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San Antonio Zoo

Coordinates: 29°27′53″N 98°28′19″W / 29.4648°N 98.4719°W / 29.4648; -98.4719
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(Redirected from Richard Friedrich Aquarium)

San Antonio Zoo
San Antonio Zoo logo
Zoo entrance
Map
29°27′53″N 98°28′19″W / 29.4648°N 98.4719°W / 29.4648; -98.4719
Date openedMay 3, 1914; 110 years ago (1914-05-03)
Location3903 N. St. Mary's Street
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Land area57 acres (23 ha)[1]
No. of animals3,500+
No. of species750
Annual visitors1.1 million+[1]
MembershipsAZA,[2] ZAA[3]
Public transit access
Viva Trolley #11
Websitesazoo.org

The San Antonio Zoo is a 57-acre (23 ha) zoo located in Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Texas, United States. It is home to over 750 species, some of which are endangered or extinct in the wild, and has an annual attendance of more than 1 million.[4][5] The zoo also hosts the Richard Friedrich Aquarium, which opened in 1948.[6] It was the only aquarium in the city until SeaWorld San Antonio opened in 1988.[citation needed] It also runs non-animal attractions, such as the San Antonio Zoo Train, which first opened in 1956.[7]

Description

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The San Antonio Zoo spans 57 acres (23 ha) in Brackenridge Park, located in the city's Midtown area. It is accredited through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)[2] and the Zoological Association of America (ZAA).[3]

Exhibits and other buildings

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Several refreshment outlets, including Crossroads Café, are available at the San Antonio Zoo.
Desert plant and terrain exhibit at the San Antonio Zoo

Monkey House and Commissary

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Monkey House/Commissary (San Antonio Zoo)
Coordinates29°27′45.9″N 98°28′24.5″W / 29.462750°N 98.473472°W / 29.462750; -98.473472
Built1937 (1937)
ArchitectAdams & Adams
Architectural styleSpanish Revival
MPSHistoric Buildings and Structures of the San Antonio Zoo
NRHP reference No.100010141
Added to NRHPApril 4, 2024

The Monkey House and Commissary at the San Antonio Zoo was built between 1935 and 1937. It was designed by San Antonio architecture firm Adams & Adams in the Spanish Revival style. Throughout the decades, it has variably served as an animal commissary, veterinary office, staff offices, and the zoo's monkey house. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on April 4, 2024, for its architectural value.[8] The building and surrounding plaza were renovated in 2023 ahead of the NRHP nomination, and the structure itself was converted into concessions and restrooms.[9]

San Antonio Zoo Train

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The San Antonio Zoo Train (4-2-4T locomotive pictured, since retired) carries visitors throughout Brackenridge Park.

The San Antonio Zoo Train, formerly the Brackenridge Eagle, is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge miniature train that connects the zoo to various points of interest within Brackenridge Park. The railway opened in 1956 and had 1 million passengers during its first two years of operation.[7]

History

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Opening

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What is now known as the San Antonio Zoo began in 1914 when George Washington Brackenridge, one of the city's leading citizens, placed several animals, including bison, deer, monkeys, African lions, and bears, on land he had deeded to the city. The land became Brackenridge Park and Golf Course.[4]

The San Antonio Zoo opened two of the first cageless exhibits in the United States in November 1929 that offered visitors views of the animals not available in caged exhibits. The Richard Friedrich Aquarium was dedicated in 1948, and the Hixon Bird House, funded through the efforts of Frederick C. Hixon, opened in 1966.[4]

The San Antonio Zoo housed the first herd of addra gazelle in captivity in 1969 and continues to be active in the breeding program for the critically endangered species. Due to the former hoofstock quarantine point in San Antonio, the San Antonio Zoo has historically had a wide variety of hoofstock species.

The Great (Little) Train Robbery

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On July 18, 1970, two bandits held up the Brackenridge Eagle at gunpoint and robbed its passengers. Some passengers initially believed it was a stunt for a charity fundraiser. The robbers fled the scene with $500 ($3,923 in 2023), as well as car keys, checkbooks, and other valuables.[10] Ten days later, two soldiers from Fort Sam Houston, James R. Brown and Paul E. Smith, were apprehended for the crime. Both were discharged from the U.S. Army and later convicted; Smith was sentenced to 20 years and Brown to 10 years.[11][12] Dubbed "the Great (Little) Train Robbery", this holdup has remained the last train robbery in Texas.[12][13]

21st century

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Phase I of Africa Live!, which opened in 2008, brought a new exhibit for hippos with underwater viewing area and one for new Nile crocodiles as well as many other smaller animals. Phase II contains Angolan colobus monkeys, okapi, African hunting dogs, rock hyrax, and various species of birds contained in the second largest aviary in the world. The zoo opened Phase II of Africa Live! in 2010.[4]

On June 18, 2013, a two-headed Texas river cooter turtle hatched. The turtle was named Thelma and Louise after the 1991 film.[14] Thelma and Louise died on July 29, 2014, from unknown causes.[15]

