Blue and Yellow Macaw Ara araraunaStatus: Least Concern, numbers decreasing in the wildSize: Up to 35″ long and up to 2 poundsHabitat: Forests and savannasAt the Zoo: Exhibit between America’s Aviary and Spider Monkeys The tail of a macaw is extremely long to help offset the weight of its beak so that it does not…
Month: June 2021
Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Bighorn Sheep Update
These rare specters are still surviving, perhaps even thriving, since their release in 2018 into the lowlands of the Sacramento Mountains near Alamogordo, New Mexico (90 miles north of El Paso). Forty desert bighorn sheep were released by the New Mexico Game and Fish to reintroduce this native species back into its original habitat. Since…
Wolf pups are a joy to see
by Rick LoBello, Education Curator This week we discovered that our wolves have gone down under. They have dug a large den big enough for all seven of them along the back side of their habitat. Are they beating the heat by staying a good part of the day underground or are they being especially…
Zoo Spotlight: Aruba Island rattlesnake
Aruba Island Rattlesnake Crotalus unicolor Status: Critically Endangered. Size: Can grow up to 35” long and weigh up to 2.2 pounds. Habitat: Thornscrub and desert habitats. At the Zoo: Reptile House. The Aruba rattlesnake is critically endangered and is one of the rarest snakes in the world. They are found only on Aruba Island southwest…
Zoo Spotlight: Eastern Screech Owl
Eastern Screech Owl Megascops Asio Status: Least Concerned. Size: Up to 9.8 inches. Habitat: Farmland, suburban landscapes, great plains and areas on the Eastern United States with plenty of tree coverage. At the Zoo: Ranch House Area near Coati Exhibit. The Eastern Screech Owl is a common hardy owl that is found in the United…
Why do we have African painted dogs?
Distant relatives of the wolf and the domestic dog, African painted dogs live in highly cooperative groups called packs. Like predators everywhere they play an important role in helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem by removing old, injured or sick prey leaving more food for the survival and success of healthy prey animals. Predators also help slow…
Chihuahuan Desert Plants: Honey Mesquite
If you are looking to plant some native trees that grow fast, large, provide lots of shade and require very little water, then seriously consider planting honey mesquite. Here at the Zoo we have quite a few trees growing in the parking lot and along various walkways. When we designed the new front entrance to…
The worst drought in 20 years!
With little relief in sight drought conditions this month across the western US are at record levels with the hottest days and months ahead. Zoo staff are taking special precautions to make sure our animals are safe. Some animals are kept indoors when it gets too hot and during the day many are given frozen…
Critically endangered wolf pups born at the El Paso Zoo
Are the stars aligned for the return of the wolf to Texas? In many cultures the stars and planets play a major role in predicting the future of humans and their world. Could the stars be aligning for the return of the wolf to Texas? Here is a quick look at some interesting developments. (1)…
Why do we have endangered Thick-billed Parrots?
A little over 200 species of animals live at the El Paso Zoo from all parts of the world including North and South America, Asia and Africa. Why did we choose to have Thick-billed Parrots instead of some other bird species and what do most people do when they see them? It’s a good question…
Chihuahuan Desert Plants: Red Yucca
The red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) is a succulent plant of the Chihuahuan Desert. It is also called the hummingbird yucca because its flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds. A member of the Agave Family (century plants), it is actually not a yucca and is sometimes called the red flowering false yucca. Flower stalks can reach…
Animal enrichment: a top priority at the Zoo
Providing animals with enrichment is a top priority at the El Paso Zoo. Enrichment is a term that zoos use to describe any exhibit feature or daily activity provided by zoo keepers to help create opportunities for animals to exhibit natural behaviors. Every day our keepers spend time training our animals as part of their…
Reading about wildlife is critical to conservation
If you have never seen a polar bear in the wild or in a zoo and want to experience one in a way much different from watching a video on YouTube or a nature program on TV, then try this. Find a great book about polar bears and let the experiences of another person help…
Conservation Education 