Houston Zoo Inc

TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH ANIMALS, INSPIRING ACTION TO SAVE WILDLIFE.

SEE SCHEDULE OHOUSTON ZOO, INC. IS ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA), AMERICA'S LEADING ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION FOR ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. AZA ACCREDITS ONLY THOSE INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL AND VETERINARY CARE, SAFETY PRACTICES, EDUCATION, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE.HZI IS ONE OF 241 AZA-ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS -- ESSENTIAL TO ACCOMPLISHING ITS MISSION TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH ANIMALS AND INSPIRE ACTION TO SAVE WILDLIFE. HZI ACHIEVES THIS GUIDED BY THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES: 1) BE A ZOO FOR ALL; 2) PROVIDE EXEMPLARY ANIMAL CARE, ASSURING OUTSTANDING ANIMAL WELFARE; 3) DELIVER A SMART, FUN, INSPIRING GUEST EXPERIENCE; 4) BE THE LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESOURCE IN TEXAS; 5) INSPIRE BROAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND COLLABORATIONS; 6) CHANGE BEHAVIORS TO HELP PROTECT WILDLIFE; 7) CREATE A WORKPLACE CULTURE THAT EMBODIES RESPECT, EMPOWERMENT, TEAMWORK, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT; 8) EMPLOY BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES AND SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT; 9) ENSURE SAFETY FOR GUESTS, STAFF AND THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE; AND 10) OPERATE SUSTAINABLY AND SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS.HZI'S ANIMAL COLLECTION IS AMONG THE LARGEST AND MOST WELL-ROUNDED IN THE NATION, PROVIDING OUR GUESTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY AND LEARN ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE NATURAL WORLD. HZI'S VETERINARY TEAM IS ALSO AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION RESPONSIBLE FOR AN AMBITIOUS PREVENTIVE MEDICINE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES ROUTINE HEALTH EXAMS, VACCINATIONS, AND ONGOING HEALTH SURVEILLANCE. HZI IS RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO SAVE WILDLIFE, INCLUDING SEVERAL TEXAS NATIVE SPECIES SUCH AS ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE CHICKEN, HOUSTON TOAD, WHOOPING CRANE AND KEMP RIDLEY SEA TURTLE.AFTER A YEAR OF CHALLENGES DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHERE HZI DEMONSTRATED ITS RESILIENCE TO ADVERSITY, COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND DETERMINATION TO PRESERVE CAPITAL, DURING 2021, HZI WAS ABLE TO METHODICALLY RETURN TO MORE NORMALIZED OPERATIONS, GRADUALLY REINVIGORATING ONSITE PROGRAMS, REENGAGING VOLUNTEERS EAGER TO RETURN TO ONSITE ACTIVITIES, AND REINVENT SPECIAL EVENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, HZI RETAINED THE MOST SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. HZI OBTAINED FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE FORM OF A SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATING GRANT AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDITS IN ADDITION TO ANIMAL PROGRAM FEDERAL FUNDING. HZI'S CENTENNIAL MASTER PLAN, A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT TO CONSTRUCT CONSERVATION-MINDED, MULTI-SPECIES EXHIBITS FOR THE PUBLIC AND MAKE CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS 100-YEAR-OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, OVERCAME PANDEMIC-RELATED CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES TO COMPLETE THE SOUTH AMERICAN PANTANAL EXHIBIT. THIS IMMERSIVE, 4.5-ACRE PROJECT (OPENED IN OCTOBER 2020) HIGHLIGHTS THE EXTRAORDINARY BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST FRESHWATER WETLAND WITH MULTIPLE EXHIBITS, FEATURING JAGUARS, GIANT ANTEATERS, GIANT RIVER OTTERS, ANACONDAS, AND MORE, WITH A FOCUS ON CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE PANTANAL AND HZI'S MULTI-YEAR SUPPORT OF THOSE PROGRAMS.UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HZI ALSO IMPLEMENTED WIDE-RANGING PROTOCOLS TO