Austin Zoo
Zoo entrance
30°15′25″N 97°56′09″W / 30.256876°N 97.935761°W / 30.256876; -97.935761
Date opened1990 (as Good Day Ranch)
Location10808 Rawhide Trail
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Land area16 acres (6.5 ha)[1]
No. of animals300[2]
No. of species100[2]
Annual visitors232,000[3]
MembershipsZAA
Websitewww.austinzoo.org

Austin Zoo is a non-profit rescue zoo and located in southwestern unincorporated Travis County, Texas, United States, west of Austin. The zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America.[4]

The mission of Austin Zoo is to assist animals in need through rescue, conservation, and education. Austin Zoo currently has over 300 animals from over 100 different species,[2] including African Lions, Bengal tigers, cougars, three species of monkeys, black bears, ring-tailed lemurs, and porcupines.[5]

History

Austin Zoo started out as a goat ranch. In 1990, it became the Good Day Ranch, housing animals in need. At that time, the animals were mostly domesticated and local animals including goats, pigs, fallow deer, donkeys, and ponies, with just a few exotic animals. Gradually, the number of exotic animals increased, and in 1994, the name was changed to Austin Zoo. In 2000, the zoo became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.[6] Today, the rescue zoo is a permanent home to mostly exotic animals that were rescued from or unwanted by their owners, animals from other zoos and sanctuaries, and animals who were awarded protection through the judicial system.

In 2009, the zoo became home to four wolf hybrids which had been abandoned during Hurricane Ike in 2008.[7]

In 2017, the zoo was home to over 300 animals from over 100 different species and received 232,000 visitors.[3]

Exhibits

The Austin Zoo has a circular layout featuring exotic and native species. Some notable exhibits are:[8]

Land usage

Austin Zoo owns 54 acres of land. Currently, 16 acres have been developed and house the Zoo's animal collection. The additional acreage will be used to allow expansion of the zoo as needs change.

Notes

  1. Ball, Andrea (January 6, 2011). "New Day for the Austin Zoo". statesman.com. The Statesman. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary". austinzoo.org. Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "About". austinzoo.org. Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  4. "Zoological Association of America - Accredited Facilities".
  5. "Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary". real-austin-texas.com. Real Austin Texas. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  6. Duttweiler, Darcie (August 22, 2008). "Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary". impactnews.com. Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  7. Lawrence, Scott (January 8, 2009). "Hybrid wolves rescued in Orange County, taken to Austin Zoo". kfdm.com. Freedom Communications. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  8. Austin_zoo_map_v5 copy
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