San Antonio Zoo

The San Antonio Zoo is a wonderful place to visit for all ages. It has been open for about 94 years. The San Antonio Zoo was opened in 1914 by Colonel George W. Brackenridge, who placed buffalo, elk, deer, monkeys, a pair of lions, and four bears on land. In November 1929, America’s first cage less exhibits opened, which were the Bar less Bear terraces and the primate Paradise, for people to view. In 1948 the Friedrich Aquarium was dedicated to the zoo. In 1966 Hixon Birdhouse opened, which was made to look like a tropical rain forest with free-flying birds. The largest collection of birds is the one at the San Antonio Zoo. More than 3,500 animals have their home here. There are 750 different species of animals on 56 acres. During the year over 850,000 guests attend the San Antonio Zoo. Out of these guests 123,000 are children participating in education programs and 10,300 are children going on field trips.
There are about 11 different exhibits at the San Antonio Zoo; they are Africa Live, African Plains, Amazonia, Butterflies, Cranes of the World, Gibbon Forest, Hixon Birdhouse, Kronkosky’s Tiny Tot, Toadally, Lory Landing, and Prairie Chickens. Africa Live is the zoo’s newest exhibit at the zoo. It gives people a chance to travel to Africa through the zoo. This gives people a chance to see how the animals would live in their natural habitat. The animals in Arica Live are Nile hippopotamus’, African flower beetle, African bullfrog, emperor scorpion, African lungfish, dwarf crocodile, mud turtle, Nile crocodile, African rock python, green mambo, elephant shrew, banded Egyptian cobra, rhino viper, and gaboon viper. This has the animals that are mostly in the water or water based. Next is African Plains this has animals that live on land live on land like the ostriches, grevy’s zebra, giraffes African crowned cranes, white-faced whistling ducks, Thompson’s gazelles. This place has all these animals running free together and meets together for the common need of water. There is an elephant near the aardwolf which is like a hyena. The Amazonia has the New World monkeys, the pygmy marmoset, Hoffman’s sloth and spider monkeys. There are fish that can be fed. There are also giant anteaters and toucans that fly around. Other animals are large and small cats, like the jaguar, the ocelot, and venomous reptiles like the bushmaster, also cotton-topped tamarins, marmosets, capuchins, white-faced saki monkeys, armadillos, fish, birds such as macaws and giant Andean condor. Near and around are rare tropical plants. Near here is what they call the Twighlight where there are bats, three toed sloths, armadillos, monkeys, and a boa. Butterflies! is also a very popular exhibit, where hundreds of butterflies fly free throughout the net. Fifteen to twenty species of butterflies delight guests through intimate interaction. These beautiful creatures are approachable and sometimes they like to rest on the visitors that are passing by. In September 2005 the Butterflies! exhibit was destroyed by a fallen oak tree, but was rebuilt. Cranes of the World was open in 2000, it is home to whooping crane, blue crane, Manchurian crane, and hooded crane. This has a lot of birds from all over the world. Gibbon forest is an enclosure that has a rock wall separating the komodo dragons and wolf’s guenon. Visitors can watch the gibbons closely through glass panels. Hixon Birdhouse has birds from all over the world that fly free inside the exhibit. Inside is planted with trees, shrubs, and plants and also contains a small pond. There is a thick-billed euphoria, red-billed leiothrix and many other birds that fly around in there. Lory Landing has hundreds of brightly colored, nectar-eating lorikeets. Guest and visitors can purchase a cup of nectar and feed the lorikeets while they perch on your hand or shoulder. Cups of nectar are $1.00 and can be purchased near the Hungry Hippo concession stand. Lory Landing is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm daily. Next is the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken. In 1996, the San Antonio Zoo joined the Attwater’s prairie Chicken Recovery Team. The zoo works along with other zoos and organizations to protect habitat and to release North Americas most endangered bird into the wild. Since 1996 the zoo has raised 133 Attwater’s prairie chickens. Out of the 133 birds, more than 50 has been released to the National Wildlife refuge. Kronkosky’s Tiny Tot is a Nature spot for kids. Children can run around, take off their shoes and socks and explore hands-on with real wild life. Play leaders (the staff) help children and their families to explore nature. Different activities are planned each day, so no two visits are the same. They can participate from things like lady bug release; uncover worms, to digging up carrots to feed the guinea