3 Days in Dallas...

azcheetah2

azcheetah2

Well-Known Member
thanks to an airfare sale I have decided to finally hit up some new to me zoos and I've always wanted to go to Texas. I know some Chatters have been to many of the animal facilities in the Dallas area and figured y'all would be the best to ask, what is a MUST see and what just isn't worth it. Right now I am planning on InSync, Dallas Zoo and Fort Worth Zoo but only InSync is a definite. I will be arriving early-ish on a Saturday and will be looking to hit a zoo right away. Then I will have all day Sunday and all day Monday, going home early Tuesday. Based on animals I like the most, please give me your suggestions...

Cats (big and small, Cheetah esp)
Grizzly Bears
Koala
Lemurs (mostly ringtail)
Crocodilians
Hyena
 
azcheetah2 said:
thanks to an airfare sale I have decided to finally hit up some new to me zoos and I've always wanted to go to Texas. I know some Chatters have been to many of the animal facilities in the Dallas area and figured y'all would be the best to ask, what is a MUST see and what just isn't worth it. Right now I am planning on InSync, Dallas Zoo and Fort Worth Zoo but only InSync is a definite. I will be arriving early-ish on a Saturday and will be looking to hit a zoo right away. Then I will have all day Sunday and all day Monday, going home early Tuesday. Based on animals I like the most, please give me your suggestions...

Cats (big and small, Cheetah esp)
Grizzly Bears
Koala
Lemurs (mostly ringtail)
Crocodilians
Hyena
Click to expand...
If you love birds, you cannot miss the Dallas World Aquarium, who has the 3rd largest bird collection in America, mostly from South America.

The Dallas zoo and fort worth zoo both have similar big cat collections, and the Dallas Zoo has koala (almost always asleep).

The Dallas zoo has 3 species of lemur (ring tailed, collared, and black and white ruffed), while the Fort Worth zoo has just ring tailed.

As for crocodilians, Fort Worth has a large saltwater crocodile, a large alligator, and a dwarf crocodile. The Dallas zoo has some nile crocodiles, and both species of alligator. The Dallas World aquarium however, has some rarer kept species such as the Orinoco crocodile and Morelet's crocodile.

The Fort Worth Zoo has striped hyena.

The aquarium, dallas, and fort worth zoos are all high quality, and you should try and go to all of them if you can. If you are a huge zoo nerd, don't miss the aquarium as they have some very rare and unique animals such as antillean manatee, brown throated three toed sloth, and yapok, plus their mighty bird collection. If you love reptiles you'll love Fort Worth Zoo's MOLA complex which they boast is the best reptile building in America, and I have yet to see a better one. And if you love African wildlife, the Dallas Zoo has one of the best African themed areas in America.
 
I have not been to InSync, but it looks like they are northeast of the Dallas Metroplex. A similar place that is northwest is this one: Home.

Dallas and Fort Worth both have cheetahs but you live near the best cheetah exhibit in the country at Phoenix Zoo, so these exhibits will pale in comparison (though both are decent). The one at Fort Worth is open viewing from a raised boardwalk that extends into the exhibit. The one at Dallas is through glass (though in my opinion the more visually appealing of the two).

Dallas Zoo has lions (next to cheetahs) and Sumatran and/or Malayan tigers on the other side of the zoo in an outstanding exhibit. They used to have caracals that could only be viewed from the monorail - not sure if those are still there. Sadly that is the extent of the cat collection in an otherwise brilliant zoo - the best zoo in the southwest IMO.

Fort Worth Zoo (in addition to cheetahs) has lions in an average exhibit and neighboring exhibits with white hybrid tigers and Malayan tigers. The Texas Wild section has pumas and jaguars and an alternating bobcat/ocelot, all in exhibits that are a bit too small (the puma exhibit is way too small).

As you likely know, Fossil Rim is one of the main cheetah breeding centers for all AZA zoos. The drive through goes onto a hill with five or six very large enclosures (perhaps one acre each). For an added fee (book ahead) you can do a tour of the Intensive Management Area, which includes the off exhibit cheetah breeding area (plus carnivores you cannot see on the regular self drive, such as maned wolf and Mexican wolf - they also recently added black footed cat, though I do not know if they show those on the tour). I did this tour a few years ago with my cousin and it was well worth it. Fossil Rim is a favorite of both me and my cousin (and featured in my book on southwest zoos) and I would STRONGLY recommend fitting it in.

