Background Big Bend National Park was first officially proposed on February 16, 1935 when Texas Senator Morris Sheppard wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt suggesting a protected area of international scope in the Big Bend area. Roosevelt was a strong advocate for the proposal and before he died in 1945 he said in…
Month: January 2021
How we adjusted to Covid-19 – Join thousands across the country for our free program on February 3 !!!
by Sarah Murphy, Education Specialist Throughout the year, we have our regular busy seasons and slower seasons, but right as we were gearing up for the busy Spring Break and spring season at the Zoo, Covid-19 hit. 2020 was affected in many ways: the Zoo has now been closed for about 10 months (soon to…
Time to connect with polar bears
If you live in El Paso and have the ability and the time, you still have the opportunity this month and early February to head three hours north and indirectly connect with the Arctic, home to polar bears! I am not talking about a fast journey on a jet plane; I am talking about an…
How we can help monarch butterflies
Many people are alarmed at how our most recognizable species of butterfly, the monarch butterfly, is dramatically declining in many areas of the country. Butterfly watchers and scientists have been sounding the alarm for years and recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service completed a status review under the Endangered Species Act. In December 2020,…
Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Skunks
Last year I received a phone call from an old friend here in El Paso who wanted my help in keeping a skunk out of his garage. When I talked to him about his options I discovered that the problem was pretty easy to solve. As it turns out there were small openings from outside…
Zoo Spotlight: Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Status: Least Concern, numbers increasing. Size: 35–38 inch wingspan; 18–22 inches long and weighing 9.5–18.1 ounces. Habitat: Forest, Grassland, Wetlands (inland), Artificial/Terrestrial At the El Paso Zoo: Mixed species exhibit at the Malayan Tapir and Siamang Exhibits in Asia. The Cattle Egret often forages in agricultural areas. It is a member of the Heron…
Zoo Snapshot: Northern Tree Shrew
Northern Tree Shrew Tupaia belangeri Least Concern: Numbers stable. Size: From head to rump they measure 5-9 inches in length weighing 1.7 to 9.5 ounces. Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, shrub lands, agricultural area and gardens. At the El Paso Zoo: Inside the Asia Forest Nocturnal Exhibit. The northern tree shrew is a squirrel-like mammal that…
Chihuahuan Desert Plants: Skeleton-leaf Goldeneye
The skeleton-leaf goldeneye may be one of the best drought tolerant plants to landscape with in El Paso. This member of the sunflower family helps to add lots of color to your yard while attracting nectar loving butterflies, moths, bees and other insects. The seeds are important to small birds and the cover the plants…
Can we bring back the prairie dog to El Paso?
Most people who come to the Zoo know that we have prairie dogs. They have always been popular especially with the children who have been able to get up close and personal with these chubby little rodents by climbing under their exhibit and popping up through Plexiglas observation tubes. The black-tailed prairie dog at the…
The real cure for COVID is renewing our fractured relationship with the planet
Note: With permission we are reprinting this opinion piece first published last month in the Globe and Mail newspaper in Canada. The writers offer an interesting perspective about the current Covid-19 crisis not often told in the mainstream media. by James Maskalyk and Dave Courchene If humanity is to endure, the coming months must hold…
It’s hard to kill a prickly pear
Last year the Zoo was granted Botanical Garden status through the American Public Garden Association. Because of the El Paso Zoo’s dedication to maintaining a collection of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, conservation, and higher learning, this was a natural next step. The Zoo will continue our dedication not only to…
If you are not a birdwatcher you should be
If I had a word of advice for anyone wanting to enhance their quality of life, I would say without hesitation, learn to be a birdwatcher. I am so passionate about what I am saying here that I am even willing to teach anyone how to watch birds, as long as we can find a…
Zoo Snapshot: Scarlet Ibis
Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber Least Concern: Numbers decreasing. Size: They stand 2 feet tall and have a wingspan of 3 feet. Habitat: Swampy environments like mud flats and shallow bays. At the El Paso Zoo: Inside the Americas Aviary The Scarlet Ibis is found on the northern shores of South America including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, French…
Can we stop the sixth extinction?
The survival of endangered species like elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards and Mexican wolves, depends less upon what these animals do; it’s more about our willingness to be accommodating by letting them live in their habitats. A December 10th, 2020 IUCN report paints an alarming picture with just a glimmer of hope for one species, the…
Zoo Snapshot: White-nosed Coatimundi
White-nosed Coatimundi Nasua narica Status: Least Concern, numbers in the wild decreasing. Size: From nose to tail, they are between 2.5 to a little over 4 feet in length with their tail being almost the same length as their body. Habitat: Deserts, forests and grasslands. At the El Paso Zoo: Adjacent to the Ranch House…
How can you still “visit” the Zoo while it is closed?
Check out the video below to learn about our many fun, interactive and educational programs! Click here to watch the video. UPDATE: Please email ZooEducation@elpasotexas.gov with any questions. As of March 1st, 2021, the phone number listed in the video will not be monitored. If you need to reach someone by phone please call 915-217-4233.
What is happening with the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is a landmark environmental agreement that was adopted by nearly every nation on earth including the United States to address climate change and its negative impacts on our environment. The agreement calls on every nation to commit to cutting their climate-altering pollution and to strengthen those commitments over time. According to a recent United Nations Climate Change report, climate change…
Zoo Snapshot: Sumatran Orangutan
Sumatran Orangutan Pongo abelii Status: Critically Endangered, decreasing, wild population estimated at 13,846 individuals in 2016. Size: Adult females are about 3.5 feet tall weighing between 90-110 pounds. Adult males are about 4.5 feet tall weighing between 155-200 pounds.Habitat: Lowland tropical, mangrove, riparian and swamp rainforests on the island of Sumatra At the El Paso…
Conservation Education 