Breeding and caring for endangered species help protect against extinction.A connection with animals inspires passion to protect and save them.Why Zoos Like the Gladys Porter Zoo are Important Click To Tweetīe sure to check out the video to see lots of these critters in action. They really seem to enjoy it! Have you ever touched a stingray? Visit the Stingray Landing Touch Tank at Russell Aquatic and Ecology Center. Have you ever touched a stingray? Another first for me in the Russell Aquatic and Ecology Center at the Stingray Landing Touch Tank. Several species of lemurs live at the zoo including the critically endangered red ruffed lemurs and black and white ruffed lemurs. The oldest members of the three-generation Western lowland gorilla family have lived at the zoo for more than 30 years. Clapping from the crowd got him swinging back and forth. He would actually come down to the end of the enclosure and pose when he saw someone pointing a camera in his direction. Oh, and the glorious flamingos! They are always so spectacular. The African crowned crane was always one of my favorite birds to photograph at the San Diego Zoo. This charming kookaburra seemed to enjoy posing for me. I have always fancied being a bit of a wanna-be birdwatcher so I love photographing the birds at the zoo. Did you know that a group of rhinos is called a crash? Meet Bebop, Julie and Abby at Gladys Porter Zoo. Be sure to watch the video below to see these guys (or girls) in action!ĭid you know that a group of rhinos is called a crash? Bebop, a 5-year-old male southern white rhino, arrived at the zoo in March of 2018 and was fully integrated with the resident females, Julie and Abby, in October. I walked by the exhibit on my way out and they were all sleeping so I was very lucky to see this playful display earlier in the day. Two of the rhinos put on quite a show for their small audience. It was a relatively cool day (78 degrees) and fairly windy so the animals were pretty active when I got there in the late morning. You can see more in my post about the Sacramento Zoo. Giraffes are one of my favorite animals to photograph. #giraffe #feedinggiraffes #giraffefeeding #myfirsttime #zoo #gladysporterzoo #brownsville #brownsvilletx #travelbloggerlife #travelblogging #GoldCountr圜owgirlĪ post shared by Gold Country Cowgirl ?✈️ on at 5:38pm PST This is the dominant male giraffe at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, but he was quite the gentleman. You would think that after more than two thirds of a century of traveling and visiting zoos, at some point I would have fed a giraffe. There is also a herpetarium, an aquatic center, a free-flight aviary, harbor seal exhibit, Komodo dragon exhibit, bear grottos and more. The zoo is divided into four regions: Africa, Asia, Tropical America and Indo-Australia. Gladys Porter Zoo is owned by the City of Brownsville and is operated by the Board of Directors of the Valley Zoological Society and has around 400,000 visitors annually. When Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville opened in 1971, it was one of the first zoos in the country without barred cages. The Gladys Porter Zoo has more than 1500 animals, representing nearly 400 species, and is known for its success in breeding endangered wildlife. This was always the best part to me at the San Diego Zoo. Most of the animals in this 28-acre zoo are displayed in open settings that are similar to their native habitats. The first thing that stood out for me when I was reading about the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville is that when it opened in 1971, it was one of the first zoos in the country without barred cages. There is a fair amount of parking, which costs $5 when you exit. The Gladys Porter Zoo is in the middle of town but easy to get to and easy to find. Visiting the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas I visit zoos, sanctuaries and animal parks whenever and wherever I can.

In my opinion, it has to be one of the best zoos in the world, so every zoo I visit has a lot to live up to. I grew up in southern California and visited the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park quite often. I’m going to tell you about the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, and the important work they do. So, if you feel strongly that animals should only exist in the wild until humans wipe them off the face of the earth, please just pass this post on by. I won’t apologize to anyone who doesn’t agree with me for feeling this way. I love being able to see animals I would never otherwise see in the wild and that may, in fact, not exist in the wild in the near future. Zoos may be a controversial issue for some but I absolutely love them and appreciate what they do.

Gladys porter zoo brownsville