San Antonio Zoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
San Antonio Zoo

Date opened	May 13, 1914
Location	3903 N. St. Mary's Street San Antonio, Texas, United States
Land area	57 acres (23 ha)
Coordinates	29°27′53″N 98°28′19″W / 29.4648°N 98.4719°W / 29.4648; -98.4719
No. of animals	3,500+
No. of species	750
Annual visitors	1.1 million+
Memberships	AZA, ZAA

The San Antonio Zoo Eagle train carries visitors through Brackenridge Park.

You can find many places to eat, like Crossroads Café, at the San Antonio Zoo.

A fun carousel opened at the San Antonio Zoo in 2014.

Explore desert plants and landscapes at the San Antonio Zoo.

The San Antonio Zoo is a cool place to visit in San Antonio, Texas, United States. It's located inside Brackenridge Park. This zoo is huge, covering over 50 acres! It's home to more than 3,500 animals from over 750 different species. Some of these animals are even endangered, meaning they are at risk of disappearing forever.

Over a million people visit the San Antonio Zoo every year. Besides seeing amazing animals, you can also ride the San Antonio Zoo Eagle train. This fun train ride first started way back in 1956. The zoo also has the Richard Friedrich Aquarium, which opened in 1948. It was the only aquarium in the city for a long time!

History of the San Antonio Zoo

How the Zoo Started

The San Antonio Zoo began in 1914. A very important person named Colonel George Washington Brackenridge started it. He put animals like bison, deer, monkeys, African lions, and bears on land he gave to the city. This land later became Brackenridge Park and its golf course.

New Ways to See Animals

In November 1929, the San Antonio Zoo was one of the first zoos in the United States to open "cageless" exhibits. These exhibits let visitors see animals in a more natural way, without bars in the way. The Richard Friedrich Aquarium opened in 1948. Later, the Hixon Bird House opened in 1966, thanks to Colonel Frederick C. Hixon.

Helping Endangered Animals

The San Antonio Zoo has a long history of helping animals. In 1969, it had the first group of addra gazelles living in a zoo. These gazelles are critically endangered, so the zoo helps breed them to increase their numbers.

The zoo works hard to breed many other endangered species too. Some of these include black rhinos, leopards, golden lion tamarins, and Komodo dragons. They also help with Attwater's prairie chickens, which are bred off-site to keep them safe.

Africa Live! Exhibits

In 2007, the zoo opened "Africa Live" Phase I. This brought new homes for hippos with cool underwater viewing areas. It also featured new Nile crocodiles and other smaller animals.

Phase II of Africa Live opened in 2010. This part of the exhibit features animals like Angola colobus monkeys, okapi, and African wild dogs. It also has one of the world's largest aviaries, filled with many different bird species.

Unique Animal Stories

On June 18, 2013, something very unusual happened: a two-headed turtle hatched at the zoo! It was named Thelma and Louise. Sadly, Thelma and Louise passed away in July 2014.

Amazing Animals at the Zoo

The San Antonio Zoo is home to a huge variety of animals from all over the world. You can explore different sections to see mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Mammals

See a lemur at the San Antonio Zoo.

Birds

Reptiles

See a crocodile at the San Antonio Zoo.

See also

In Spanish: Zoológico de San Antonio para niños

• Brackenridge Park
• City of San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Antonio