Houston Zoo postpones 'First Free Tuesday' until Sept.

HOUSTON – The Houston Zoo has cancelled the First Free Tuesday afternoon policy until September.  

The Zoo says free admission on the first Tuesday of each month will now be held from September through May, from 2 p.m. until closing.

Due to safety and extreme traffic congestion, zoo officials altered their policy and canceled the June 4, July 2 and August 6 First Free Tuesday afternoons.

According to the Zoo's Facebook page, in the past the policy has brought out nearly 12,000 people during a three-hour period, which put the public and emergency responders at risk during the hot summer months.

The Zoo said it is not willing to put the safety of their guests at risk in order to provide free and discounted admission.

Read the Zoo's full statement on their Facebook page.