Join us in celebrating the beautiful ocelot of the Rio Grande Valley at Ocelot Conservation Day!  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Gladys Porter Zoo are hosting a special day to highlight ocelots, the small, wild cats native to South Texas. There will be a variety of fun ocelot related activities for families to enjoy.  The event is free with regular paid admission or Zoo membership.

Easter Fun at the Gladys Porter Zoo During Easter weekend, hop on over to the Gladys Porter Zoo! From March 30th & 31st, visitors can enjoy the annual Bunny Corral and Animal Play Day. Guests can visit the Bunny Corral, which will be across from Small World! Zoo staff will set up a cozy corral These adorable bunnies will be available to pet on March 30th & 31st from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Docents and Zoo staff will be at hand to answer any questions about these furry creatures. Zookeepers will be conducting an Animal Play Day on March 31st. Please [...]

Party for the Planet is the Zoo’s celebration of Earth Day where we bring eco-conscious members of the community together to help share the message of conservation.  From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the Zoo will spotlight conservation with fun activities, face painting, and contests for children. Local organizations will also be present to discuss the importance of going green and how visitors can help preserve the Earth’s resources for a better environment. Again this year, we will have activities for Girl Scouts to help them accomplish 90 to 100% of their badge requirements.

Brew at the Zoo: Raise your glass for animal conservation!  The Gladys Porter Zoo invites you to Brew at the Zoo on Saturday, May 11th from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with music until 11:00 p.m. Support your local Zoo and quench your thirst by sipping on specially selected premium and craft beer samples and delicious food tastings from amazing chefs and restaurants. Only a few of the top Rio Grande Valley restaurants will be competing in this “feast with the beasts.” The Zoo is working with L&F Distributors to curate a special selection of light beers that are perfect for [...]

You are invited to join us for our 8th Annual Ridley Rush 5K/1-Mile Walk/Run presented by Chick-Fil-A.  This family fun run aims to raise awareness for the endangered Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle.  The Ridley Rush route will take you through the beautiful and scenic Mitte Cultural District and Gladys Porter Zoo as you experience what a baby sea turtle must endure in its rush to the ocean. As federal and state funds have dwindled over the years, this direct funding has become mission-critical to sustain Kemp’s Ridley Project and provide support to other sea turtle projects. The Kemp’s Ridley Project has both [...]