Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Hartmann's Mountain Zebra and More at Fossil Rim

[TheOnlineZoo]

I visited Fossil Rim near Glen Rose, TX, last Sunday. My mom told me we visited once when I was young, but I have no memory of it. This was my first visit as an adult.

The trip wasn't even planned. My daughter and I arrived at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, TX at 9:00 a.m. only to learn that it didn't open until 11:00. We debated just going home, but we decided to drive another hour and a half to visit Fossil Rim.

I'm not a big fan of drive-through parks because they usually don't have much variety and the animals often come too close for photos. The only unique thing about Fossil Rim was the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae), which I had not seen before.

The road through the park was in bad condition and was often too narrow. It took about two hours to drive through, including a stop at the "petting zoo" (where you could only pet goats). We didn't see a single new free-roaming species during the second hour, although there were Cheetahs (behind fences too far away) and Southern White Rhino (behind a fence, but close).

I've heard great things about the breeding programs at Fossil Rim, but you have to pay extra and go on special tours to see any of that. For $25 per person, I was disappointed with the normal tour.

Perhaps I have been spoiled because I visited the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch near San Antonio last year and was very impressed. It had more species, and the ranch was separated into sections so that each section brought something new, instead of more of the same. Plus the road was in much better condition. Natural Bridge has Burchell's Zebra (Equus burchellii burchellii) which I have only seen one other place.

You can see photos from Fossil Rim here:
The Online Zoo - Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

 

[Arizona Docent]

Well you have a totally different perspective than me. I went to Natural Bridge once (many years ago) and found it hugely disappointed - I would never go back. However, I love Fossil Rim and have been three times in the last few years. On my trip two weeks ago, my cousin and I did the entire loop three times in one day! Then we stayed at the tent camp (extra fee) and did the behind the scenes tour the following day, which included a drive through the main park (our fourth)!

Do you not think that blesbok and bontebok are unique? What about addra gazelle? Or bongo - does Natural Bridge have any of those?

The one thing I do agree with is the road is woefully out of maintenance and desperately needs to be repaved and widened. But I find overall the facility very enjoyable. There is a reason Fossil Rim is AZA accredited and Natural Bridge is not.

 

[TheOnlineZoo]

Do you not think that blesbok and bontebok are unique? What about addra gazelle? Or bongo - does Natural Bridge have any of those?

We didn't see Blesbok, Bontebok, or Bongo. We saw two Dama Gazelle (the handout did not mention subspecies - did you learn Addra from some other source?) briefly from a distance and about ten Gemsbok from a distance. At Natural Bridge, I saw several species that I didn't see at Fossil Rim, including Scimitar-horned Oryx, Bongo, Greater Kudu, Springbox, Common Eland, Grey Crowned Crane, Greater Rhea, Nilgai, and the only Muller's Bornean Gibbon I've seen.

 

[jbnbsn99]

Honestly, the diversity is much higher at Natural Bridge than at Fossil Rim, but the breeding and conservation is better at Fossil Rim. Fossil Rim's collection has really gone down in the past years.

 

[Arizona Docent]

You did not see scimitar horned oryx at Fossil Rim??? There is a huge herd in the entrance-exit paddock. I ALWAYS see them and it is hard to believe anyone could miss them.

 

[TheOnlineZoo]

You did not see scimitar horned oryx at Fossil Rim??? There is a huge herd in the entrance-exit paddock. I ALWAYS see them and it is hard to believe anyone could miss them.

I didn't see a single one, and I was looking for them. We went slowly and I photographed almost every individual except for the zillion fallow deer. I also forgot to mention that the giraffes were confined to their pen. From what I've read, having the giraffes come to your car is one of the highlights of Fossil Rim.

Regardless, it sounds like I will have to give them another chance someday. Perhaps I should not go in the heat of the Texas summer and some more stuff will come out to play.

 

[Arizona Docent]

Yes, the giraffe were in their boma which was my only disappointment (I have seen them in the open before). When you go again, arrive at opening time. The staff put food on the road and many animals are right up front.

The only animals that are theoretically in the public area but are impossible to see are the przewalski horses. On the guided tour, our guide explained they have access to the main (entry) paddock or a lower paddock which is mostly hidden by a large hedge row. They prefer the lower paddock and choose not to venture into the main area. Our guide took us along a dirt road (not far from the main road but closed to public vehicles) and there was one small opening in the hedges through which we could see them. Photo attached.