Gladys Porter Zoo

For the Nova Scotian politician, see Gladys Porter.
Gladys Porter Zoo
Front entrance on Ringgold St.
The Gladys Porter Zoo Sign
Map
25°54′44″N 97°29′46″W / 25.9123°N 97.4962°W / 25.9123; -97.4962
Date opened3 September 1971[1]
LocationBrownsville, Texas, USA
Land area31 acres (13 ha)
No. of animals1600
No. of species400
Annual visitors424,000+
MembershipsAZA[2]
Websitegladysporterzoo.org

Gladys Porter Zoo is a zoological and botanical park located in Brownsville, Texas, United States. The zoo officially opened on September 3, 1971, and currently averages over 424,000 visitors annually. Situated on 31 acres (13 ha), the zoo houses about 400 animal species (including 47 endangered species) and over 250 tropical and neo-tropical species and subspecies. It is the first zoo to have successfully bred the endangered Jentink's duiker (although none are currently in captivity in the US).[3] It is also the birthplace of Harambe, the gorilla.[4]

The zoo is named after Gladys Porter, the daughter of Earl C. Sams, former president of J. C. Penney. Porter, a wildlife enthusiast, helped to plan and stock the zoo, which was entirely funded by the Earl C. Sams Foundation. After its opening, the zoo was given to the city of Brownsville.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference zoo_history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference aza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Ellis, Richard (2004). No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species. New York: Harper Perennial. p. 262. ISBN 0-06-055804-0.
  4. ^ Bigfoot Journeys (January 27, 2014). "Announcing the name of a baby lowland gorilla, "Harambe"". Archived from the original on 2021-12-18 – via YouTube.