About the Exhibit

Covering an enormous three acres, the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat is a fun, naturalistic place to live and enjoy for the Zoo’s eight elephants. Watch young elephants Duncan and Tupelo splash around in their 80,000 gallon pool, while a shaded, 200-seat demonstration area is a great place to see keeper talks from our elephant care team. You can even see inside the 7,000 square foot elephant barn, where elephants are given daily baths (be sure to check the keeper chat schedule for times!). Since adult males and females live apart in the wild, you’ll see the same living arrangement here at the Zoo: our females are in one yard with their calves, while our older male, Thai, and younger Tucker enjoy space to themselves.

Elephant News

Elephant Habitat Doubling in 2017

Pack a trunk, it’s moving day for three of the Houston Zoo’s male elephants. Thailand (Thai), Tucker, and Baylor have taken residence in the newest addition at the Houston Zoo, a 6,500-square-foot barn custom-built to house the bull elephants.
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All About Elephants

Learn about elephants and our newest addition to our elephant family, Duncan. One of our keepers, Martina teaches us about the Houston Zoo elephant herd.

Elephant FAQ’s

• An elephant’s skin is so sensitive that it can feel a fly landing on it.
• Elephants use their trunks to drink but the water doesn’t go all the way up the trunk like a straw. Instead, the elephant sucks water part way up the trunk, curls it toward its mouth, tilts its head up, and lets the water pour in.
• Elephants have been relentlessly hunted for their tusks, even though the tusks are made of dentine–the same as our teeth!

Did You Know?

An elephant pregnancy lasts longer than any other mammal at nearly 22 months!