The future looks brighter for the Houston Zoo than at any time in its 81 year history. Recently privatized and under new leadership, the Zoo prepares to meet the challenges and responsibilities of a twenty-first century zoo. Future exhibits will be habitat based presenting wildlife in naturalistic surroundings. Visitors will be immersed in a rich and interactive landscape, which will inspire them to care about conservation and the wise stewardship of our planet. Future Zoo exhibits will encourage care and compassion for all living things by changing people’s attitudes and values about wildlife and wild places.