The Zoo in TCU's backyard goes from humble beginnings to the No. 1 zoo
in America
This is the Fort Worth Zoo's journey
The Fort Worth Zoo was crowned the No.1 Zoo in North America in 2020. After the zoo claimed a spot in the top 10, USA Today sent out a nationwide poll that placed the Fort Worth Zoo in the No. 1 spot for the first time in history.
As Fort Worth has grown and changed, the zoo has mimicked the city's metamorphosis. What started as a small home to one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, one coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits has become one of the most popular tourist sites in the city.
“During the first couple of decades, the zoo’s collection of animals grew to include a pair of panthers, beavers, cinnamon bears, monkeys and prairie dogs,” said Avery Elander, communications assistant director for the Fort Worth Zoo.
Now home to more than 7,000 species from all over the globe, the zoo has become one of the nation's most prestigious institutions.
Humble beginnings
The Fort Worth Zoo is the oldest continuous zoo site in the state of Texas.
In 1909, a traveling animal menagerie paraded through the small city of Fort Worth. The animals on display were the talk of the town, so city park commissioners purchased the animals.
The City Zoo was born.
After a flood rushed the original site in 1910, the City Zoo was forced to relocate to Forest Park, the current location, and reopened as the Forest Park Zoo that same year.
The Forest Park Zoo pennant, circa 1920. Photo courtesy of Avery Elander
The Forest Park Zoo pennant, circa 1920. Photo courtesy of Avery Elander
In 1923, the Forest Park Zoo got its first elephant, Queen Tut. Her arrival marked the creation of the first permanent shelter at the zoo.
Queen Tut's building now houses our kangaroos, said Elander.
Queen Tut and Hamilton Hittson, the Forest Park Zoo's director. Photo circa the 1940s. (Photo courtesy of the UTA archives and the Fort Worth Star Telegram Collection)
Queen Tut and Hamilton Hittson, the Forest Park Zoo's director. Photo circa the 1940s. (Photo courtesy of the UTA archives and the Fort Worth Star Telegram Collection)
Since opening, the zoo was owned and operated by the city of Fort Worth. The city had a tradition of collecting money from the community to buy animals for the zoo. In 1939, the Fort Worth Zoological Society formed to help raise extra funds for purchasing animals.
The zoo continued to grow with the support of the city, and in the 1950s it was officially named the Fort Worth Zoo.
The turning point
After decades marked by expansion and growth, the zoo began to face major deterioration.
In 1991, the city of Fort Worth decreased its support for the zoo. Visitor numbers were down, and the animal housing was outdated. To save the zoo, the Fort Worth Zoological Association assumed private management under agreements with the city.
“In October of 1991, the Zoo closed and underwent major renovations,” said Kelley Allred, senior director of revenue operations and longtime employee at the Fort Worth Zoo. “Lee and Ramona Bass led the renovations and the zoo reopened in 1992 with two brand new exhibits: World of Primates and Asian Falls.”
The grand reopening of World of Primates and Asian Falls also showcased multiple renovations that breathed new life into the zoo.
Within the first year of reopening, the Fort Worth Zoo counted 1 million visitors and put its name on the national map.
The privatization also transformed methods of animal care.
“When we privatized, there was only one veterinarian on staff and inadequate animal care facilities,” said Anthony Davis, director of park operations at the Fort Worth Zoo and longtime employee. “The animal care evolved into an on-site animal hospital, a full-service nutrition lab, three veterinarians, four veterinary technicians and nutritionists, three post-doctors and a staff dedicated solely to animal enrichment, training and behavior.”
Modern day
Since the Zoo’s privatization in 1991, the Fort Worth Zoo has opened 16 permanent exhibits. The Zoological Association has raised more than $186 million from private corporations and foundations to drive the Zoo's physical and internal transformation.
Ramona Bass, the Fort Worth Zoo board chairman, has been an unrelenting supporter of the zoo.
"Lee and Ramona Bass have been generous in their support to the Zoo for over three decades – including a $30 million lead gift in our most recent capital campaign, A Wilder Vision," Davis said.
'A Wilder Vision'
In 2016, the Fort Worth Zoo announced its largest capital campaign in history.