MITIGATE COVID-19 TRANSMISSION BY PROTECTING GUESTS, STAFF AND ANIMALS. MEASURES INCLUDED TIMED TICKET ENTRY, CONTACTLESS TRANSACTIONS, HAND SANITIZER THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS, PHYSICAL DISTANCE SIGNAGE, MASKING INDOORS AND MUCH MORE. IN KEEPING WITH ITS MISSION TO BE A "ZOO FOR ALL", THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF ZOO ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO CLOSELY MATCH THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S POPULATION. HZI TAKES PRIDE IN ITS VITAL PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UTILIZING TRADITIONAL MARKETING MEDIUMS (TELEVISION, PRINT, RADIO, OUTDOOR) AS WELL AS DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THOUGH ATTENDANCE WAS LIMITED DUE TO PANDEMIC-RELATED CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS, ALMOST 25% OF GUESTS VISITED THE ZOO FREE OF CHARGE OR AT A HEAVILY DISCOUNTED PRICE THROUGH HZI'S MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO ENSURE ALL HOUSTONIANS, REGARDLESS OF MEANS, HAVE ACCESS. LONE STAR CARDHOLDING GUESTS COULD BRING 2 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN FOR $6 EACH (A 70% DISCOUNT OFF REGULAR PRICE), AND MILITARY ID HOLDING GUESTS COULD BRING UP TO 2 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN AT A 50% DISCOUNT. 197,797 LONE STAR CARD AND MILITARY ID HOLDING GUESTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS. IN 2010 HZI ELIMINATED ITS ORIGINAL FREE DAYS IN FAVOR OF MONTHLY FREE TUESDAYS TO ELIMINATE PROBLEMS CREATED FOR THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AS TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK ON THOSE DAYS ADVERSELY AFFECTED EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY ROOMS. WITH THIS PROGRAM, GUESTS NOW HAVE 12 OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND THE ZOO FOR FREE OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. DURING 2021, HZI PROVIDED FREE ADMISSION TO 214,196 GUESTS, MAINLY DURING OUR MONTHLY FREE TUESDAY DAY. TOTAL GATE ATTENDANCE WAS 1,648,420 AND OUR ZOO LIGHTS CELEBRATION ACCOUNTED FOR 261,411 GUESTS DURING 2021. HZI COMMUNITY SUPPORT CONSISTS OF ADULT VOLUNTEER, JUNIOR LEAGUE, AND MASTER NATURALIST VOLUNTEER HOURS. IN 2021, 313 ADULT VOLUNTEERS DONATED 18,946 HOURS TO HZI BY PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES FROM ANIMAL CARE AND HORTICULTURE TO ADMINISTRATION, EVENT SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND CONSERVATION. VOLUNTEERS KEPT 188 LBS OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TAKE ACTION AT HOME CHALLENGES, WHICH PROVED AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO BE ON GROUNDS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

SEE SCHEDULE OHZI'S WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS A CRITICAL MISSION COMPONENT AND CONNECTS COMMUNITIES WITH ANIMALS TO INSPIRE WILDLIFE-SAVING ACTION. IN 2021, HZI'S WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROGRAM SUPPORTED 27 PARTNERSHIPS PROTECTING WILDLIFE IN 16 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, AFRICA, AND ASIA. REGIONALLY, HZI WORKED WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE AND HABITAT RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION MEASURES. REINTRODUCTION PROGRAMS FOR THE ENDANGERED HOUSTON TOAD INCLUDED A NEARLY 1 MILLION TOAD EGG RELEASE IN BASTROP COUNTY WITH USFWS AND TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS. WORK TO REINTRODUCE TEXAS'S MOST CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BIRD, THE ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE CHICKEN, BACK INTO ITS NATIVE HABITAT CONTINUED AT THE ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE CHICKEN NATIONAL REFUGE IN SEALY, TX. AND 2021 MARKED HZI'S FIFTH YEAR OF SUPPORT FOR WHOOPING CRANE RECOVERY ALONG THE CENTRAL TEXAS COAST. EFFORTS INCLUDE HABITAT PROTECTION ALONG WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS. ALL HZI CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON LONG-TERM CLOSE WORKING PARTNERSHIPS AND INCLUDE HABITAT PROTECTION