![]() Some of the more popular zoo animals are representatives from Africa. In the Gladys Porter Zoo’s Asia, one can find such animals as gaur, addax, Bactrian camels and pileated gibbons. It’s unsurpassed range of elevations, latitude and climatic influences produce the greatest variety of habitats on any continent. The continent of Asia is a land of extremes and unbelievable diversity. This region of the Zoo also features our Indo-Australian Aviary with a pair of rare rhino hornbills. In this area, Zoo visitors can view orangutans, tree kangaroos, kookaburras, Philippine and saltwater crocodiles, agile wallabies, and magpie geese, along with many other creatures native to Australia. This area of the Zoo represents the regions of Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. In the Gladys Porter Zoo’s Tropical America, visitors can view Macaw Canyon, Galapagos Tortoises, Caribbean flamingos, spider monkeys, Orinoco crocodiles, Cuban crocodiles, and dozens of other unique and rare animals from the tropics. This extremely lush area is home to an incredible variety of plants and animals nearly one-half of all known species on earth live in this region. Tropical America represents a region that includes all but the northernmost part of Mexico, all of Central America and the northern two-thirds of South America. Large numbers of wild birds find sanctuary on the Zoo grounds, drawn to the plants and waterways that provide them with food and shelter. Small World features a nursery and an animal contact yard where children can touch and interact with domesticated animals. There is also a Herpetarium, the Russell Aquatic Ecology Center, Tropical America Free-flight Aviary, Macaw Canyon, Bear Grottos and Komodo dragon exhibit. The park is divided into four zoogeographic areas: Africa, Asia, Tropical America and Indo-Australia. Volunteers gathered up the sea turtles and took them to the South Padre Island Convention Cenre.In a mere ¾ mile trek, a visitor to the Gladys Porter Zoo will encounter a diverse ensemble of 377 species of animals and 225 species of plants. The green sea turtles love the shallow, warm waters of Laguna Madre and the seagrass beds, but the storm left thousands stunned. Several members were assisting cold-stunned sea turtles down the road at South Padre Island. The staff also wasn't just assisting animals at the zoo. We don't know how to drive on icy roads or in snow," said Garza Galvan. Director of marketing Cynthia Garza Galvan said only the animal care staff were required to come to work and the rest of the staff worked remotely. Like the zoo, they were dealing with the blackout, lack of heat, and some didn't water. The storm did more than affect the animals, employees were also hit hard by the storm. "They know exactly what to do with a blanket." "There were a lot of caped crusaders running around," she said. Adams said dozens upon dozens of blankets were given to the apes and they wrapped themselves up. ![]() The Great Apes - gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans - don't like the cold and, just like people, they like to bundle up. ![]() Not all of the animals are in danger because of the weather, but other precautions needed to be made to keep them warm. ![]() It looks like a parking lot inside of there," Adams said. Adams said approximately 60 tortoises are now in the herpetarium, and they will stay there until the temperatures stabilize. Dozens of tortoises live in outside habitats and all of them were moved into the reptile house. One of the largest animal moves at the zoo involved its tortoise population. Gladys Porter Staff move animals from original habitat to a warm building/Courtesy Gladys Porter Zoo When the power would come on, the animals would be brought to their original habitats to eat, but when the power went off, they would again be packed up and taken to the clinic, where they would stay overnight. Animal care staff at Gladys Porter wrapped the mammals up in blankets, put them in crates, and hauled them over to the animal health clinic. The scaly anteaters are originally from Africa and twenty-degree temperatures are not something they can handle. The power outage meant animals that aren't cold tolerant needed to be moved right away.įirst up was the five pangolins. The zoo has three generators: one operates the aquarium along with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) for the herpetarium, one for the animal health facility where surgeries take place, and onre at the commissary which houses up to 2,000 lbs. We never faced anything like this before." said Colette Adams, deputy director of the zoo.
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