ABQ BioPark Zoo, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a facility of the Albuquerque Biological Park. Founded in 1927, the 64-acre (26 ha) zoo was originally known as the Rio Grande Zoo. Sections of the zoo include an Africa exhibit area, an Australia exhibit area, the "Cat Walk" and a herpetology area. An endangered species carousel was added in 2016. A narrow-gauge railroad connects the zoo to the other facilities of the Albuquerque Biological Park. Walking distance through the zoo is 2.27 miles (3.65 km).
The reptile house was remodeled in 2012. With the renovations the building houses mostly reptiles. The exhibit houses many species of snakes, tortoises and lizards. There are two large areas where the zoo's Komodo dragons are held. In a building located near the Reptile House the zoo's temporary home for a large adult saltwater crocodile and for slender-snouted crocodiles. On the outside of the Reptile House is the new Gator Swamp Exhibit, which is a large outdoor heated pool housing several adult American alligators. The reptile house received more renovations in 2017 to improve digital interpretive signage and interactive displays.
Five Texas horned lizards, born in August 2019 at the Zoo, are now on exhibit in the reptile building. The zoo has been breeding the species since 2017. The Texas horned lizard has disappeared from about half of its historic range due to habitat loss, human eradication of the ant populations that these lizards eat and displacement of native ant populations by invasive fire ants. To date, the zoo has successfully released about 70 young into the wild in Socorro County, New Mexico.
This exhibit holds the zoo's pack of Mexican wolves, the most endangered species of wolf in the United States. In June 2020, Mexican gray wolves Kawi and Ryder welcomed seven pups, this is the pair's second litter. The litter consists of five boys and two girls.
Inukshuk Bay
This large exhibit offers many views of the zoo's polar bears. One can see them through underwater viewing windows or walk to the top of the exhibit and watch the bears lounge, feed, and slide down the waterfall.
Catwalk
Grottos in this exhibit hold the zoo's big cats among other animals. Due to a renovation modernization of the Catwalk, African lion siblings, Kenya and Dixie, were permanently transferred to the Abilene Zoo in March 2023.[3][4]
With the renovation of the Reptile House in 2012, the zoo opened up Amphibians: Life on a Limb, replacing the original Gator Swamp, where the zoo used to hold its juvenile alligators. The building houses several species of frogs as well as other amphibians. The zoo also houses the only captive population of locust coquis, critically endangered frogs from Puerto Rico.
This exhibit was originally home to just several elephant yards and two barns for the zoo's Asian elephant herd of two males and four females. The area was expanded in 2023, adding flex exhibits for the zoo's orangutans, siamangs, tigers and snow leopards.
In September 2018, the zoo started making major progress in an expansion of the area with several different plans being put in motion. The zoo closed its seal pool, and the area will be repurposed in the expansion. New animals to be included in the expansion are dingos, little penguins, wallabies, and the return of koalas to the zoo. The Zoo will have and updated exhibits for most of its current animals and be a new home for the zoo's saltwater crocodile.
In July 2019, the highly anticipated penguin chill exhibit opened. The multi-million dollar exhibit was funded through a city tax bond. The exhibit features gentoo penguins, macaroni penguins, and king penguins, and is the first of its kind in the Southwest. The 14,550 sq ft (1,352 m2) building includes a 75,589 US gal (286,140 L; 62,941 imp gal) main tank, above-ground and underwater guest viewing areas, a large interactive educational area and an outdoor deck overlooking the Zoo's main park. The outdoor deck also includes restrooms and a snack bar as well. The exhibit begins with a themed main viewing deck will with a panoramic view for visitors. The main pool depths varying from 5 to 12 feet (1.5 to 3.7 m) allow for plenty of space for penguin activity including special public feedings with keepers, swimming and enrichment. There is a glass floor area that allows guests to see penguins swimming beneath their feet as you travel through the exhibit. The exhibit includes natural day/night and seasonal lighting cycles to help regulate the penguins' hormonal balancing and breeding. The Zoo had early hopes for baby penguins with two macaroni penguin eggs being discovered in 2020, however both eggs were discovered to be infertile.
Birds of the Islands
Opened in 2020, the zoo opened the Birds of the Islands exhibit on the location of the former parrot habitat. This exhibit is part of the Zoo's Americas Trail. Adjacent to the aviaries is an exhibit for Aldabra giant tortoises.
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