ALONG WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS TO CREATE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE IMPACT. LOCAL PARTNERS INCLUDE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, NOAA MARINE FISHERIES, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT GALVESTON, ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS, GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION, ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE CHICKEN NATIONAL REFUGE, NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND MANY OTHERS.INTERNATIONALLY, HZI'S CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON CRITICAL REGIONS AND SPECIES LINKED TO THE ANIMALS IN ITS COLLECTION. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADING CONSERVATIONISTS, ORGANIZATIONS, ZOOS, AND AQUARIUMS AROUND THE WORLD. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HZI'S PARTNERS AND ITS COLLECTION IS TYPIFIED BY THE PANTANAL EXHIBIT'S FOCUS ON EFFORTS IN BRAZIL TO PROTECT KEY SPECIES SUCH AS TAPIRS, GIANT ANTEATERS, GIANT OTTERS, AND JAGUARS. BY EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING THIS CONNECTION, ZOO GUESTS CAN SEE THE PURCHASE OF THEIR ADMISSION AND MEMBERSHIPS AS CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR WILDLIFE ACROSS THE GLOBE. ANOTHER MAJOR FOCUS IS DIRECTED AT REDUCING THREATS TO WILDLIFE AFFECTED BY PLASTIC POLLUTION.

SEE SCHEDULE O THE HOUSTON ZOO'S CONSERVATION EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AIMS TO IGNITE IN ALL PEOPLE A PASSION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND CONSERVATION BY CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN GUESTS AND NATURE. FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES WITH LIVING PLANTS AND ANIMALS, LEADING TO INCREASED LEARNING. DURING 2021, THE ZOO'S CONSERVATION EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CONDUCTED INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS ON THE GROUNDS REACHING APPROXIMATELY 387,011 PARTICIPANTS. AFTER PIVOTING FROM IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING TO VIRTUAL LEARNING IN 2020, STAFF GRADUALLY SHIFTED TO A HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL MODEL IN 2021 AND PLANS FOR MORE IN-PERSON EXPERIENCES FOR TEENS, CAMPERS, FAMILIES, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD AUDIENCES IN 2022.THE ZOO'S CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFER A CONTINUUM OF LEARNING FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD INCLUDING FEE-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ON-SITE LIVE INTERPRETATION, ADULT VOLUNTEERS, AND INTERPRETIVE PLANNING. FEE-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE FAMILY PROGRAMS, EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, TEEN PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMP, AND OVERNIGHTS. CAMP ZOOFARI, A POPULAR SUMMER PROGRAM AT THE ZOO, PROVIDES AGES 6-14 WITH IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES LED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL CAMP GUIDES.CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM STATISTICS: TOTAL PERSONS SERVED: 399,786 (INCLUDES ONSITE GUEST INTERACTIONS BY STAFF, TEENS AND VOLUNTEER INTERPRETERS, PRE-SCHEDULE FEE-BASED PROGRAMMING)A KEY GUIDING PRINCIPLE AT HZI - TO OPERATE A "ZOO FOR ALL" - TRANSLATED TO 229 SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FREE WEEKLONG SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR NEED-BASED CHILDREN AGES 6-14. AND WHILE ALL SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO PANDEMIC-RELATED SCHOOL CLOSURES, HZI OFFERED FREE VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR HOUSTON-AREA SAVING WILDLIFE PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS PAID VIRTUAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS LOOKING TO SUPPLEMENT LEARNING OUTCOMES. OUR SAVING WILDLIFE SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDED OVER 1,331 STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDED 3 ZOO CREW TEEN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2021.