Gladys Porter Zoo

Gladys Porter Zoo is a facility spanning roughly 31 acres with approximately 1,600 animals organized into four main geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Tropical America, and Indo-Australia. Each area features specialized exhibits, including a reptile house, an aquarium, and a free-flight aviary where birds fly openly.

The facility opened in 1971 after the Earl C. Sams Foundation funded and donated the entire property to the City of Brownsville. This generous gift allowed the city to establish a modern space dedicated to animal care and conservation work.

The zoo serves as a community gathering place where families and school groups come to spend time observing animals in their recreated habitats. Over time, it has become a local symbol of environmental education and wildlife awareness for people in the Brownsville area.

The zoo is laid out so visitors can easily walk between the four geographic sections while observing different animal species in their zones. A section called Small World allows for closer interaction with smaller animals, making it accessible for visitors of all ages.

The zoo actively participates in conservation programs for endangered species such as Kemp's ridley sea turtles, Western lowland gorillas, and Philippine crocodiles. This work connects the facility to broader international efforts aimed at protecting these threatened animals.