‘Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!’ What you should know before heading back to the Houston Zoo

HOUSTON – The Houston Zoo is reopening to the public Wednesday after being closed since March 14 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Now that the state has slowly started to open back up, zoo officials decided it was time to let visitors back in, with new procedures.

Zoo officials said new protocols are in place to help keep visitors safe.

Here’s what you should know.

  • There will now be timed ticketing for all entries, meaning you can only go in at your designated time.
  • Online tickets are required for all visitors. Anyone without an online reservation will not be allowed in.
  • There will also be touchless transactions and staff members will be required to wear masks.
  • Visitors will also be highly encouraged to wear face coverings or masks to help keep the animals, staff and other visitors safe.
  • Interactive experiences such as the giraffe feedings and the Wildlife Carousel will remain temporarily closed.
  • The zoo has also implemented one-way paths to minimize contact between people.
  • Workers will be focused on disinfecting highly touched areas.
  • There will be limited food options.

There are three time slots available for visitors: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. All tickets will give visitors free access to the Dragons exhibit.

Click here for more information about the zoo’s reopening plans or to buy tickets.


About the Author:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.