Dallas Zoo

Founded in 1888, the Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest zoological institution in Texas, and also the first zoo anywhere in the Southwest. It began with only two mountain lions and two deer in City Park. The Zoo's current location includes more than a hundred acres, with over 2,000 animals representing more than 400 species. Although the City of Dallas owns the Zoo, the site is privately managed in a successful public-private partnership. Some of the Zoo's major exhibit displays include Giants of the Savannah, Wilds of Africa, The Children's Zoo, and Zoo North, which includes a Herpetarium, a reptile and amphibian house. Zoo North also has an aviary called "Wings of Wonder," an Otter Outpost, and a Tiger Viewing Building.

Located three miles south of downtown, the Dallas Zoo was established in 1888 when the Dallas City Council purchased two mountain lions and two deer from a private seller in Colorado. After paying sixty dollars for the animals and then shipping them to Dallas, they were placed in an enclosure in City Park. Over time, more animals were added, and the Zoo remained at that site until 1910, when it relocated to Fair Park. In 1912, the Zoo moved again, this time to the 36-acre Marsalis Park, acquired by the city a few years earlier. From there, the Zoo launched its first science programs and exhibits, with a new commission set up by the city to oversee the acquisition of artifacts. During the 1930s, many of the Zoo's structures were built or updated through projects funded by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA).

By 1966, over 500 different species of animals were on display. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the Zoo added a new focus on breeding animals in captivity. Through these efforts, it sought to boost the population of certain endangered species. Attitudes towards animal captivity began to shift around this time, and many Zoos began to evaluate their mission more critically. In the 1980s, the Dallas Zoo moved further towards an emphasis on science and the humane treatment of animals. Permanent exhibits included Wilds of Africa and Giants of the Savannah, as well as a Chimpanzee Forest and an endangered tiger habitat, which opened in the 1990s. In 2009, the Dallas City Council transferred the management of the site to the Dallas Zoological Society, which was founded in 1955. With the advent of new technologies, in 2015, the Zoo opened a Jurassic-themed exhibit featuring more than twenty animatronic dinosaurs.

The Zoo also hosts summer camps, student field trips, and a Wild Earth Preschool Program that encourages nature-based play and mindfulness. Programs and activities for all ages include a "Backstage Safari," a behind-the-scenes, 90-minute tour. All proceeds from this program benefit the Zoo's wildlife conservation efforts. Participants have the opportunity to feed apples to an African elephant, spend time with a hippopotamus and a giraffe, and attend a "Wild Encounters" show led by wildlife staff at Camp Okapi. The Backstage Safari includes opportunities to observe or interact with a wide range of animals, such as ground hornbills (birds), tamanduas (a type of Anteater), and land tortoises (always a crowd favorite). Along with the wildlife encounters, participants receive a souvenir badge and a free digital photo to document their experience.

About, Dallas Zoo. Accessed April 25th, 2023. https://www.dallaszoo.com/about-us.

Dallas Zoo (Marsalis Park), Dallas City Hall. Accessed April 25th, 2023. https://dallascityhall.com/government/citysecretary/archives/Pages/Archives_1995-035.aspx.

Dallas Zoo History, Zippia. Accessed April 25th, 2023. https://www.zippia.com/dallas-zoo-careers-810522/history/.

Map of the Zoo, Dallas Zoo. Accessed April 25th, 2023. https://www.dallaszoo.com/plan-your-visit/map-of-the-zoo/.