Latest news with #AbileneZoo
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abilene Zoo at forefront of preserving endangered secretary birds
ABILENE, Texas () – Pam and Jagger are the resident secretary birds at the Abilene Zoo, and Zoo Animal Care Supervisor Philip Nigro considers them an important pair. The population of this species has been declining in recent years, and the Abilene Zoo is the only institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that has a breeding pair. This month, they welcomed their fourth chick, which is the first secretary bird chick to be successfully bred in the United States this year. 'We just love to see things like this, to help an animal that not very many people probably know needs a lot of help because it's very endangered,' said Nigro. Abilene Zoo celebrates new bison calf & secretary bird chick Secretary birds are native to Africa, where they can most commonly be found hunting in tall grass. Their preferred diet helps to control pest populations such as insects, rodents, and snakes. Pam and Jagger hatched their first two chicks just three years ago, and those chicks were transferred to the Phoenix Zoo. Their third was born in 2024 and currently resides at the Abilene Zoo, where it was raised as a species ambassador. 'So he actually is more trained to go into classrooms or with children or more big groups of people and they can see them up close,' Nigro most recent chick is still too young to tell what its sex is and has not yet been named. Nigro says the baby chick was born about the size of a tennis ball and is now about the size of an American football at just under a month old. Once it has fully matured, Nigro says the chick will likely be transferred to another zoo. The repeated success of Abilene's secretary birds in breeding, Nigro says, is a positive trend for the species as a whole. Abilene Zoo welcomes birth of rare secretary chick 'This is a very big victory for the species. It's a big victory for Zoos, and at Abilene, we're here just trying to find out how we can better preserve these great birds,' said Nigro. There will soon be even more opportunities for the public to see the happy family, as the Abilene Zoo will begin holding earlier hours on Monday, June 2nd, for 'Roaring Mornings,' during which the zoo will be in operation from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abilene Zoo's Caribbean Cove project nears completion, showcasing warm-weather animals year-round
ABILENE, Texas () — It's been just a year since the Abilene Zoo started its Caribbean Cove project, an additional exhibit allowing warmer-climate animals to be viewed year-round. With completion expected in a few months, the zoo is seeking city council approval on Thursday to use funds for its completion. Denae Duesler, with the Abilene Zoo, said, 'We have to ensure that we are keeping up with all of the standards of care for all of the animals here at the zoo, as well as we want to ensure we're providing the best possible guest experience. I think the community is just going to be dazzled by it. I know we're so excited about this project.' There is one more step in the funding process before the project can be completed. The organization wants to use funds from a pre-approved 2023 bond for zoo improvements to help finish the project out for its summer 2025 completion date. 'Anything that's being expended for any one particular item over a certain dollar amount does have to go to the city council for approval. So we did get multiple bids on this caging, and we are utilizing the one that is the most cost-effective for this project,' Duesler explained. 'The big piece of it is providing all of the caging for those animals. The concrete has been poured for that. But we're still waiting on the installation of all of that caging.' The new exhibit will showcase warm-weather animals during winter months and feature additional trees. 'With all of this construction going on around here, between our parking lot, AYSA, and some other projects in town, the zoo has been really passionate about trying to save as many of these beautiful trees as we actually can. So, when you come out to the Abilene Zoo, you're going to see some new trees planted,' Duesler said. The zoo will also welcome toucans to the exhibit and have a wider parking lot paired with lighting and sidewalks for the summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bison return to Abilene Zoo
Jan. 30—ABILENE — Abilene Zoo has announced the arrival of two American bison, bringing one of North America's most iconic species back to the Abilene community. Just one century ago, bison roamed the grasslands that are modern-day Abilene, and they have long been a cherished symbol synonymous with the Abilene community. For years, these magnificent creatures were on exhibit at Abilene Zoo, but in 2011, the zoo's bison were relocated to a private facility. Now, thanks to the generosity of the Weilert family, Uno, an eight-year-old male bison, is making his debut at the zoo, marking the return of this iconic species fourteen years later. In the coming weeks, Uno will be joined by a female bison, both of whom have been residing on a private ranch owned by the Weilert family just outside of Abilene. After Uno was displaced from his herd by another male bison, owner Steve Weilert had the idea of donating him and a breeding female to the zoo, a news release said. "I've loved bison my whole life, and I remember as a kid just being fascinated by them- their size and beauty," Steve Weilert said in the release. "I've always wanted to see them brought back to the zoo so kids today can see and appreciate how magnificent they are. This is a dream come true for our family." The return of bison to the zoo is not only a historic moment, it showcases the zoo's deep commitment to conservation and education. The bison will serve as ambassadors for their species, helping visitors understand the vital role they play in the ecosystem and the importance of preserving their natural habitats. "We are excited to welcome these majestic creatures to our zoo," said Jesse Pottebaum, Zoo Director. "Bison are a symbol of resilience and strength, and their presence here allows us to educate the public about the efforts being made to protect and restore their populations in the wild." Uno is out on exhibit daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit
