San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium – San Antonio, Texas | Smoke & Vape Culebra

3903 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212, United States

The San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium is one of the best zoos in Texas. It has over 20,000 animals on display with more than 750 different species. This zoo also features a safari park and aquarium that entertains visitors for hours on end – perfect for any family looking to spend time together! The San Antonio Zoo was founded by Harry Mufson in 1923 as part of his private game preserve, featuring North American wild animal specimens from all across the United States including bears, wolves, elk, mountain lions and other carnivores; plus reptiles such as rattlesnakes and various lizards. In 1929 it became known as Brackenridge Park Zoological Gardens before being called simply “San Antonio Zoological Garden” in 1956. The San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium is home to over 800 birds from all around the world, not just in Texas.

The animals are healthy, well-fed, and happy – a must when visiting any zoo! There’s such a wide variety of species here that it will be hard for anyone to walk away disappointed with what they saw at this fabulous attraction. One cannot help but feel like you’re on safari as your eyes wander across the open air enclosures where giraffes are grazing near lions or elephants roam freely among zebras and gazelles. If people should happen upon one of these larger creatures unexpectedly while walking through another part of the park then they shouldn’t worry because the animals have been safely separated from the walking paths, with many of them living in habitats that are larger than a football field.

The San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium is one of the few zoos who have an accredited zoo education department, meaning it has met nationally recognized accreditation standards for school programs. And they offer a wide variety! Guided tours, Animal Encounters, Science Labs and more! This means that not only can you learn about each animal by speaking to your park guide but also get up close-and-personal time with some animals too – all while getting hands-on experience into wildlife conservation efforts around the world. The Education Department gives kids interested in science or another animal related profession something to do after their visit as well: Become A Junior Zookeeper!

Exhibits

Africa Live

Africa Live! is the newest exhibit at the San Antonio Zoo. Africa Live! is a three-phase show that allows visitors to see Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. Through underwater viewing windows, guests can see the hippopotamus, Nile crocodile, and African cichlids. The Angola colobus, okapi, African wild dog, rock hyrax, Wolf’s mona monkey, and various bird species can also be found in Africa Live!

African elephants, zebras, giraffes, and rhinoceroses will all have new or remodeled exhibits in Phase III of Africa Live. The zoo reopened a remodeled Giraffe exhibit with a feeding station in November 2015, and other animals such as zebras and ostriches will soon join them.

African Savanna

The African Savanna tour takes visitors through a rocky, arid landscape surrounded by natural limestone cliffs. The zebra, ostrich, topi, marabou stork, and various antelope can all be found on the African Plains. The giraffes can now be fed by visitors.

African Plains

Visitors can see white rhinoceros and guineafowl right across from the Savanna. The zoo displays cheetahs, as well as smaller animals like the dik-dik, duiker, and bateleur eagle, as you continue uphill.

Big Cat Valley/Rift Valley

From the Plains to the Valley, visitors make a beeline for the Valley. As you return down the hill, you’ll see a variety of antelope species, as well as warthogs and the new lion habitat.

Outpost Amazonia

The zoo’s South American plants and animals are housed in Amazonia. The main waterway of the zoo encompasses a large portion of Amazonia. Guests can enter the exhibit through the open flight deck and see scarlet ibis, as well as other birds and spider monkeys.

Cat Grotto

Visitors can walk through a cave-like area. Smaller cats at the zoo, such as a fishing cat, black-footed cats, clouded leopards, and a caracal, are housed here. A few mammals that resemble cats can also be found here: the ringtail cat, fossa, and a northern treeshrew.

Bear Corner

This area, which is close to the entrance, has several grottos where the zoo’s two bear species, the spectacled bear and the American black bear, can be found.

Cranes of the World

Whooping cranes, blue cranes, Manchurian cranes, and the hooded crane can all be found in the zoo. The exhibit is a lush environment built on an existing waterway that immerses visitors in the cranes’ natural habitat. It’s a chance that’s about to present itself.

Nature Spot

The San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium is a nature spot. It’s home to more than 800 animals of 230 different species, including endangered ones like the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and the Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Opened in 1985 with just over 300 acres of land, it now spans some 400 acres. The zoo has won numerous awards for its conservation efforts, but at least one animal welfare group accuses them of having a “hard time” meeting standards on enrichment for their primates.

The San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium is a great place to take your family or friends, but it’s also the perfect destination for animal lovers. From an African Safari-themed area with giraffes roaming around freely to penguins walking across their habitat, you can get up close and personal with some of nature’s most amazing creatures here in Texas. Plus there are plenty of other exhibits that will allow you to see how animals live all over the world! Whether you want to enjoy an educational day out or just have fun seeing these magnificent creatures on display, this zoo has something for everyone.  Check us out on our website for other blogs available on our page!