Date opened 1966 No. of animals 1100 Opened 1966 | Land area 16 acres (6.5 ha) No. of species >250 | |
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Location 2070 Zoo Ln
Abilene, Texas, USA Annual visitors 224,805(2013)
226,919(2014) Address 2070 Zoo Ln, Abilene, TX 79602, USA Hours Open today · 9AM–5PMTuesday9AM–5PMWednesday9AM–5PMThursday(Texas Independence Day)9AM–5PMHours might differFriday9AM–5PMSaturday9AM–5PMSunday9AM–5PMMonday9AM–5PM Similar The Grace Museum, Caldwell Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo, Frontier Texas!, Paramount Theatre Profiles | ||
Making memories at the abilene zoo
The Abilene Zoological Gardens is a small 16-acre (6.5 ha) zoo located in Abilene, Texas. The zoo has over 1,000 animals representing over 250 species. Attendance for 2013 was 224,000.
Contents
Abilene zoo has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1985. The zoo participates in the AZA Reciprocal Admissions Program, allowing members to obtain free or reduced admissions at many other American zoos.
The zoo is primarily funded by the City of Abilene and the Abilene Zoological Society.
History
In 1985, the zoo first received accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
In 2006, $1.1 million was raised through a bond issue for zoo improvements. This bond funded converting part of the Discovery Center into the Creepy Crawly Center, expansions to the giraffe exhibit and the parking lot, and creating a South American Trails exhibit, the Wetlands Boardwalk, and the Elm Creek Backyard exhibit.
In 2007, one of the zoos elephants died at age 49 amidst some controversy over conditions for the elephants at the zoo, and the other was sent to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas. The elephant exhibit was then turned into an exhibit for black rhinoceroses. The new $3.7 million Adventure Center (visitor services, administration, and education, all privately funded) and the new Creepy Crawler Center were also opened in 2007.
In 2008, the zoo saw the opening of the maned wolf exhibit, which was initially home to a mother and son acquired from the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center in Eureka, Missouri.
In June 2009, the zoo received an 8 year old white Bengal tiger named Havar from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida. The 325 pound male tiger went on display 2 June 2009. Also in 2009, the Elm Creek Backyard exhibit was completed with funds from the 2006 bond issue plus a $525,000 grant from the Grover Nelson Foundation. In 2013, a new Caribbean Cove section opened, featuring exotic birds, reptiles, and mammals from Caribbean countries.
In March 2009, extension of the AZA accreditation for the zoo was tabled. In November, the majority of the issues had been addressed, including the lack of adequate veterinary and quarantine facilities. In March 2010, the zoo's accreditation was extended through 2014. In March 2014, the AZA once granted accreditation without any reservations.
Exhibits
The Giraffe Habitat includes a bridge crossing over it which allows visitors to pet and feed the giraffes. Construction has begun on a new $3.8 million Giraffe Safari exhibit, set to open in April 2016. The new exhibit will double the size of the old habitat, and will include the zoo's new male giraffe and two females.
The Reptile House is the zoo's herpetarium, opened in December 2007 in what was part of the Discovery Center. The exhibit was designed and built by the zoo's management and staff, and contains 50 naturalistic exhibits with 80 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Also part of the Discovery center, the Tropical Aviary is a climate controlled indoor aviary that is home to the zoos tropical birds. The zoo also has Outdoor Aviaries and Bird Gardens which house other birds in its possession.
The Elm Creek Backyard, completed in 2009, houses species native to the Elm Creek area of Texas, including cougars, coyotes, porcupines, raccoons, bobcats, ringtails, armadillos, skunks, and river otters, as well as a some birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
The Wetlands Boardwalk is an elevated boardwalk that lets visitors get a close look at animals that inhabit the wetlands exhibits at the zoo. The various wetlands exhibits are home to a variety of wetland dwellers including alligators, flamingos, waterfowl, and Attwater's prairie chicken.
Other facilities
The Adventure Center, which opened in 2007, is a 12,000-square-foot (1,115 m2) complex that includes admissions, customer relations, and a gift shop, as well as administrative offices and classrooms that can hold up to 150 people.
The future
The current master plan, developed by Wichita, Kansas-based WDM Architects for the zoo, includes an Africa project, to be built on 24 acres (9.7 ha) of undeveloped zoo property to the North of the current zoo at an estimated cost of $20 million.
Construction has begun on a new Giraffe Safari exhibit at the heart of the zoo. The new exhibit will include a large feeding deck to allow guests to interact with the animals. The larger space allowed for the acquisition of a bull giraffe in October 2014. He will be on exhibit with two females in spring 2016, when the new exhibit opens.