Even though I made several trips to Texas I never visited Dallas World Aquarium. ZooChat members rate it highly for the rarities, but except for crocodiles I think there is nothing on your wish list to justify a visit. I have not visited for this reason but also because I have the impression many exhibits are too small and I do not want to support a zoo in a warehouse.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Dallas Zoo has lions (next to cheetahs) and Sumatran and/or Malayan tigers on the other side of the zoo in an outstanding exhibit. They used to have caracals that could only be viewed from the monorail - not sure if those are still there. Sadly that is the extent of the cat collection in an otherwise brilliant zoo - the best zoo in the southwest IMO.
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There aren't any Malayan tigers anymore, just a few rotating Sumatran (I think 5). The caracals are still there. Amd you're forgetting Texas Cats: ocelot (2 exhibits), bobcat, and cougar.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Dallas and Fort Worth both have cheetahs but you live near the best cheetah exhibit in the country at Phoenix Zoo, so these exhibits will pale in comparison (though both are decent). The one at Fort Worth is open viewing from a raised boardwalk that extends into the exhibit. The one at Dallas is through glass (though in my opinion the more visually appealing of the two).
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The Fort Worth Zoo's cheetahs are on loan to Fossil Rim right now, so there are no cheetahs at the zoo until the new African area of the zoo is built in the next few years. As we speak their exhibit has been torn down and construction has replaced it.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I have not visited for this reason but also because I have the impression many exhibits are too small and I do not want to support a zoo in a warehouse
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I believe that is a bit of an over statement. While it is in what used to be a warehouse, they have done a very good job at recreating rain forests with animals and regions rarely or never seen in zoos and aquariums, like the Orinoco river and Yucatan.

That being said, it has been modeled very closely to the Omaha Zoo's Lied jungle, which is both a blessing and curse. It is a blessing in that it is professionally done and is very visually appealing, with some exhibits having excess space for the animals. It is a curse in that, like with Omaha, some exhibits are indeed too small for the inhabitants.

Overall don't go there expecting fish or an aquarium, as they only have a decent collection of animals normally seen in an aquarium. If you don't like birds, you won't enjoy the aquarium that much, but In Arizona Docent's case it may be worth a visit if youv'e been to both the Dallas and Fort Worth zoos before, since it does have an excess number of rare species and it doesn't hurt to try it out. I know a lot of people that would kill to go there and see some of the species they house, and some who feel they missed out because they didn't go.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I have not been to InSync, but it looks like they are northeast of the Dallas Metroplex. A similar place that is northwest is this one: Home.

Dallas and Fort Worth both have cheetahs but you live near the best cheetah exhibit in the country at Phoenix Zoo, so these exhibits will pale in comparison (though both are decent). The one at Fort Worth is open viewing from a raised boardwalk that extends into the exhibit. The one at Dallas is through glass (though in my opinion the more visually appealing of the two).

Dallas Zoo has lions (next to cheetahs) and Sumatran and/or Malayan tigers on the other side of the zoo in an outstanding exhibit. They used to have caracals that could only be viewed from the monorail - not sure if those are still there. Sadly that is the extent of the cat collection in an otherwise brilliant zoo - the best zoo in the southwest IMO.

Fort Worth Zoo (in addition to cheetahs) has lions in an average exhibit and neighboring exhibits with white hybrid tigers and Malayan tigers. The Texas Wild section has pumas and jaguars and an alternating bobcat/ocelot, all in exhibits that are a bit too small (the puma exhibit is way too small).

As you likely know, Fossil Rim is one of the main cheetah breeding centers for all AZA zoos. The drive through goes onto a hill with five or six very large enclosures (perhaps one acre each). For an added fee (book ahead) you can do a tour of the Intensive Management Area, which includes the off exhibit cheetah breeding area (plus carnivores you cannot see on the regular self drive, such as maned wolf and Mexican wolf - they also recently added black footed cat, though I do not know if they show those on the tour). I did this tour a few years ago with my cousin and it was well worth it. Fossil Rim is a favorite of both me and my cousin (and featured in my book on southwest zoos) and I would STRONGLY recommend fitting it in.