Josh the African lion was permanently transferred to the Birmingham Zoo in April 2022 as part of the AZA's Species Survival Plan.[16]

The zoo began construction of its new gorilla habitat, Congo Falls, in 2023. The zoo's previous gorilla habitat closed with the relocation of its last gorilla to the National Zoo in 1990.[17] The 2-acre (0.81 ha) exhibit is scheduled to open in late 2025.[18]

In October 2024, San Antonio Zoo opened its expanded African habitat, the Naylor Savanna, which greatly increased exhibit space for African species and included a new giraffe barn. Upon its opening, the new habitat was the largest in the zoo's history.[19][20] The Spekboom Lodge, situated in the middle of the giraffe habitat, opened as a space for guests to rent a night in the zoo on November 1, 2024.[21]

Conservation

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The Center for Conservation and Research at the San Antonio Zoo is involved in breeding a number of endangered species including black rhino, leopard, golden lion tamarin, dama gazelle, Attwater's prairie chicken (housed and bred off-exhibit), black mangabey, African lion, black-footed ferret, Komodo dragon, Andean condor, and Caribbean flamingos.

The zoo is also involved in the conservation of the Texas horned lizard through its Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project, breeding and then releasing the animals back into their native habitat.[22] The project runs in collaboration with several organizations, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Zoo Miami.[23] As of 2024, the center had released 258 individuals into the wild.[24]

Incidents

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In 1992, a zookeeper, Jubal Cox, was tossed by an Asian elephant and received fatal injuries. The zoo launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and decided not to euthanize the elephant. Cox's death was the first in the zoo's history.[25] This incident marked the end of elephant rides at the zoo.[4]

Species

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The San Antonio Zoo is home to over 3,500 animals belonging to 750 species.[5]

Mammals

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Lemur at the San Antonio Zoo

Birds

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Secretarybird at the San Antonio Zoo

Reptiles

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Komodo dragon exhibit
Gharials at the San Antonio Zoo

Amphibians

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Zoo Facts: San Antonio Zoo". sazoo-aq.org. San Antonio Zoo. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Accredited Facilities". Zoological Association of America. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Jakle, Jeanne (April 26, 2015). "S.A. Zoo less circus-like, more real". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "About Us".
  6. ^ "Exhibits at the San Antonio Zoo Archived 2009-01-30 at the Wayback Machine." San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium. Retrieved on January 15, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Zoo Train". San Antonio Zoo. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  8. ^ Biediger, Shari (August 2, 2023). "Zoo's Monkey House and East Side warehouse approved for historic status". San Antonio Report. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. ^ Biediger, Shari (April 20, 2023). "San Antonio Zoo is (not) monkeying around with its new entrance plans". San Antonio Report. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  10. ^ Mendoza, Madalyn (July 18, 2019). "Almost 50 years ago, the miniature Brackenridge Eagle train was robbed at gunpoint". San Antonio News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  11. ^ "50 Year Anniversary: The Story Of The Brackenridge Eagle Zoo Train Robbery". WOAI. July 17, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Biediger, Shari (July 18, 2020). "Zoo train passengers relive 'ambush,' this time for a good cause". San Antonio Report. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  13. ^ Morgan, Jack (July 11, 2020). "50 Years Ago, There Was A Great Little Train Robbery In San Antonio". Texas Public Radio. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. ^ Groden, Claire (June 27, 2013). "The Two-Headed Turtle at the San Antonio Zoo". Time. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  15. ^ Cook, Joe (July 29, 2014). "San Antonio Zoo's two-headed turtle dies". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. ^ Koplowitz, Howard (June 13, 2022). "Birmingham Zoo welcomes Josh, new African lion, after large cat Kwanza dies of cancer". Birmingham Real-Time News. Alabama Media Group. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Bea (March 5, 2024). "San Antonio Zoo breaks ground on new gorilla habitat". Blooloop. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  18. ^ Drusch, Andrea (September 20, 2024). "San Antonio Zoo to use $500K from city's tree fund for gorilla enclosure". San Antonio Report. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  19. ^ "San Antonio Zoo unveils Naylor Savanna, doubling space for giraffes, rhinos and more". News 4 San Antonio. October 4, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  20. ^ Biediger, Shari (October 4, 2024). "Now you can spend the night and go on a safari at the San Antonio Zoo". San Antonio Report. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  21. ^ Powers, Halee; Acosta, Sarah (November 1, 2024). "San Antonio Zoo opens Spekboom Lodge for overnight stays". KSAT. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  22. ^ "Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project". San Antonio Zoo. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  23. ^ Morgan, Jack (August 28, 2024). "San Antonio program to re-introduce 'horny toads' in Texas gets a boost from Florida". Texas Public Radio. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  24. ^ "San Antonio Zoo's Landmark Release of Texas Horned Lizards Draws Global Support". Association of Zoos and Aquariums. October 21, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  25. ^ "Elephant rides halted after keeper is killed; animal is investigated". Austin American-Statesman. San Antonio. Associated Press. December 17, 1992. p. B6. Retrieved January 5, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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