No threads on this zoo yet? Time to get one going. Having visited two weeks ago, it is a very good zoo and well worth a visit for anyone in the Waco area. Located just west of the very nice small downtown area with its Brazos River walking trail. (I must confess Waco is much nicer than I imagined it.) The two standout areas are the native Texas exhibit (called Brazos River Country) and the African area (which has no formal name as far as I know). The Asia area only consists of two exhibits: orangutan (bornean I think) and sumatran tiger, both of which are average exhibits. The only truly bad part of the zoo is the cafe, which has no healthy or vegetarian offerings at all. (Same problem at the zoo in Tyler.) Brazos River Country is the real highlight and the main reason to visit this zoo. All of the star animals are there: jaguar, puma, ocelot and coyote (rotated into same exhibit), black bear, bison, white tail deer. Plus some indoor areas for native fish (two separate buildings) and reptiles and arthropods and an outstanding netted shorebird enclosure. Otters have a slide through the pool for children. There is one surprising (in a bad way) aspect. There is no path around the two buildings and to get in and out of them you have to open some very heavy doors. There is no automatic door button for people in wheelchairs (or otherwise frail/elderly people) and without someone along to assist them, it is literally impossible for them to go through this exhibit. I am shocked that a modern, AZA-accredited zoo would allow this and I am even more shocked that they have not been sued for violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. This is completely unacceptable and a puts a real black eye on an otherwise outstanding facility. My other main complaint is that the jaguar exhibit is too small as is the coyote exhibit. (When the ocelots are inside it may be ok, but coyotes need more space). Overall a good zoo well worth visiting, especially if you are in good enough health to open large metal doors by yourself.
I did not take a photo of the signs (if there were i.d. signs), so I have no idea. Perhaps snowleopard or jbnbsn99 can help us out?
Jeez, you would have to ask that. There are native gar, sturgeon, paddlefish, as well as other smaller fish.
I don't know if anyone said this already, the Zoo just announced the birth of two Sumatran Tiger Cubs, a male and a female. Photos are on their facebook page.
Yes, I just found out about the tiger cubs from their website. They went on exhibit in late October 2011. Something to look forward to on my return visit in February 2012. Cameron Park Zoo | Zoo News
Professor and Skipper (the Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises, respectively), will be heading back to Waco on Monday from Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.
The two 18-month old Sumatran Tiger cubs, Indah and Bulgara, will be moving to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo soon. Tiger cubs leaving Waco zoo for new home in Indiana | Wacotrib.com
On my visit a couple weeks ago, I noticed one major improvement in the Brazos River Country. There is a new coyote exhibit and the former exhibit is now allocated exclusively to the ocelot. The ocelot exhibit has grass throughout, whereas formerly the coyotes had turned it into mud (as it was really too small for a pair of coyotoes). The new coyote exhibit is to the right of the jaguars and was made by basically fencing in an existing grass area. Really nicely done and a huge improvement.
Remarkeble ocelot-birth : August 18, 2013 "Miracle" Ocelot Kitten Born at Cameron Park Zoo IMG_6717 An Ocelot kitten born at the Cameron Park Zoo is being called a “miracle baby” because it was born to a mother who was beyond the known breeding age for Ocelots. The kitten, a male named Aztec, is the first infant born to Cameron Park Zoo Ocelots Maya and Gustavo. Maya is 14 years old, an age which is considered somewhat past the prime age for successfully producing offspring. Ocelots reach sexual maturity at two to two-and-a-half years of age and their life expectancy is seven to ten years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity. IMG_6790 IMG_6646 1186980_10153110753665431_2139208126_n Photo Credit: Cameron Park Zoo In November 2012, a team of veterinary specialists from the Cincinnati Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Wildlife (CREW) performed a reproductive assessment on Maya. Even though she was past her breeding prime, Maya was still cycling and the assessment showed that there could be a slight chance of a successful pregnancy. The team, along with Cameron Park Zoo veterinarian Terry Hurst, collected semen from Gustavo and performed an artificial insemination procedure on Maya. Unfortunately the procedure was not successful, and the assumption was that because of her age and the condition of her ovaries, Maya would not be able to become pregnant. On May 31, 2013 Maya was not feeling well and was left in her night house. Later that morning, zoo staff members were surprised and excited to find a baby Ocelot had just been born! Maya was given a nest box and hay for bedding her infant and then left alone with her baby to allow time to bond. Apparently, Gustavo and Maya decided to have their baby “the old fashioned way” and Maya has proven to be an attentive mother. Aztec has not made his public debut in the exhibit, but zoo officlas hope to announce that very soon. Ocelots are native to much of South America and Mexico. They are expert hunters, and are fiercely territorial. They are listed as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Source : Zooborns
First Dallas and now Cameron Park introduce baby ocelots to the world immediately after my trip out there? Why do they taunt me so???
A male lion cub will be arriving from Honolulu Zoo shortly to become the new breeding male when he matures. Honolulu Zoo's lion cub will be moved to Texas - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL
The zoos orangutans Mei and KJ are expecting. Mei is being trained for a variety of things to help her keepers care for the baby. No due date was mentioned. Waco: Zoo?s Resident Orangutans Are Expecting
Kaikane, the new male lion, is on exhibit now and will be introduced to the old girls slowly. Cameron Park Zoo adds new male lion - WacoTrib.com: Education
