Thursday, January 23, 2025

Question: What was the first animal housed at the Houston Zoo?

Answer: A bison named Earl. When the zoo opened in 1922, it was little more than a tract of land enclosed by a fence in Hermann Park. The zoo acquired an elephant named Ellie a few years later. In 1947, a cougar named Shasta came to the zoo after the University of Houston selected the cat as its mascot. Today, the Houston Zoo covers 55 acres and houses over 6,000 animals.