Cameron Park Zoo facts for kids
Main entrance
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| Date opened | 1993 |
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| Location | Waco, Texas, United States |
| Land area | 52 acres (21 ha) |
| Coordinates | 31°34′12″N 97°8′41″W / 31.57000°N 97.14472°W |
| No. of animals | 1,731 |
| No. of species | 300 |
| Memberships | AZA, WAZA |
The Cameron Park Zoo is an amazing 52-acre zoo located in Waco, Texas, United States. It's found within Cameron Park, right next to the Brazos River. This special zoo opened in July 1993.
When you visit, you'll see beautiful native plants, splashing waterfalls, a peaceful lake, and calm ponds. In this lovely setting, over 1,731 animals from 300 different species live and thrive. These animals come from all over the world!
The Cameron Park Zoo is officially recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is also part of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). This means the zoo meets very high standards for caring for its animals and helping to protect wildlife.
Contents
The Zoo's Exciting History
The idea for the zoo started in 1955. Back then, it was called the Central Texas Zoological Park. A group of people who loved wildlife wanted to create a fun place for everyone to learn and enjoy nature.
In 1981, a big plan was made to make the zoo much larger. Then, in 1989, money was raised to build a brand new zoo across 52 acres of Cameron Park. The old zoo closed, and the amazing new Cameron Park Zoo opened its doors to the public on July 18, 1993.
Exploring the Habitats
Cameron Park Zoo is home to animals from many different parts of the world. You can find species from North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Some popular areas include:
- A large house just for reptiles.
- An exciting display for African lions.
- Lemur Island, where lemurs roam freely in a big open habitat.
In 2005, a huge new area called the Brazos River Country opened. This section features animals and habitats found right here in Texas! It includes a 50,000-gallon saltwater reef aquarium and a large swampland area. This new exhibit almost doubled the number of animals at the zoo and made the zoo much bigger overall.
Then, in 2009, the zoo added the Asian Forest. This area brought in even more incredible animals, including endangered species like orangutans and Komodo dragons. These amazing creatures joined the Sumatran tigers already living in the Asian Forest.
About Cameron Park
The Cameron Park Zoo is located inside Cameron Park itself. This park is huge, covering 416 acres! It's one of the largest undeveloped city parks in Texas.
Cameron Park is found where the Bosque River and Brazos River meet. Because the zoo is in Cameron Park, it benefits from the park's beautiful native plants and nearby limestone cliffs. These cliffs even offer great views of Waco!
Gallery
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Sumatran tiger featured in the zoo's Asian Forest exhibit.
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Adult jaguar in Waco, Texas' Cameron Park Zoo.
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Adult jaguar in Waco, Texas' Cameron Park Zoo.
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Giraffe featured at Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.
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Meerkat featured at Cameron Park Zoo.
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A meerkat poses for the camera at Cameron Park Zoo.
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Orangutan featured in Cameron Park Zoo's Asian Forest exhibit.
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Pelican at Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.
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Decor at Asian Forest exhibit in Waco, Texas' Cameron Park.
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Aratinga solstitialis at Cameron Park Zoo.
Images for kids
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An orangutan at Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.
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An elephant in its habitat at Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.