Even though I made several trips to Texas I never visited Dallas World Aquarium. ZooChat members rate it highly for the rarities, but except for crocodiles I think there is nothing on your wish list to justify a visit. I have not visited for this reason but also because I have the impression many exhibits are too small and I do not want to support a zoo in a warehouse.
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Thank you. I knew I could count on you for a fairly detailed report where cats are involved. Why did I think Fossil Rim was closer to San Antonio? Thank you for the link and recommendation for the other sanctuary. I'm not entirely sure I knew of its existence. I will have to do some 'comparison shopping' so to speak.
 
d1am0ndback said:
The Fort Worth Zoo's cheetahs are on loan to Fossil Rim right now, so there are no cheetahs at the zoo until the new African area of the zoo is built in the next few years. As we speak their exhibit has been torn down and construction has replaced it.
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Thank you, d1am0ndback. That would've been hugely disappointing to show up at Ft Worth to see Cheetahs only to find there are none currently. It's a good thing my trip is still a few months off and I have time to make my plans.
 
d1am0ndback said:
I believe that is a bit of an over statement. While it is in what used to be a warehouse, they have done a very good job at recreating rain forests with animals and regions rarely or never seen in zoos and aquariums, like the Orinoco river and Yucatan.

That being said, it has been modeled very closely to the Omaha Zoo's Lied jungle, which is both a blessing and curse. It is a blessing in that it is professionally done and is very visually appealing, with some exhibits having excess space for the animals. It is a curse in that, like with Omaha, some exhibits are indeed too small for the inhabitants.

Overall don't go there expecting fish or an aquarium, as they only have a decent collection of animals normally seen in an aquarium. If you don't like birds, you won't enjoy the aquarium that much, but In Arizona Docent's case it may be worth a visit if youv'e been to both the Dallas and Fort Worth zoos before, since it does have an excess number of rare species and it doesn't hurt to try it out. I know a lot of people that would kill to go there and see some of the species they house, and some who feel they missed out because they didn't go.
Click to expand...

Thank you. No, I'm not a huge fan of birds. I don't dislike them, but they're not high on my list of things to see. I've never been to Texas before so I've never been to the Dallas or Ft Worth Zoos. I will look at their website, however, and see if it is something I might want to add to my list.
 
azcheetah2 said:
Thank you. No, I'm not a huge fan of birds. I don't dislike them, but they're not high on my list of things to see. I've never been to Texas before so I've never been to the Dallas or Ft Worth Zoos. I will look at their website, however, and see if it is something I might want to add to my list.
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I'd recommend Dallas and Fort Worth zoos if you aren't that into some of the rare animals at the aquarium, since many you wouldn't realize are rare (such as most of the birds). That and you have to look REALLY hard for some of them.
 
azcheetah2 said:
Thank you, d1am0ndback. That would've been hugely disappointing to show up at Ft Worth to see Cheetahs only to find there are none currently. It's a good thing my trip is still a few months off and I have time to make my plans.
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In that case you will get to see the Dallas Zoo's new hippo exhibit featuring hippos, red river hogs, and okapi that is to open soon. You may want to go to the Dallas zoo over the aquarium for your situation.
 
d1am0ndback said:
I'd recommend Dallas and Fort Worth zoos if you aren't that into some of the rare animals at the aquarium, since many you wouldn't realize are rare (such as most of the birds). That and you have to look REALLY hard for some of them.
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That sounds like it's a good idea. Thank you. I will still look at the website, though, because something might catch my eye.

d1am0ndback said:
In that case you will get to see the Dallas Zoo's new hippo exhibit featuring hippos, red river hogs, and okapi that is to open soon. You may want to go to the Dallas zoo over the aquarium for your situation.
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I've been seeing that all over Facebook about the new exhibit with the hippos but I didn't know okapi were part of it as well. Is that new for Dallas or have they had okapi all along? What I'm really looking forward to is seeing the female Sumatran tiger Hadiah. She lived in Phoenix for a number of years and is still remembered fondly.
 
Just so that you know your options, there are currently 14 zoos in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and I visited all of them in the summer of 2015 except for International Exotic Animal Sanctuary (Boyd). A 15th facility opens later this year: SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium (Fort Worth).

