The oldest Zoo in Texas, the Fort Worth Zoo opened in 1909 in Trinity Park with one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and rabbits (purchased from a traveling carnival).

The Zoo was originally named the City Zoo and was later re-named the Forest Park Zoo. In 1910, after losing all the animals to a Trinity River flood, the Zoo moved to its current location in Forest Park.

The Park Board approved a resolution in 1913 to abolish the Zoo after local residents had donated animals in an effort to rebuild after the Trinity River flood. The resolution led to a huge public debate, and the Board quickly decided to keep the Zoo open and improve operations: animals were acquired in male/female pairs in order to breed more residents at the Zoo.

During the first 10 years, the Zoo´s collection of animals grew to include a pair of panthers (named Martha and George), beavers, cinnamon bears, monkeys and prairie dogs.

In the early 1920s, two American bison and a zebra were purchased partially from coin donations at the Zoo. This began a long tradition of citizen involvement in improving the Zoo.

In 1923, the Elephant Fund was established to solicit donations from the community for the purchase of the Zoo´s first elephant, "Queen Tut." To accommodate the popular Asian elephant, the Zoo´s first permanent shelter was built, which later served as part of the Koala Outback exhibit.

In 1924, amusement rides were added to the area between the Zoo and the park swimming pool. The rides, including the mini-train that still operates in Forest Park, remained a part of the Zoo until the 1970s.

In 1925, Herbert S. Hare, from the Kansas City landscape firm Hare & Hare, began working on a comprehensive park plan for the city. It included the Zoo´s first master plan, which Hare completed as his personal project in 1930.

In 1929, the Zoo built its second permanent structure, an octagonal monkey exhibit.

In 1931, the Bird House exhibit was constructed using an old park building. It was remodeled in 1956 to include new viewing areas and a Tropical Rain Forest. In 1983, the Bird House caught fire and was destroyed, with only a dozen birds surviving.

As part of Franklin D. Roosevelt´s federal relief programs, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), several WPA projects led to improvements at the Zoo. In 1934, a combination rock shelter, a comfort station and a concession stand were built.

In 1937, Alligator Pond, Monkey Island, a bird house and other smaller exhibits were constructed using funds from the WPA.

In 1939, the Fort Worth Zoological Society was organized under non-profit status to raise money for Zoo improvements. That year, the Zoo also held its first membership drive and Children´s Day.

In 1940, Elephant Club donations funded the purchase of a second elephant, named "Penny" to commemorate the many pennies donated by the public.

For several years, World War II interrupted additional Zoo improvements. Then in 1945, a postwar municipal bond passed designating $85,000 for Zoo improvements.

Through a 1946 fund sponsored by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a baby hippopotamus named "Bluebonnet Belle" was purchased. The popular hippo was the first of its kind in the state and was housed in a new shelter complete with a heated pool, paid for with bond funds.

In 1949, Aoudad Mountain and a hoof stock exhibit were built.

In 1950, the Fort Worth Zoological Society gained official status and became the Fort Worth Zoological Association, a non-profit organization. In June, the Association persuaded the Park Board to let African-Americans visit the Zoo, making it one of first Southern zoos to be integrated. In 1952, the Association bought Fort Worth´s first giraffe, "Topper," and in 1954, "Goldie."

In 1953, the children´s zoo, Children´s Storybook Zooland, was completed, receiving more than 200,000 visitors the first year. The same year, Amon Carter Jr. presented a check for $50,000 to construct a "bang-up aquarium." This same year, Lawrence Curtis became the Zoo´s first professional zoologist curator, and later became Zoo director.

The James R. Record Aquarium was completed in 1954, with more than 100 tanks featuring more than 400 species. It was decided that an admission fee would be charged at the aquarium to raise funds for future improvements. Also in 1954, a terrifying incident occurred, "Pete the Python" escaped during the night.

This 18-foot python was on the loose making worldwide headlines for 15 days. "Pete" was finally found in the Monkey House. Several Zoo staff members used a six-foot pipe and loop to catch him and return him to his cage. Amazingly, a few months later "he" gave birth to 50 giant white eggs. So, she was immediately renamed "Patricia the Python."