pigs. They can also play in the river bank, which is a little river that allows children to place with water and sand safely. This place consists of seven major areas and a total of 19 sub areas. The pier and pond, where kids play in a boat, pretend to fish, explore pond life, and create fish prints. Traveling through the underwater adventure, children can get face to face with giant fish. My backyard has gardens where children are allowed to plant seeds, water and transplant seedlings. At the Coati/sloth hang and dig area. Where children can climb and hang like a monkey or dig a tunnel like a coati. Also near is an oversized sloth that children can climb. The campground, kids explore tents, play in the stream and uncover animal tracks. In the center is a Discovery House, an interior exhibit that has three distinct rooms, each connected by wall-sized windows. In explore your pond room, children can play in an indoor pond, or enter a child-sized aquarium. In explore your zoo room; children are encouraged to discover the various jobs, functions, and roles of the zoo staff. With the help of props children are able to become zoo keepers, veterinarians, and even the zoo director. Parents are encouraged to play with their children in the Kronkonsky’s Tiny Tot nature. The last exhibit is TOADally, which has all amphibians from all over the world, frogs, toads, salamanders, poison dart frogs, and bullfrogs. It’s a great experience.
I interviewed three different people two work at the zoo and one was a visitor that goes to the zoo often. First I interviewed Kristy Hernandez. Her job title is Special Events Coordinator. Her job consists of putting all five fundraisers together. First, is the zoo run which happens to be one of her favorites. It raises about $1,000 every year. This is mostly for adults and children over 12. Second, is kids run, about 250 kids go to run and these two are held in September. Third, is feast with the beast, which happens in April. There are 27 restaurants to try their food. They raise about $2,000 and the tickets are about $15. This is a family event everyone is welcome. Fourth, is the zoo ball which is the biggest event. They raise about $200,000. This is held in November. The tables are in three different prices, 1st is $2,750, 2nd is 5,500 and 3rd is 7,500. Red McCombs comes to this event often. Fifth, is the Zoo Boo held in October. This is another of her favorites. This is a chance for kids to visit the animals while dressed in costumes and candy, but please don’t feed the animals candy. She enjoys her job because she makes others happy, she says “the best thing about working here is all the proceeds raised go towards the animals, and this place is a nice environment”. She has worked at the zoo for 10 months. She enjoys her job because “I’m my own department, I plan everything and send out memos to everyone; everyone helps and all the departments work together to help with the events”. Her favorite animal is the Hippos. Second I interviewed my sister. Her name is Nicole Ledezma. Her job title is Maintenance-Sweeper. Her job description would be to change trashcans, pick up trash, pick up vomit and yes anything else that is not suppose to be there. She says “I am trained to clean up blood and burn pathogens, if anyone is bleeding; I am able to and know how to pick it up.” She has worked at the zoo for 3 years. She says the best thing about working at the zoo is “my coworkers and sweeper team are great, and I get to see the animals every day.” The worst thing is “people think were unimportant but I feel we are the most important.” There are four parts of the zoo, first, Front Area, second, Middle Area, third, Cross Canal, and fourth, Monkey Island (now Africa Live). She says “I am rover” because she is not assigned to one area she is an extra person and gets assigned to whoever needs her help. Her favorite animal is the Japanese giant salamander and her favorite event at the zoo is Feast with the Beast because she gets to try different foods at different restaurants and eat and drink for free. She also said “I clean up after all of Kristy’s events”. Last I interviewed a guest at the zoo; he is a friend of my family and goes to the zoo often. His name is Raymond Ruiz, he says “the best part of the zoo is the animals. There are so many kinds, I also like how when I went there was a new exhibit to see. It made the trip more enjoyable”. His favorite animal is the rhino, “I have a picture of me petting it”. He said “the workers here are friendly and helpful”. He enjoyed all the exhibits when he went to visit.
Admission for the zoo is Members get in free, Adults pay $9.00, kids (3-11) pay $7.00, seniors (62+) $7.00, military discount pay $1off, Handicap (3-14) pay $4.50, Handicap (15+) pay $6.00, and parking is free. The zoo is open 365 days a year, and never closed.