“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi
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aving a howling good time, swinging from ropes, splashing in the water, slinking around rocks, and feathers a ‘flying--there’s simply no denying this place is a zoo. Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! All of the animals at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco are going WILD in anticipation of the zoo’s 20th birthday celebration and festivities; and they have plenty of reasons to celebrate. Twenty years ago when the zoo first opened it only had 57 animals and today it has over 2,000! The zoo sprawls across 52 acres and is adjacent to the 460-acre Brazos River Park. Chosen for its beautiful landscape and rich native vegetation, the park offered the ideal setting for creating natural and authentic habitats for animals. The cascading waterfalls, ponds, and lake also create a very peaceful and picturesque setting for both animals and guests. “We were very fortunate to be able to
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JUly 2013 Tex Appeal
plan and build our habitats and exhibits in and around this natural setting. Instead of building an exhibit and then trying to figure out how to recreate a natural setting around it—we just designed the exhibit into the natural setting. This allowed us to incorporate multiple species into an exhibit, which enables us to ‘tell a story’ as you move through the zoo,” says Jim Fleshman, the director of Cameron Park Zoo. The main mission of the Cameron Park Zoo is to promote conservation awareness and cultural enrichment through education and recreation. Moreover, the zoo’s conservation and research efforts have not been limited to only local or state efforts, but globally. In 1993, it helped fund the SMO Tiger Rescue in Indonesia and the Orangutan Conservation Programme in Sumatra. The Cameron Park Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and it upholds exceptional standards for animal care and
management. The animal care staff devotes a tremendous amount of time and energy toward providing the best of care, including training, proper nutrition, veterinary care, and life enrichment. From the zoo’s earliest conception, conservation has always been the goal. Zoos are more than just entertainment. A zoo educates and challenges people to take action for animal protection and promotes conservation, recycling, and efforts to protect and preserve our environment. Not only does it change lives, it enriches lives,” explains Jim. Featured in the article, “Ten Zoos in the U.S.” by National Geographic, the Cameron Park Zoo is recognized globally as one of the world’s leading zoos for animal care, conservation, and natural habitats. In 2011, the zoo was selected to be the host the 2011 Orangutan Husbandry Conference because of its outstanding orangutan exhibit and husbandry program. Orangutan researchers from all over the world attended this event. Not only is this a large exhibit, but its impressive