In 1960, the fourth indoor exhibit was built. At its opening, the Herpetarium housed the largest collection of reptiles and amphibians in the world.

In 1962, a porpoise pool was added to the Aquarium, followed by the addition of a sea lion pool in 1969.

The Zoo´s "Giraffe Club" fund purchased two new giraffes, Lena and Lanky, in 1963.

In 1969, the Zoo celebrated its 60th Anniversary with a fund drive hoping to raise $60,000.

In 1970, the Zoo´s first formal education program was established. The Education Program now teaches children (K-12) about wildlife and conservation through certified curriculums taught by 26 Texas-certified teachers.

In 1971, McFadean and Everly, nationally recognized zoo planners, completed a master plan for the Fort Worth Zoo. The plan described a contemporary Zoo of approximately 100 acres.

In 1972, the Zoo was fenced and a general admission fee was established. Admission costs were $1 for adults (ages 12 and up) and free for children.

In 1975, a new cafe and gift shop were opened to generate funds for improvements. The following year, an exhibit for hoofed animals was renovated with new fencing and a new barn for blackbuck antelope, axis deer and Asian cranes. The Zoo´s premier exhibit, Great Ape House, opened in 1979 for gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans.

An infant care facility was opened in 1981, providing housing for small mammals, birds and orphaned Zoo babies. Also in 1981 came the expansion of the Sidewalk Cafe, more sidewalks and the beginning of a major landscaping effort throughout the Zoo.

In 1985, the $1.25 million Asian elephant breeding facility was opened, and is still considered one of the best elephant exhibits in the nation. The facility includes a new temperature-controlled barn, 4-acre exhibit and 3,200 gallon swimming pool.

In 1986, a walk-through, free-flight bird exhibit was constructed on the site of the old Children´s Zoo. This same year, the Zoo honored Jane Goodall with the Guardian of Wildlife Award.

The Fort Worth Zoo Association assumed management of the Zoo from the City of Fort Worth in October 1991 after more than 50 years of support. Once it began managing the Zoo, the Zoo Association immediately began renovations and improvements.

The Zoo held its "grand re-opening" in April 1992 featuring two new premier exhibits: World of Primates and Asian Falls, along with dozens of small exhibits. When the new exhibits and improvements were unveiled, Zoo attendance soared to more than one million visitors in 1992. The Zoo´s attendance has surpassed one million visitors a year since then.

In 1993, Raptor Canyon and Asian Rhino Ridge helped maintain high attendance. The Zoo continued making new additions in 1994 with the opening of the Portraits of the Wild Gallery (featuring the largest collection of oil paintings by renowned German wildlife artist Wilhelm Kuhnert), the Gloria Lupton Tennison Education Center and the Cheetos Cheetah exhibit.

Since 1995, the Zoo has opened seven new exhibits thanks to the support of individuals, corporate sponsors and foundations. These exhibits include Flamingo Bay (1995), the FUJIFILM Komodo Dragon exhibit (1995), Terminix Insect City (1996), Penguin Island (1997), Meerkat Mounds (1997), Koala Outback (1998) and Thundering Plains (1999).

In June 2001, Texas Wild! opened. This 8-acre, $40 million exhibit is home to nearly 300 animals. The exhibit, complete with hands-on activities, highlights animals from six regions of Texas - Hill Country (Central Texas), Pineywoods & Swamps (East Texas), High Plains & Prairies (Panhandle and Northwestern Texas), Gulf Coast (Southern Texas), Brush Country (Southern Texas), and Mountains & Desert (Western Texas). The state-of-the-art exhibit allows visitors to explore the Lone Star State in one day and to learn about the abundant and diverse wildlife in Texas.

In 2004, the Zoo´s aviary Parrot Paradise opened, followed by the Australian Outback exhibit in 2005. In spring 2008, the Zoo opened Penguins, a 1,600-square-foot indoor exhibit featuring a colony of African black-footed penguins.

The Zoo is currently building its new state-of-the-art Herpetarium, the Museum of Living Art (MOLA). MOLA, a 30,000 square-foot, indoor/outdoor herpetological facility, will house 264 amphibian and reptile species, representing about 4,000 animals. MOLA will replace the Zoo´s current Herpetarium, a 9,000-square-foot facility built in 1960.