'A Wilder Vision' is a $100 million capital campaign that will renovate four exhibits in four stages: African Savanna, Elephant Springs, Asian Predators & Hunters of Africa and Forests and Jungles.
African Savanna was completed in 2018 and is home to the majestic creatures of the African grasslands.
Elephant Springs was completed in 2021 and expanded the current elephant habitat that is home to the Zoo's three-generation herd.
The third stage is Asian Predators & Hunters of Africa, which is currently under construction to expand and renovate the current big cat exhibits.
The layout of Asian Predators & Hunters of Africa. This exhibit is currently under construction. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo)
The layout of Asian Predators & Hunters of Africa. This exhibit is currently under construction. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo)
The final stage is Forests & Jungles, which will renovate the exhibits of creatures from the deep forests and jungles of the tropics.
"Ultimately, the whole purpose is to redesign and modernize the zoo and give the animals more enriching habitats and create better experiences for the guests to interact with the animals," said Elander.
Director Hamilton Hittson and two new-born lion cubs. Photo circa 1940. (Photo courtesy of the UTA archives and the Fort Worth Star Telegram Collection)
Director Hamilton Hittson and two new-born lion cubs. Photo circa 1940. (Photo courtesy of the UTA archives and the Fort Worth Star Telegram Collection)
The old sea lion exhibit that was finished in 1969. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
The old sea lion exhibit that was finished in 1969. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
Queen Tut and the zoo's newest elephant 'Cutie Pie'. Photo circa 1940. (Photo courtesy of the UTA archives and the Fort Worth Star Telegram Collection)
Queen Tut and the zoo's newest elephant 'Cutie Pie'. Photo circa 1940. (Photo courtesy of the UTA archives and the Fort Worth Star Telegram Collection)
The newly renovated African Savanna. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
The newly renovated African Savanna. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
Flamingo Bay, completed in 1995. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
Flamingo Bay, completed in 1995. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
The newest exhibit, Elephant Springs, the second stage of the 'A Wilder Vision' campaign. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
The newest exhibit, Elephant Springs, the second stage of the 'A Wilder Vision' campaign. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
Conservation efforts at the zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo has always been a leader in conservation, but it lacked important funding to achieve its larger conservation goals until 1991.
In the mid '90s, conservation became a main pillar of the zoo's mission.
"The zoo’s current executive director, Michael Fouraker, was hired in 1993 to specifically oversee animal programs and conservation and has provided outstanding leadership in this area," said Allred.
Currently, the zoo supports conservation projects in over 30 countries around the world. In recent years, the zoo has dedicated $10 million towards education, conservation and animal care for local and international conservation programs.
A Fort Worth Zookeeper releases a Louisiana Pine Snake, the rarest snake in the United States, back into the wild. (Video courtesy of Avery Elander)
A Fort Worth Zookeeper releases a Louisiana Pine Snake, the rarest snake in the United States, back into the wild. (Video courtesy of Avery Elander)
A Houston toad. The Fort Worth Zoo is one of two facilities with Houston toad breeding programs. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo website)
A Houston toad. The Fort Worth Zoo is one of two facilities with Houston toad breeding programs. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo website)
A coral expert works with diseased coral from the coast of Florida. Coral and fish experts at the Fort Worth Zoo rescued healthy corals from a diseased population to study and maintain the healthy populations at the zoo. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
A coral expert works with diseased coral from the coast of Florida. Coral and fish experts at the Fort Worth Zoo rescued healthy corals from a diseased population to study and maintain the healthy populations at the zoo. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
The Pecos pupfish, a species of fish that has declined over the years. The Fort Worth Zoo is one of the first zoos to maintain and breed this species. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo webpage)
The Pecos pupfish, a species of fish that has declined over the years. The Fort Worth Zoo is one of the first zoos to maintain and breed this species. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo webpage)
A Texas horned lizard, more commonly known as the Horned Frog. Fort Worth Zoo employees helped Texas Parks and Wildlife release horned lizard hatchlings into the wild. (Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife)
A Texas horned lizard, more commonly known as the Horned Frog. Fort Worth Zoo employees helped Texas Parks and Wildlife release horned lizard hatchlings into the wild. (Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife)
Local conservation
The Fort Worth Zoo has an entire exhibit called Texas Wild! dedicated to the flora and fauna of the state of Texas.
