When the the Fort Worth Zoo opened in 1909 it had one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits. The Zoo, which is the oldest zoo in Texas, now has almost 7,000 animals.
From 1909 to 1991, the Zoo was owned by the city and collected money from citizens to purchase new animals. By 1991 the Zoo had fallen on hard times. The Fort Worth Zoological Association, which had been founded in 1939 to help raise money for the Zoo, took over management of the Zoo. Since 1991, the Association has raised more than $20 million for improvements and new exhibits.
There was a grand re-opening in 1992. During 1992, Zoo attendance increased by nearly 100 percent to 1 million and has stayed at that level ever since. It is a jewel in our community.