After more than six decades of housing diverse wildlife, the Houston Zoo’s Carruth Natural Encounters building will close on March 23. Zoo officials announced that the closure is due to the aging infrastructure, which no longer meets the needs of its animals or guests’ expectations. The closure marks the end of an era for the exhibit, which has a rich history of memories that generations of guests have been introduced to.

The exhibit was originally built in 1962 for the Small Mammal House, the Carruth Natural Encounters Building has been a staple of the Houston Zoo ever since. In 2004 the Houston Zoo exhibit had underwent major renovations and was renamed to better reflect its immersive, multi-species habitats.

Home to a diverse array of animals—including meerkats, moon jellyfish, naked mole rats, Asian small-clawed otters, red-bellied piranhas, and white-faced saki monkeys—the exhibit has been a longtime favorite among visitors.

An official statement from the Houston Zoo stated, “While this decision wasn’t easy, it reflects our commitment to providing the best care for our animals and creating exceptional experiences for our visitors,”.

As the Carruth Natural Encounters building inches closer to its official closing date, the animals once housed inside will be relocated to other areas of the Houston Zoo or transferred to other reputable institutions. So far, the only confirmed animals to be moved are the cheetah and their female Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, who will find a new home in the zoo’s South America’s Pantanal exhibit. While the indoor space is set to close, the outdoor meerkat exhibit connected to the building will stay open for guests to enjoy.

Zoo officials have yet to provide any details on what may replace the building or if renovations are planned for the site. While the future of the space remains uncertain, the zoo’s commitment to conservation and education guarantees that new opportunities for the Carruth Natural Encounters building lie ahead.