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Red Panda at the Houston Zoo
I was born in Chicago and lived at the Lincoln Park Zoo until I came to the Houston Zoo . I was expecting to see cowboys and horses when I got here. While that’s a part of Houston’s heritage for sure, there’s so much more. There are world-class museums, theaters and art galleries. And there’s the Orange Show and the Art Car Parade every year. The keepers told me the Zoo had an entry in this year’s parade.
My favorite exhibit at the Houston Zoo is the red panda exhibit of course, because it’s my home. What’s not to like about sky lights, a pool, a beautiful woodland mural on the wall, live plants, air conditioning and catered meals! Probably my next favorite is the new McNair Asian Elephant Habitat. The elephant barn has sliding glass doors so Zoo guests can see the elephants getting their bath every morning and talk to the elephant keepers.
I tell my fellow red pandas that Houston isn’t just about the oil business. Houston is also about culture and the arts. The Zoo is a part of the Houston Museum District which includes 17 museums in the heart of the city, some within walking distance of the Zoo. And the city has a rich history. For instance, the Houston Zoo had its origins in 1914 in what is now Sam Houston Park downtown and moved to Hermann Park in 1922. Two of the original exhibits from that time can still be seen here – the flamingo exhibit’s grotto, waterfall and faux wood trees and the vulture exhibit.