"This portion of the zoo explores the unique relationship between man and animal and shares messages about the importance of being responsible land stewards and conserving and protecting the wildlife of which we share our land," said Davis.
Texas Wild! strives to connect visitors with wildlife that is right in their backyard.
One of the most well-known local conservation programs helps the Texas horned lizard, more famously known as the Horned Frog.
The Fort Worth Zoo is working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and private landowners to find ways to release captive-bred horned lizards back into the wild. The methods developed by the team at the Fort Worth Zoo will hopefully be applied to recovery efforts for 12 species of lizards from the U.S.to Mexico.
Zookeepers also work to restore natural habitat outside the zoo's fences.
"There are people here at the zoo that specialize in Texas prairie restoration," said Kelly Gant, animal outreach supervisor at the Fort Worth Zoo. "They’re going out and removing invasive species and planting Texas native wildlife to help pollinators, like monarchs, and a variety of Texas butterfly species that have struggled due to habitat loss and fragmentation."
International conservation
The Fort Worth Zoo is home to many international conservation efforts and continues to fund projects all over the world.
The most notable: The International Rhino and Elephant Funds.
The International Rhino Foundation and the International Elephant Foundation were both founded at the zoo in 1993 and 1998, respectively.
The International Elephant Foundation has achieved milestones in elephant care, research and education.
"We’re in the process of creating an elephant research lab to help us remain at the forefront of studying these animals in professional care to aid their counterparts in the wild," said Elander.
The International Rhino Foundation funds anti-poaching patrols and aids in population monitoring of species in the wild. While the International Rhino Foundation was founded in 1993, conservation efforts began at the Zoo in 1989.
In 2012, the Zoo had successfully bred the white, black and the greater one-horned rhino in captivity.
The Fort Worth Zoo is home to a three-generation elephant herd that mimics the dynamics of elephants in the wild. The International Elephant Fund studies these elephants in captivity to help their counterparts in the wild. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
The Fort Worth Zoo is home to a three-generation elephant herd that mimics the dynamics of elephants in the wild. The International Elephant Fund studies these elephants in captivity to help their counterparts in the wild. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
The International Rhino Fund helps protect rhinos in the wild by supporting anti-poaching efforts, monitoring populations, working to reintroduce rhinos back into the wild and providing veterinary treatments. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo webpage)
The International Rhino Fund helps protect rhinos in the wild by supporting anti-poaching efforts, monitoring populations, working to reintroduce rhinos back into the wild and providing veterinary treatments. (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Zoo webpage)
So, what makes the Fort Worth Zoo No.1 in the country?
A Fort Worth Zookeeper feeding a hippopotamus. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
A Fort Worth Zookeeper feeding a hippopotamus. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
A Fort Worth Zookeeper feeding a giraffe in the newly renovated African Savanna exhibit. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
A Fort Worth Zookeeper feeding a giraffe in the newly renovated African Savanna exhibit. (Photo courtesy of Avery Elander)
Over the past 30 years, the Fort Worth Zoo has had over 30 million visitors and has been called the "World's Greatest" Zoo, the "No. 1 Zoo" in the country and the "No.1 Family Attraction in North Texas."
The Fort Worth Zoo is an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo.
The AZA has been the overseeing body of U.S. zoos and aquariums for the past 40 years. According to the AZA website, accreditation is the process by which a zoo or aquarium is recognized by professionals and is measured against the standards and best practices. The Fort Worth Zoo is one of 239 AZA-accredited zoos in the country.
"The AZA sets the standards for animal care, husbandry, training, nutrition, veterinary care, guest experiences and conservation," said Gant.
In 2020, the AZA listed Fort Worth in the top 20 best zoos in the continental United States. Once the AZA listed the top 20 zoos, the list was narrowed down to 10 and USA Today opened up a nationwide vote.
The Fort Worth Zoo took the top spot.
Taking the top-ranked spot means more than just physical beauty and providing the best 'wow' factor for guests. The Fort Worth Zoo is home to some of the largest conservation programs, breeding programs and award-winning animal enrichment that make the zoo stand out as one of the best in the nation.
"We take the best care of our animals," said Elander.
The Fort Worth Zoo plans to continue its exceptional legacy and exceed expectations in animal care and guest experiences.
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