Tag Archives: zoo el paso

The El Paso Zoo invites the public to the final “After Howlers” event of the season from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Saturday, August 18.

The event will feature a “Zoo-per Heroes” theme where all guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero or movie character. Additionally, the event includes a Meet the Keeper program and animal enrichments.

There will be live music by 7^TH Ave Band, Last Train Home, and DJ Kid Notorious, and an evening bird show.  Visitors can also enjoy a special high flying Aerial Acrobatic Show by Odd-Lab.

Families will be able to enjoy their favorite’s spots like the Hunt Family Desert Spring, Foster Tree House Playground, the new Hunt Family Endangered Species Carousel, or grab some delicious food at Passport Café or the Beastro.

The zoo will be open from 9:30 a.m. 8:30 p.m. with the “After Howlers” event starting at 5 p.m.

For more information about the El Paso Zoo, call (915) 212-0966 or visit the zoo’s website.

With summer starting to come to a close, the El Paso Zoo is inviting residents to come out and celebrate with $3 Thursdays held every Thursday in August.

Officials the the El Paso Zoo say, “The promotion is a great way for the community to come out and enjoy the last days of summer at the zoo.”

$3 Thursdays means for every purchase of a regular priced adult, senior or active duty military/spouse ticket one child or teen ticket will be discounted by $3 (regular price $7.50 or $9.00).

The zoo will also offer special pricing on those days, two people can ride for $3 on either the African Star Train or the new Hunt Family Endangered Species Carousel. Other special deals include $3 purchase of a regular drink and popcorn, or an ICEE, or a hot dog.

Additional information is available on the El Paso Zoo website.

An El Paso Zoo (EPZ) staff member will travel to take part in an effort to save more than 10,000 critically endangered radiated tortoises; after EPZ answered a call dispatched to Animal Experts from Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

The tortoises were discovered in April by local police in a private residence in Toliara, Madagascar.  The floors of virtually every room in the house were covered with tortoises that had no access to food or water.  The tortoises have since been transferred to “Villages des Tortues,” a secure wildlife facility in Ifaty where conservation partners from around the world are headed to assist.

Luis Villanueva, an EPZ zoo keeper, will be in Madagascar for two weeks working with Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) the organization that launched the rescue mission.

“The radiated tortoise is critically endangered due to poaching and deforestation. These magnificent animals can live up 180 years old and are some of the most beautiful Tortoises in the world, which leads to exploitation in the pet trade,” said Villanueva. Hundreds of the tortoises have already died from dehydration and illness.

This is not the first time EPZ has sent staff to help an international cause. In 2016, EPZ worked together with other AZA Zoos to help hand rear baby Penninsular pronghorn antelopes in the El Vizcaino Biosphere Preserve in Baja California Sur, Mexico to create an insurance population for the diminishing species. “El Paso Zoo, as an AZA accredited zoo, demonstrates that its staff has acquired the experience needed to work with endangered species,” said Villanueva.

It is estimated that the radiated tortoise population in the wild has declined more than 80 percent in the last 30 years.  There is a real chance they could be extinct in the wild in less than two decades.

Mr. Villanueva leaves Saturday morning at 6 a.m. and will be gone for two weeks. “I am proud of Luis for offering to represent us and that he gets to go and help with this huge project,” said Tammy Sundquist, Americas Collection Supervisor.

Mr. Villanueva will not have any form of communicating with EPZ, but you can learn more and read the Zoo blog where information will be posted by visiting our website and clicking on the El Paso Zoo Adventures link.

The El Paso Zoo is hosting its first late evening hours of the season with its After Howlers event this Saturday, June 16 with a special Anime theme where guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite anime character.

The After Howlers extended hours event will take place on the third Saturday of each month through August (July 21 and August 18) from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

In addition, there will be music, a bird show and a chance to meet zookeepers. Families will also be able to enjoy the Hunt Family Desert Spring and Foster Tree House playground, or grab some delicious food at the Passport and Grasslands Café.

For more information on the After Howlers event, visit the El Paso Zoo website.

The El Paso Zoo invites the public to learn more about slithery, slimy, and scaly animals during Reptilia from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3.

Zoo officials say, “Guests will be able to explore all the things that make reptiles unique, learn about threats in the wild and find out what the zoo is doing to protect these species. ”

Reptilia also gives the public the opportunity to understand how reptiles play a critical role in the environment.

