If it screeches, squeaks, snorts, roars, buzzes, barks, snarls, clucks, coos, howls, chirps, quacks, hisses, hoots or honks, chances are you’ll probably find it living at the Dallas Zoo.
Founded in 1888, the Dallas Zoo is a local landmark positioned on 106 lush acres. Easily accessible, it is Texas’s oldest and largest zoological park, located just three miles south of downtown.
What are the Zoo’s most popular exhibits? “It’s difficult to identify since each guest creates their own zoo experience,” says Kari Streiber, VP of Marketing and Communications.
For example: The Wilds of Africa exhibit is popular and includes elephants, giraffes, hippos, gorillas, chimpanzees, and lions. Giants of the Savanna was the first habitat in North America that allowed for elephants to mix with species such as giraffes, zebras, and ostriches—and boasts breathtaking views. In ZooNorth, you’ll find maned wolves along with tigers, otters, and small primates. The indoor Herpetarium offers a dramatic eye-to-eye experience with snakes, lizards, and other reptiles.
The Dallas Zoo also engages with animals in many unique ways—from giraffe and tortoise feedings to the Bird Landing and Forest Aviary for interactive experiences; learning about ambassador animals at the Wild Encounters stage; and watching the Wonders of the Wild wildlife show unfold before your very eyes.
And just how much annual funding is required to run the zoo? “The short answer is...a lot,” Streiber says. “We don’t use an exact number. How do you put a value on the time and expertise our zoological, medical, and nutrition teams put in every day?”
Hard costs vary from $100 a day to feed African painted dogs to more than $100,000 for medical supplies to manage a collection.
In addition, signature children’s programs include Wild Adventure Camps scheduled throughout the year and the DFW area’s only full-day Wild Earth Preschool. There are also Take Action programs, community service trash pickup opportunities, and the ultra-popular Safari Nights summertime concert series.
“Our Animal Adventures Outreach features ambassadors and animals working in the community for firsthand experiences,” Streiber says.
Backstage Safari on Saturdays is for families to experience special encounters with the most popular animals. “Plus, you can symbolically Adopt-An-Animal,” Streiber adds, “which is an imaginative treat for birthdays, or a special gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.”
And the zoo also offers fascinating spring and summer activities as well as exhilarating fall and winter programs such as Zoo Lights. “We recently returned from the monarch wintering grounds in Mexico, for instance,” Streiber says. “And we’ll be adding more to the mix later this year.”
And there are more upcoming plans for the zoo as well. The area’s development includes construction of an exciting new Southern Gateway deck park. “We’re moving toward reinvigorating a master plan that we tabled in spring 2020,” Streiber explains. “It lays out new exhibits and changes to the zoo over the next 10 to 15 years.”
Giants of the Savanna was the first habitat in North America that allowed for elephants to mix with species such as giraffes, zebras, and ostriches.
Children’s programs include Wild Adventure Camps scheduled throughout the year and the DFW area’s only full-day Wild Earth Preschool.