For millennia mountain lions have lived like phantoms inhabiting forbidding terrain across North and South America. To the surprise of most people these amazing apex predators receive no protection in Texas outside of protected areas like National and State Parks. They can be hunted and killed on private lands any day of the year. Texans…
Month: October 2022
Zoo Spotlight: tawny frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides Least Concern Size: 13-21″ long Habitat: forests and woodlands, scrub and savannas At the Zoo: Asia Forest Nocturnal Exhibit Most people when they see our Tawny Frogmouth think at first that they are seeing some kind of owl. Although they are related to owls they are more closely related to nighthawks…
The power of an image
One of the most important things we do as humans is look at pictures. Here at the Zoo people are taking pictures all the time to help preserve memories and share their experiences with family and friends. Oftentimes I talk to people about how so many of my life long dreams have come true and…
This week is National Wolf Awareness Week
National Wolf Awareness Week is a time to celebrate the wolf and its unique place in the animal kingdom, and learn more about their threatened place in the natural world today. Inspired by a large new wolf sculpture located at the entrance of the Zoo’s new $16-million Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit, the El Paso Zoo has…
New species of wild squirrel moves into the Zoo
Over the past century El Paso Zoo visitors have enjoyed seeing not only all kinds of animals from around the world, but both native and exotic species that thrive on Zoo grounds where ever they can find the habitat they need to survive. Birds like pigeons and Great-tailed Crackles are two of the most obvious…
Meet Olivia the opossum
Olivia, the Virginia opossum, is one of 70 different wildlife species living behind the scenes at the Zoo as part of our Education Animal collection. Education animals are featured in up close and personal animal encounters where staff and volunteers tell their stories during informal programs in the Wildlife Amphitheater (weekends at 1:30pm) and as…
Mixed species exhibits at the Zoo
The two-toed sloth of the rainforests of Central and South America lives in one of the most biodiverse habitats on earth. Here at the Zoo watch for our sloth in the South American Pavilion. A number of animals in other parts of the Zoo live in these same forests including jaguars that we have in…
Governments addressing climate change
by Robert D. Vines PE, C.P.M. Note – Robert is on the Board of Directors of the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition, one of the Zoo’s most important education partners. The most important, but most difficult action required to save our planet, is that every country must embrace the science leading to climate change and commit to…
Conservation Education 