Baby Gorilla Debuts on Gorilla Island

On Tuesday, January 24th, a beautiful baby western lowland gorilla joins its mother, Martha, and the rest of the troop on Gorilla Island. The newest addition to the gorilla family was born at 6 a.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2012 to Martha, an experienced mother of five and Moja, the Zoo’s silverback gorilla.
　
Martha is keeping a close eye on her baby as she constantly cradles and comforts it. Zookeepers report that Martha is nursing normally. The newborn is believed to be a male, although Martha’s continuous embrace makes it hard for Zoo officials to be certain at this point.
　
"She’s a good mom," said Jerry Stones, Facilities Director at the Gladys Porter Zoo. "Martha’s been nurturing babies since before she had one."
　
Mother and baby spent their first week separate from the group to ensure a close bond. This morning, as Martha and baby made their way onto Gorilla Island, the other gorillas were very curious to see the newest addition to their troop.
　
On average, a gorilla’s gestation period lasts eight and a half months and a newborn gorilla can be expected to take its first steps as early as 3 months.
　
Western lowland gorillas along with all species of gorillas are considered rare and endangered. The Gladys Porter Zoo participates in the AZA sponsored Species Survival Plan (SSP) for gorillas. The SSP manages the population of Western lowland gorillas in AZA facilities in order to maintain genetic diversity and demographic stability.invited to share in the Zoo’s excitement and see the newest bundle of joy!

Texas Zoos & Ranch Tour

The Gladys Porter Zoo travel committee has planned a great family-oriented excursion to Texas Zoos for Spring Break 2012. Tour stops include: Texas State Aquarium, Y.O. Ranch and San Antonio Zoo. The group will be guided by a knowledgeable Zoo staff person.

The trip is geared towards families with young children. You can take your own vehicle. Don't miss out on the behind-the-scenes tours, exotic game tour and storytelling with s'mores by the campfire. For itinerary and pricing download the brochure.

Winter Texan Discount Day -FEBRUARY 1, 2012

All residents living in the Rio Grande Valley for the winter will be able to visit the Zoo for the special admission price of $4.50. Residents will need to show proof of out of state residency. Identification such as a driver's license, utility receipt or school ID will suffice. At least one family member must show proof of residency at the gate.

South Texas Botanical Exhibit and Park

Visit the Zoo’s newest attraction the South Texas Botanical Exhibit and Park. The park features an enchanted South Texas themed playground and is nestled in an area landscaped with native plants. It is located adjacent to the butterfly garden and recently re-opened Butterflies, Bugs and Blooms exhibit. The playground is one-of-a-kind, and contains sensational play structures. Among them is a 22-foot-tall Discovery Tree with multiple slides, a sliding pole, and lots of ADA features. An elevated walkway connects the Discovery Tree to the ClubHouse which features a slide, a talk tube and secret alcove.

There is also a whimsical Castaway Boat with all the bells and whistles that will totally captivate toddlers. Playground visitors can also cool off under the refreshing water misters at Martha’s Cove. Zoo staff has been working for months to convert a former railroad track area donated by the City of Brownsville into a beautiful park for visitors to enjoy. The South Texas Botanical Exhibit and Park was made possible by grant funds and generous contributions from over 40 donors. The park will be open during regular Zoo hours. Admission is free with regular Zoo admission or Zoo membership.

Giraffe Landing – Now Open!

The new Giraffe Landing Feeding Experience allows visitors to get up close and personal with the Gladys Porter Zoo’s giraffe herd. Visitors stand on a specially built, ADA-accessible platform to provide a safe and meaningful animal feeding opportunity. Feedings cost three dollars for giraffe treats, with regular Zoo admission or Zoo membership. Giraffe Landing will be open on weekends and special engagements from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting.

South American Free-Flight Aviary

Our newly renovated aviary provides visitors with an opportunity to have a close encounter with myriad of South American birds, including green aracaris, green-winged macaws, trumpeters, roseate spoonbills, scarlet ibis and more! The inside of the exhibit now includes three water features as well as additional perching areas for the birds. This free-flight concept allows the birds a larger space to interact, breed and nest as well as an opportunity for visitors to encounter them as they display natural behaviors. The exhibit will be open during regular Zoo hours. Admission to the Free-Flight Aviary is free with Zoo admission or Zoo membership.

New at Zoo - Endangered Orinoco Crocodiles

The Gladys Porter Zoo welcomed two toothy friends. Blade and Suede, a pair of critically endangered Orinoco crocodiles native to Venezuela, were greeted by Zoo staff and visitors at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. The large crocodiles and their crates were lifted via crane into their newly renovated exhibit and were immediately released to enjoy some filtered South Texas sunshine. As of that afternoon they both seemed to be enjoying their new quarters. These rare Orinoco crocodiles were previous residents of the Seaway Serpentarium in Welland, Canada. Karel Fortyn, former owner of Seaway Serpentarium, passed away suddenly in May leaving behind hundreds of animals, including Blade and Suede. The crocodiles had been rapidly outgrowing their tanks, and before his death, Mr. Fortyn had been planning to build them a new facility. But after his death, the need to move them became urgent.

Just two days prior to their release into their new zoo exhibit, a team of crocodile experts from both the U.S. and Canada worked together to extract Blade and Suede from their previous quarters in Canada. They successfully put them into individual crates and drove immediately for the United States. After being cleared by Customs on both sides of the border and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Buffalo, New York, the crocs and 4 staff members from the Gladys Porter Zoo made a bee line for Brownsville. The crew arrived Wednesdayin at 3:30 am and Blade and Suede were exploring their new facilities by late morning. Blade and Suede join just a small handful of other Orinoco crocodiles in captivity in North America, and it is hoped that they will soon reproduce. However, blood samples were taken before their release in order to determine if they are related – a factor to be considered to ensure genetic diversity of the species in captivity.

The species is listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered, and is in serious peril throughout its range. In the early 1990s, fewer than 1,500 non-hatchlings survived in the wild. Some estimate that the wild population may have been as low as 250 adults. Despite proactive conservation measures, declines and fragmentation of the wild population continues