Conservation Corner Houston Zoo Exceeds Centennial Campaign Fundraising Goal, Pledges $5 Million to Wildlife Conservation Projects

By: Jackie Wallace HoustonZoo.org

As appreciative supporters of nature and wildlife, we at Houston PetTalk want to promote education and conservation of the world’s animal population. Each month we bring you information on conservation efforts that are of special interest or have some connection to Houston through the Houston Zoo. This issue, we highlight a look the zoo's Centennial Campaign success. Look for other upcoming conservation stories so that you too can help save a species.

The Houston Zoo’s centennial fundraising campaign “Keeping Our World Wild” has 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.

The Houston Zoo is dedicated to education, conservation, and the well-being of all its animal residents and has pledged to devote $5 million from the campaign to support wildlife conservation projects related to the new exhibits, in Texas and beyond. To date, the campaign has secured 1,001 gifts totaling $151,693,153.32 from 707 donors.

In celebration of this achievement, the Houston Zoo is pleased to announce the opening date for its new Galápagos Islands exhibit, Friday, April 7.

"We are deeply grateful for the exceptional support we have received during our centennial campaign," stated Lee Ehmke, President and CEO of the Houston Zoo. "The opening of our Galápagos Islands exhibit will be a momentous occasion, and we are excited to introduce these remarkable animals and places they represent to the community. It is our hope that this exhibit will inspire visitors to learn more about conservation and the vital role the Zoo plays in protecting these species for future generations."

The Zoo is happy to introduce some of the new animal residents moving into the exhibit. The Zoo’s colony of California sea lions will grow from five to nine sea lions. The four new female sea lions come from a California rescue facility. Seven additional tortoises will join the Zoo’s three resident tortoises. Two black-tip reef sharks, three bonnethead sharks and a green sea turtle will highlight the stunning 270,000-gallon One Ocean aquarium at the center of the Galápagos Islands complex. A colony of 15 Humboldt penguins will make the trip to the Bayou City from several zoos and aquariums around the country.

Animals native to the Galápagos Islands are strictly protected and because of this status, closely related species will stand in for their protected counterpart in the Zoo’s new habitat. By experiencing these animals up close, guests will gain an appreciation of their connection to our shared ocean and how we can all help protect animals in the wild.

The funds raised through the centennial campaign will be utilized to support the construction of new exhibits and the care and protection of animals at the Zoo and in the wild. So far, the campaign has contributed to the opening of The Hamill Foundation Black Bear Exhibit, Cypress Circle Café, Kathrine G. McGovern Texas Wetlands, a renovated orangutan exhibit, and the award-winning South America's Pantanal. After the Galápagos Islands exhibit opens, the Zoo will begin a complete transformation of its bird facilities into a state-of-the-art Birds of the World exhibit complex.