Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis Habitat: Savannas, grasslands and open woodlands Range: Africa, mostly south of the Sahara Desert On June 8, the Fort Worth Zoo welcomed a male reticulated giraffe to the herd. At birth, the soon-to-be named calf weighed 185 pounds and stood roughly 6 feet tall.  But that's not all! Just eight days later, on June 16, a second reticulated giraffe was born. This unnamed calf weighed-in at 150 pounds and stood at 5 feet, 11... Read More

Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor Habitat: Lakes and coastal lagoons Range: Sub-Saharan Africa, India and Pakistan The Fort Worth Zoo proudly announces the successful hatchings of 13 lesser flamingo chicks, hatched from January to March of this year. Lesser flamingos are extremely difficult to breed in captivity and reproduce less than any other flamingo species found in U.S. zoos. The Fort Worth Zoo boasts the most successful lesser flamingo breeding program in the world,... Read More

The Fort Worth Zoo has been nominated for USA Today’s list of 10 Best zoos in the country and we need your help! We’re proud to lead conservation efforts locally, regionally and in more than 30 countries around the world. Gus, the first western lowland gorilla born at the Zoo, is one of many success stories that makes the Fort Worth Zoo a leader in animal conservation and education. Show your support by voting and sharing this post with friends and family. Let’s show the rest... Read More

Black-necked swan cygnets Cygnus melanocorypha Habitat: Swamps, freshwater marshes, lagoons of brackish waters, shallow lakes and sheltered coastal sites Range: Southern South America from Tierra del Fuego and Falkan Islands north to central Chile and Paraguay Two fuzzy black-necked swan cygnets are the latest Zoo babies to join the flock – just in time for spring break! Though the cygnets currently sport light gray feathers, they will eventually develop the distinct black... Read More

Mandrill Mandrillus sphinx Habitat: Tropical rainforests, mountainous forests and thick bush Range: Western equatorial Africa Next time you visit the World of Primates, be sure to visit the exhibit’s new colorful monkey, J.J. the mandrill. The largest of all the monkey species, the mandrill’s body is built for the ground and the trees above. Its rotating joints allow it to climb trees in search of a resting spot and walk on the ground when scavenging for food. The... Read More

Bonobo Pan paniscus Habitat: Tropical rainforest Range: Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Africa This September, Zoo staff were thrilled to welcome the arrival of the newest bonobo baby, Asali. Born to parents Mchumba and Andy, Asali is the fourth bonobo born at the Fort Worth Zoo, as well as the fourth bonobo born in the state of Texas. The name Asali was chosen by staff as a tribute to the bonobo’s mother. In Swahili, Asali means “honey,” which... Read More

Brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi Habitat: North American grasslands Range: North America One brown tarantula took up residence at the Zoo this summer. While the brown tarantula may look intimidating, this venomous spider is actually not a threat to humans. Living in the central United States between Utah and the Mississippi River, the brown tarantula is most likely to be seen on grassy hillsides either in the late afternoon or early morning. Females stay close to the burrows... Read More

Kori bustard Ardeotis kori Habitat: Dry, open grasslands and wooded savannas Range: Southern and eastern Africa For centuries, humans have appreciated the unique beauty of the kori bustard. From cave drawings to the songs and dances of some African tribes, the large bird has long been valued by the human race. The Fort Worth Zoo is proud to continue that tradition of appreciation for the kori bustard with the birth of five chicks this summer. While the kori bustard is one... Read More

Puerto Rican crested toad Peltophryne lemur Habitat: Low elevation, semi-arid, rocky areas of scrub or moist forests where limestone is present Range: Karst regions of Puerto Rico The hatching of 1,400 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles in June 2016 marks another conservation success for the Zoo. This critically endangered species is threatened by habitat alteration caused by land development and introduced species. However, successful captive breeding programs, including the... Read More

Toco toucan chicks Ramphastos toco Habitat: Woodlands, savannas and plantations Range: Brazil, Argentina, Peru, French Guiana, Bolivia, Paraguay and Suriname The Zoo is delighted to announce the birth of three Toco toucan fledglings. The toucans, one male and two females, were born on June 24 and 25, 2016. Their birth is a first for the species at the Zoo. Found in several South American countries, the Toco toucan is the largest member of the toucan family. While this bird may... Read More