Dallas-Fort Worth Area (14):
Frank Buck Zoo (Gainesville)
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary (McKinney)
International Exotic Animal Sanctuary (Boyd)
Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch (Pilot Point)
In Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center (Wylie)
C.A.R.E. (Center for Animal Research & Education) (Bridgeport)
East Texas Gators & Wildlife Park (Grand Saline)
Sea Life Grapevine (Grapevine)
Fort Worth Zoo (Fort Worth)
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (Glen Rose)
Dallas Zoo (Dallas)
Dallas World Aquarium (Dallas)
Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park (Dallas)
Texas Discovery Gardens: Butterfly House & Insectarium (Dallas)
 
azcheetah2 said:
I've been seeing that all over Facebook about the new exhibit with the hippos but I didn't know okapi were part of it as well. Is that new for Dallas or have they had okapi all along? What I'm really looking forward to is seeing the female Sumatran tiger Hadiah. She lived in Phoenix for a number of years and is still remembered fondly.
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Dallas has a long and successful history with okapi. I believe a sign there said about 20% of the captive population can be traced back to Dallas at some point. I wouldn't count on seeing that tiger, as they have five Sumatrans, which rotate through just one on-exhibit yard.
 
Regarding that list, having been to almost all of those places, if you are only in town for a few days single it to the aquarium, fossil rim (It is over an hour drive away), and both Fort Worth and Dallas zoos. If you were here for longer you would want to branch out to some of those places since they are fun to go to, but nothing near the Dallas and Fort Worth zoos.

The frank buck zoo is very small, but as for cats they do have a Geoffrey's cat and clouded leopards.

The exotic animal sanctuary in Boyd is almost entirely made up of big cats, and some bears, but it is only guided tours on weekends.

The Heard museum is great for wildlife, but as for a zoo they only have a handful of rescue animals (Bobcats, coati, an albino raccoon, maras, deer, some native snakes, some screech owls, and a few herps like an iguana). It has a small building with information about wildlife and geology, and a bunch of hiking trails packed with wildlife. It is a great place to go, I went there yesterday and saw over a dozen diamondback water snakes swimming from their boardwalk. (If you go watch for copperheads in the cages for rescue animals, Iv'e seen one nearly get killed by the mongoose, and two likely mating under the house of what used to be the raccoon exhibit yesterday).

The aquarium at Fair Park is very small and I believe owned by the Dallas Zoo. It is 100 feet away from the Discovery gardens, that have a few small animal displays and a nice butterfly garden.

If you do go to Dallas, get there AS SOON AS or before the zoo opens. They have had very very bad parking issues lately (main lots full, over flow full, parking on the street outside the zoo full) and just an hour after opening you may not be able to find a parking spot. Once inside however the crowds are not bad.

If you decide to go to the Aquarium go when they open, or after 3:30-4:00 (They don't kick you out after 5:00). Avoid mid day there at all costs, they have almost no crowd control there. The aquarium doesn't take all day, and you could easily go to it in the morning then slip into some smaller places such as the fair park aquarium and discovery gardens in the afternoon, assuming you choose to go to the aquarium.

If you want to make the day trip to Glen Rose to see fossil rim, they also have some dinosaur related museums and parks nearby, and an excellent collection of hoof-stock you can feed from your car.

For you I would recommend you go to the Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth zoo, and then decide between the aquarium or fossil rim, since those are the major zoos/ aquariums in the area, or the Heard Museum if you want to find wild animals.
 
If you go in summer, Dallas Zoo stays open late on Saturday nights, which is great. If you stick only to Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo and possibly Dallas World Aquarium, you will not need a car (and not need to worry about parking, which they all charge extra for). Dallas Zoo is easily reached via light rail and Fort Worth Zoo is reached by bus (both of which I have done). A large Amtrack style commuter train runs between Dallas and Fort Worth and also connects to an airport bus if you are flying into the larger DFW International. If you are flying into the smaller Love Field (on Southwest), you will take bus either all the way to downtown Dallas or to a nearby light rail station. I have used all of these options myself.
 
As stated earlier, there are two big cat sanctuaries north of Dallas Fort Worth. First is InSync which you mentioned and other is Intl Exotic Animal Sanctuary, which I mentioned.

If you do decide to visit one of these, my vote is for the latter (IEAS) for the following reasons. Please note however that I have not visited either one and have no knowledge about how they are run or how their animals are treated.

1. They are AZA certified.

2. They have a cheetah.

3.They have a brown bear (same species as grizzly).

4.They have an Asian black bear (almost extinct in captivity in USA).
 
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