwater’s prairie chickens back into the wild, and released into the wild 1,288,800 Houston toad eggs, 1,000 tadpoles, and 1,372 toadlets.
Madagascar Ibis Chick Hatched
The Houston Zoo welcomed its first ever Malagasy sacred ibis chick on September 3. This marks the first time the endangered species has successfully hatched in a North American zoo.
Taipei Zoo Friendship
First Northern White-Cheeked Gibbon Born
On May 30, a male northern white-cheeked gibbon, named Marv, was born to first-time parents Ting and Max. Northern whitecheeked gibbons are native to southeast Asia, Vietnam and southern China and are critically endangered in the wild.
In October, Houston Zoo traveled to Taipei, Taiwan to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Taipei Zoo. This ceremonial letter of friendship was created to establish a sister-zoo relationship with one of Southeast Asia’s top zoos.
Zoo Ball Raised over $2 million
On October 21, Zoo Ball 2023 – A Starry Night in the Galápagos presented by Phillips 66 raised vital funds for Houston Zoo. At the black-tie gala, a crowd of more than 740 Houstonians were welcomed to Houston Zoo’s Galápagos Islands and raised more than $2 million to support the Zoo at the sold-out event.
Houston Zoo Exceeds Centennial Campaign Goal
The Houston Zoo’s “Keeping Our World Wild” centennial fundraising campaign efforts exceeded the targeted goal of $150 million. This accomplishment is a testament to the generous support of the community and is a significant milestone in the Zoo’s history.
Wattled Curassow Chick
Father’s Day had a special meaning in 2023 for our wattled curassows, as a rare, wattled curassow chick hatched. This was the first time in almost 30 years that a wattled curassow hatchling is being raised by its parents.
The Houston Zoo has proudly printed this report on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based inks.