Visitors can expect reptile encounters, arts and crafts stations, reptile cutout photo opportunities, educational games, live entertainment, animal enrichments, and activities throughout the zoo.

Guests can also cool off in the splash pad, take part in giraffe feedings, or visit the bio facts station. There’s also a chance to purchase a ticket for the Galapagos Tortoise Behind the Scenes Tour.

For more information on the Reptilia event, visit the El Paso Zoo online or on Facebook.

Santa Claus is coming to town and he is making a special visit at the “Santa at the Zoo” event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10.

Santa will be making a special delivery to the Zoo; he is bringing snow from the North Pole for guests to play in and treats for the Zoo animals. Visitors can play in the snow and watch the animals open their presents as part of their daily enrichment.

Animal enrichment is provided to animals to provide mental and physical stimulation in their daily lives.

In addition, guests can create holiday arts and crafts, listen to carolers and live entertainment, watch holiday movies and more. There is plenty of holiday fun for everyone at Santa at the Zoo.

Most activities will be available at no cost with paid admission – with the exception of Santa photos, giraffe feedings, and train rides.

For more information on Santa at the Zoo, visit the El Paso Zoo online.

The El Paso Zoo invites the public to the annual Boo at the Zoo event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29.

Visitors are encouraged to wear their costumes and enjoy trick-or-treat candy stations and fun fall activities. Boo at the Zoo features an alligator alley haunted house, Zoo-rassic Park, an inflatable bounce house and slide, live entertainment, and much more.

Visitors will also get a chance to see the animals enjoy special Halloween enrichment treats, including pumpkins and piñatas.

The first 2,000 kids each day will receive a trick-or-treat bag and the first 200 guests each day will receive a free Krispy Kreme donut. With the exception of giraffe feeding and train rides, activities and candy stations will be provided at no cost, with paid admission.

Additional parking will be available at no cost at the El Paso County Coliseum, which is across the street from the Zoo.

Boo at the Zoo provides only certified sustainable palm oil candy and palm oil free candy at each candy station to bring awareness to wildlife habitat destruction worldwide. As an ingredient, palm oil is found in at least 4 out of 10 household products. Worldwide palm oil consumption is doubling every 10 years.

More than 85 percent of all palm oil globally produced and exported is from Indonesia and Malaysia, where the palm oil industry is linked to major issues such as deforestation, habitat loss, climate change, animal cruelty and human rights abuses.

Large-scale deforestation linked to unsustainable palm oil practices is pushing many species to extinction.

Many animal species worldwide connected to the animals at our Zoo – including Asian elephants Savannah and Juno, Sumatran orangutans Ibu, Khaleesi and Butch, and Malayan tigers Seri and Melor – could go extinct in the wild if nothing changes and the palm oil industry continues its current practices.

For more information about Boo at the Zoo, visit the El Paso Zoo online.

Ever wonder what the animals at the El Paso Zoo are doing after hours? The El Paso Zoo is hosting late evening hours with its Zoo After Howlers, presented by MetroPCS, this Saturday, July 16.

The Zoo will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with last entrance at 7 p.m. Regular admission applies.

Live music and entertainment includes performances by FM Junkies from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Border Avenue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., as well as interactive stilt walkers and an evening fire show. Guests will also be able to enjoy regular Zoo activities, including special themed animal programs.

The July theme is “Edge of Extinction,” and includes special endangered animal Meet the Keeper programs. Additionally, the Zoo will host an “Artworks for Change” exhibit with art by the Zoo’s most endangered animals where guests can be inspired to paint and create their own art.

Favorite Zoo activities, including animal encounters and a special evening giraffe feeding, will occur during the Zoo’s extended evening hours for guests to enjoy.

All attractions will be open for guests. The Hunt Family Desert Spring and Foster Tree House Playground will be available into the evening for the kids to enjoy. Evening hours will not only offer fun, but will offer families an outing during cooler summer hours. The Zoo’s ticket booth and membership office will close at 7 p.m. Staff will begin to take animals off exhibit at 7:45 p.m. Zoo grounds will close at 8:30 p.m.

The last Zoo After Howlers extended hour evening will be on August 20.

Guests will receive a detailed schedule of events at the gate or can access it at http://www.elpasozoo.org/event/6969-zoo-after-howlers-extended-hours