No threads on this zoo yet? Time to get one going.
Having visited two weeks ago, it is a very good zoo and well worth a visit for anyone in the Waco area. Located just west of the very nice small downtown area with its Brazos River walking trail. (I must confess Waco is much nicer than I imagined it.)
The two standout areas are the native Texas exhibit (called Brazos River Country) and the African area (which has no formal name as far as I know). The Asia area only consists of two exhibits: orangutan (bornean I think) and sumatran tiger, both of which are average exhibits. The only truly bad part of the zoo is the cafe, which has no healthy or vegetarian offerings at all. (Same problem at the zoo in Tyler.)
Brazos River Country is the real highlight and the main reason to visit this zoo. All of the star animals are there: jaguar, puma, ocelot and coyote (rotated into same exhibit), black bear, bison, white tail deer. Plus some indoor areas for native fish (two separate buildings) and reptiles and arthropods and an outstanding netted shorebird enclosure. Otters have a slide through the pool for children.
There is one surprising (in a bad way) aspect. There is no path around the two buildings and to get in and out of them you have to open some very heavy doors. There is no automatic door button for people in wheelchairs (or otherwise frail/elderly people) and without someone along to assist them, it is literally impossible for them to go through this exhibit. I am shocked that a modern, AZA-accredited zoo would allow this and I am even more shocked that they have not been sued for violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. This is completely unacceptable and a puts a real black eye on an otherwise outstanding facility.
My other main complaint is that the jaguar exhibit is too small as is the coyote exhibit. (When the ocelots are inside it may be ok, but coyotes need more space).
Overall a good zoo well worth visiting, especially if you are in good enough health to open large metal doors by yourself.
Having visited two weeks ago, it is a very good zoo and well worth a visit for anyone in the Waco area. Located just west of the very nice small downtown area with its Brazos River walking trail. (I must confess Waco is much nicer than I imagined it.)
The two standout areas are the native Texas exhibit (called Brazos River Country) and the African area (which has no formal name as far as I know). The Asia area only consists of two exhibits: orangutan (bornean I think) and sumatran tiger, both of which are average exhibits. The only truly bad part of the zoo is the cafe, which has no healthy or vegetarian offerings at all. (Same problem at the zoo in Tyler.)
Brazos River Country is the real highlight and the main reason to visit this zoo. All of the star animals are there: jaguar, puma, ocelot and coyote (rotated into same exhibit), black bear, bison, white tail deer. Plus some indoor areas for native fish (two separate buildings) and reptiles and arthropods and an outstanding netted shorebird enclosure. Otters have a slide through the pool for children.
There is one surprising (in a bad way) aspect. There is no path around the two buildings and to get in and out of them you have to open some very heavy doors. There is no automatic door button for people in wheelchairs (or otherwise frail/elderly people) and without someone along to assist them, it is literally impossible for them to go through this exhibit. I am shocked that a modern, AZA-accredited zoo would allow this and I am even more shocked that they have not been sued for violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. This is completely unacceptable and a puts a real black eye on an otherwise outstanding facility.
My other main complaint is that the jaguar exhibit is too small as is the coyote exhibit. (When the ocelots are inside it may be ok, but coyotes need more space).
Overall a good zoo well worth visiting, especially if you are in good enough health to open large metal doors by yourself.
