Introduction - The Fort Worth Zoo initially opened in 1909 with just an African lion, 2 bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits. The zoo was operated by the City of Fort Worth and later in 1939 by the Zoological Society. The zoo expanded in 1937 with the addition of Monkey Island, in 1949 the Sea Lion Pool, in 1960 the Serpentarium Exhibit, in 1970 the South American Mammal Exhibit, in 1980 with the Stork and Crane Exhibit and in 1990 with the Alligator Pool and Parrot Paradise Exhibits. In October 1991, the Fort Worth Zoological Association assumed management of the zoo under a contract with the city and the zoo expanded rapidly. In 1992 the World of Primates and Asian Falls, in 1993 the Raptor Canyon, Asian Rhino Ridge and an Education Center were added. In 1994 Flamingo Bay and a Komodo Dragon Exhibit were opened. In 1995 Insect City, in 1997 Meerkat Mound, in 1998 a Veterinary Center and in 1999 the Thundering Plains were added. The huge Texas Wild Exhibit featuring local wildlife exhibits and an entire frontier-era Texas Town was opened in 2001. In 2004 the Parrot Paradise display was opened, in 2005 the Great Barrier Reef Exhibit and in 2008 Penguin Bay were added. The original Serpentarium was replaced by the Museum of Living Art (MOLA) in 2010. The zoo is currently undergoing a major $100-million renovation to include an expanded African Savanna, an Elephant Springs viewing area, a new Hunters of Africa and Asian Predators Exhibit and a Forest and Jungle Animal Exhibit. New species will include the Clouded Leopard, African Wild Dogs, African Leopard and Okapis.

Fort Worth Zoo Current Exhibits:‍ ‍Current Zoo exhibits include: (1) Penguins Pool, (2) World of Primates, (3) Asian Falls, (4) Raptor Canyon, (5) Cheetahs, (6) Flamingo Bay, (7) Meerkat Mounds, (8) Australian Outback, (9) African Savanna, (10) Parrot Paradise, (11) Texas Wild and the (12) Museum of Living Art. ‍ ‍(1) Penguins Pool - This exhibit is home to a colony of African and Southern Rockhopper Penguins and includes a beach and underwater viewing area. (2) World of Primates - The World of Primates is 2.5 acres with both indoor and outdoor habitats. The indoor atrium is both a tropical rainforest and an aviary where visitors can observe several different bird species from around the world within the atrium and you can view Western Lowland Gorillas, Sumatran Orangutans, Mandrills, Baboons, and Northern White-Cheeked Baboons in both outdoor and indoor viewing areas. (3) Asian Falls - Opened in 1992, the open-fenced display area includes an Asian Elephant complex, an Indian Rhinoceroses display, and includes a White and Malayan Tiger, a pair of Striped Hyenas, a Sloth Bear and several Asian birds including White Napped Cranes and Lesser Birds-Of-Paradise. (4) Raptor Canyon - Raptor Canyon is an aviary that opened in 1993 and is home to Crowned Eagles, Andean Condors, Ereaux’s Eagle-Owls, King Vultures, Harpy Eagles, White-Backed and Palm-Nut Vultures. (5) Cheetahs - The Cheetah exhibit was opened in 1994 and includes Bongos, Warthogs, and Red River Hogs. Most of this exhibit has been closed with the opening of the new African Savanna, but one enclosure remains now containing Nile Lechwes and Black Crowned Cranes. (6) Flamingo Bay - Flamingo Bay is home to 70+ flamingos to include three species, the American, Chilean, and Lesser Flamingoes, with the latter two having successfully bred while in captivity. (7) Meerkat Mound - Opened in 1997, the display features an entire colony of social Meerkats viewed through a plexiglass wall or a bubble window which provide a bird’s-eye view of the colony. This exhibit will be relocated to the new African Savanna. (8) Australian Outback/Great Barrier Reef - Newly renovated, the Great Barrier Reef is home to Red Kangaroos and Tammar Wallabies and now includes a collection of Australian aquatics in three tanks each containing 10,000 gallons of water. Over 500 animals represent 86 species to include Clownfish, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Angelfish, Brain Coral, Moray Eels and Sea Apples. (9) African Savanna - The newly renovated African Savanna includes Reticulated Giraffes, Grant’s Zebras, Dama Gazelles, Lesser Kudus, Springboks, Ostrich, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Pink-Backed Pelicans and Helmeted Guineafowl viewed from an elevated boardwalk surrounding the area that allows supervised up-close giraffe feeding. There are Black Rhinos, an underwater Hippopotamus Pool, a Greater Flamingo Pond and a bird aviary. The Savanna still includes the Lion, Nubian Ibex and Bongo display areas; although, most have been temporarily relocated while new areas are being constructed. (10) Parrot Paradise - Opened in 2004, it is an enclosed free-flight aviary features Rosellas, Macaws, Cockatiels and Budgerigars that you can hand-feed purchased pellets. (11) Texas Wild - Texas Wild was opened in 2001 to display the various wildlife specifically native to Texas. The entry area includes an operating carousel with hand-painted ponies and an entire Texas Town, which includes a play barn, various curio shops and the Texas Hall of Wonders that introduces visitors to the rest of the exhibits. The High Plains and Prairies section represents the Panhandle and Northwestern areas of Texas, and it is home to Swift Foxes, Black-Footed Ferrets, Greater Roadrunners, Burrowing Owls and Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs. The Pinewoods and Swamps section represents East Texas and includes exhibits of Red Wolves, North American River Otters, American Alligators and Black Bears. The Gulf Coast section represents Southern Texas and the Delta Marshlands with an enclosed pond area featuring flocks of Roseate Spoonbills and American White and Brown Pelicans. The Brush Country section represents the wildlife habitats of Southern Texas to include Bobcats, Cougars, Coyotes, Jaguars, Ocelots, Ring-Tailed Cats and White-Nosed Coati. It also has a birds of prey aviary that includes Turkey Vultures, Red-Tailed Hawks and American Bald Eagles. The Mountains and Desert section completes the geographic tour of Texas with a mine shaft where visitors can view glass-enclosed displays of Bats, Dung Beetles, Texas Horned Lizards, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes and other creatures native to this area. (12) Museum of Living Art - The Museum of Living Art (MOLA) is a $19 million, 30,000 square-ft serpentarium built to replace the original serpentarium. The facility houses more than 5,000 wildlife representing more than 100 species to include a Saltwater Crocodile Pond, Aldabra Giant Tortoises, a Burmese Python display, Pig Nosed Turtles, Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins, Ring-Tailed Lemurs, Gharials, Chinese Giant Salamanders and a King Cobra. The Komodo Dragon display is being moved to a new indoor and outdoor exhibit area. The Fort Worth Zoo continues to expand and has become one of the most popular zoos in the United States. It is ranked among the top 10 zoos throughout the USA and logs more than a million+ visitors each year. (ref: http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Worth_Zoo).