Don B.
Yelp
In general, I never liked zoos--nasty, smelly places where animals pace back and forth in their cages. Yes, it was interesting to see animals I might otherwise never encounter but a what price? In my musings of childhood, I would unlock the cages and let them all free. But then I realized that I would probably be trampled or eaten in the process, so my humanitarianism quickly faded to apathy. Peg, however, loves zoos and so on our recent trip to South Padre Island, I agreed to accompany her to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. And I'm very glad I did.
The zoo is named after Gladys Porter, the daughter of Earl C. Sams, former president of J. C. Penney. Porter, a wildlife enthusiast, helped to plan and stock the zoo, which was entirely funded by the Earl C. Sams Foundation. After its opening in 1971, the zoo was given to the city of Brownsville.
Upon entering, it's obvious this zoo is different from my early memories. The entrance is arched with vines, leading one gradually into a different world. There are concrete tiles depicting various animals, favorites of the generous patrons who donated them. I've not seen their likes before and took a few photos to share with you.
As one enters, the gorillas are the first exhibit. We were lucky in that Mama Gorilla had recently given birth and both Mama and Baby were sunning themselves one the "gym set." Papa was on the level beneath, seemingly oblivious to everyone and everything.
One follows a path of about three-quarters of a mile to circumambulate the zoo and in that relatively short distance encounters 377 species of animals and 225 species of plants. Impressive for a zoo twice the size. And not a cage in sight. It's a very easy walk and the vast majority of it is shaded; there are comfortable benches throughout that bid one to "sit a spell" and take in nature and the animals. Like most zoos, Gladys Porter offers a tram; do yourself a favor and chose to walk rather than ride if you are able. Both Peg and I have knees and legs that are far from the best but we were able to walk the entire distance with little trouble, thanks to those benches which gave us a breather every now and then.
The employees deserve special mention. Every one that we encountered was friendly and obviously proud of the zoo. We talked to keepers, groundmen and executives; each was welcoming and more than glad to talk about their role.
It is said, "a picture is worth a thousand words," so rather than ramble on, I'll let the photos speak for themselves. If you find yourself within a hundred miles of Brownsville, make a side trip to the Gladys Porter Zoo. I believe you'll be glad you did.
