I have so much more to tell you about our time in Houston, but while we are still visiting with friends in Dallas. From their home, the four of us are traveling, each in our own RVs, to Abilene TX. Since that is we we are vacationing, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to repost about the fantastic Abilene Zoo. Our visit was almost exactly 2 years ago. Boy how time does fly!
This post originally published on March 17, 2022.
We continue to fall more in love with Texas with each new place we visit. And our fun Day at Abilene Zoo added to that pleasure.
Welcome to the Abilene Zoo!
Steve and I really love animals. So we try to visit zoos as often as we can. But we are picky about the weather for our zoo visits. It can’t be too cold or too hot out. The day we went to the Abilene Zoo was perfect temperature for Goldilocks and her hubby bear.
Abilene Zoo
Leap Frog anyone?
When we first drove up to the zoo entrance, we thought there might not be much to see. Oh boy, were we ever wrong. We had a blast observing all of the wonderful creatures, big and small, enjoying their seemingly natural habitats. Land animals, sea creatures, reptiles and birds galore entertained us as we strolled the grounds.
The Abilene Zoological Gardens is a small 16-acre zoo located in Abilene, Texas, with over 1,000 animals representing over 250 species. It has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1985. It’s primarily funded by the City of Abilene and the Abilene Zoological Society.
History of the Abilene Zoo
This friendly lemur loved posing for our photos!
The original zoo was built in Fair Park, now Rose Park, in 1919.
It wasn’t until 1963 that the Abilene Zoological Society formed to support and raise funds for the zoo.
A few years later, in 1966, a new zoo opened in Grover Nelson Park, where it remains today.
Exhibits
Giraffe Safari
Lunchtime for the giraffes
This exhibit includes a bridge crossing over it which allows visitors to pet and feed the giraffes. Construction began on a new $3.8 million Giraffe Safari exhibit which opened in April 2016. The new exhibit doubled the size of the old habitat, and includes the zoo’s new male giraffe and two females.
Caribbean Cove
The Greater Rhea is native to South America and can grow to be 5-feet tall!
The Guanaco is the largest native South American herbivore. Like camels they drink very little water and spit with accuracy up to 6-feet when annoyed.
Capybara is native to Central and South America. They’re the largest rodents in the world.
This exhibit displays wildlife from South America, such as macaws, monkeys, and assorted amphibians. It also includes a large sand area for kids, while their parents take a break at the nearby tables and chairs.
Reptile House
The zoo’s herpetarium, opened in December 2007 in what was part of the Discovery Center. The exhibit was designed and built by the zoo’s management and staff, and contains 50 naturalistic exhibits with 80 species of reptiles and amphibians.
The Tropical Aviary
Gorgeous green and turquoise parrot.
I couldn’t resist the gaze of this Crested Coua in the Madagascar exhibit!
Also part of the Discovery center, the Tropical Aviary is a climate controlled indoor aviary that is home to the zoos tropical birds. The zoo also has Bird Gardens which house other birds in its possession.
Elm Creek Backyard
Completed in 2009, this area houses species native to the Elm Creek area of Texas, including cougars, coyotes, porcupines, raccoons, bobcats, ringtails, armadillos, skunks, and river otters, as well as a some birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Wetlands of the Americas Boardwalk
Pink Flamingos
Marabou storks will eat almost anything – dead or alive. Favorite foods include fish, caterpillars, frogs and animal carcasses.
Gray Crowned Crane
An elevated boardwalk that lets visitors get a close look at animals that inhabit the wetlands exhibits at the zoo. The various wetlands exhibits are home to a variety of wetland dwellers including alligators, flamingos, waterfowl, and Attwater’s prairie chicken.
Nakuru Lagoon
This gorgeous lioness is keeping a vigilant watch while her friends enjoy nap time.
This $300,000 project opened in March 2018. As soon as visitors to the Abilene Zoo walk through the gate, they’ll see this new exhibit, which houses African birds: lesser flamingos and yellow-billed ducks.
Adventure Center
The Adventure Center, which opened in 2007, is a 12,000-square-foot complex that includes admissions, customer relations, and a gift shop, as well as administrative offices and classrooms that can hold up to 150 people.
Breathtaking Texas sunset
Sunset over Abilene RV Park
As the sun set the sky kept getting prettier and prettier.
Ladybug bathed in pink and purple as the sun was setting in Abilene TX
A breathtaking sunset deepened in color right before our eyes.
The sun was beginning to set when we returned to the Abilene RV Park and it was the most intense display of colors. The sky was so vividly colored that it bathed Ladybug in a heavenly glow.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks