Lone Star creatures slither their way into the Fort Worth Zoo
Charlie Miles, 9, carries her little brother, Danny, 3, so he can get a better look at the fish June 20, 2024, at the Fort Worth Zoo’s Mountains & Desert habitat in Texas Wild! grand reopening. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TxZoo_CamiloDiaz-8.jpg?fit=300%2C195&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TxZoo_CamiloDiaz-8.jpg?fit=780%2C507&ssl=1″>
Charlie Miles, 9, was thrilled to see the number of species that are native to Texas when she walked into the newly renovated Mountains & Desert habitat in the 8-acre Texas Wild! section of the Fort Worth Zoo.
“I thought I knew lots of animals that live in Texas, but I do not,” the 9-year-old said. “There are so many!”
Charlie Miles, left, and her mother, Michelle Miles, and brother Danny learn about Boba, the eastern indigo snake, on June 20, 2024, at the Fort Worth Zoo Mountains & Desert grand reopening in Texas Wild! (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
The renovated facility houses more than 30 ectotherm — or cold-blooded — Texas native species. The walls were filled with habitats for these creatures. Plaques feature their names, what part of Texas they are from and interesting facts.
Boba, an eastern indigo snake, was her favorite scaly creature, Charlie said.
“I learned that it’s the only snake that isn’t venomous or that chases down its prey, without venom,” said Charlie. “I just thought that was cool.”
Video by Camilo Diaz
Diane Barber, the zoo’s senior curator of ectotherm, said most of the animals featured in the exhibit are often overlooked or underappreciated. Many are in danger of extinction.
“As you walk through Mountains & Desert, I hope you take the time to observe, appreciate and connect to new, perhaps scaled animals and learn about its future and what we can do to ensure it remains for generations to come,” Barber said.
Charlie and her 3-year-old brother, Danny, explored the exhibits. Toward the end is an aquatic section.
Charlie knows how much her little brother loves fish. She picked him up so he could get a better look.
Residents walk into the newly renovated Mountains & Desert habitat in the Texas Wild! section of the Fort Worth Zoo on June 20, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
Zoo Camp members observe an animal that lives in the Mountains & Desert habitat in the Texas Wild! exhibit on June 20, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
A Texas rat snake hangs from a tree branch June 20, 2024, at the Fort Worth Zoo Mountains & Desert habitat in Texas Wild! grand reopening. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
An eastern collared lizard roams its habitat June 20, 2024, at the Fort Worth Zoo Mountains & Desert habitat’s grand reopening. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
Kinley Urquhart, 9, right, and Carter Urquhart, 6, take a close look at an animal that lives in the Mountains & Desert habitat in the Fort Worth Zoo’s Texas Wild! section on June 20, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
Attendees learn about Texas conservation projects as they tour the Fort Worth Zoo’s Mountains & Desert habitat in Texas Wild! grand reopening on June 20, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
Camilo Diaz is a multimedia fellow at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at camilo.diaz@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Comments (0)