For the 24th year in a row, attendance at the Fort Worth Zoo has surpassed one million visitors.
The one millionth guest went through the zoo turnstiles on Sept. 22 and was greeted with a souvenir package containing zoo keepsakes.
Management attributes this year’s attendance to the debut of the 14,000-square-foot splash park Safari Splash, a baby boom and the zoo’s ever-increasing profile both regionally and nationally.
“This year’s births of three giraffe calves, three lion cubs, two jaguar cubs and one baby bonobo are not only entertaining and educational experiences for guests to enjoy but are also conservation success stories for their species,” said Michael Fouraker, executive director. “Even with record rainfall earlier this summer, the zoo remained a popular family destination.”
Established 106 years ago, the Fort Worth Zoo today is home to nearly 7,000 animals representing more than 500 species. Under management of the Fort Worth Zoological Association, the Zoo has opened 15 major exhibits and raised more than $186 million for capital improvements.
The Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the Best Zoo in Texas by Yahoo Travel, the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide, the No. 1 attraction in the D-FW Metroplex by Zagat survey and a top 10 zoo or aquarium by FamilyFun magazine and TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Betty Dillard
bdillard@bizpress.net