About Us
The Dallas Zoo’s mission is Engaging People & Saving Wildlife.
This serves as our North Star – our guiding force and the source of our continual motivation to achieve our vision of Creating a Better World for Animals. By providing our guests with real-world opportunities to make memorable connections with wildlife and supplementing their experience with conservation messaging, the Dallas Zoo aims to inspire and empower visitors to take action on behalf of wildlife in Texas and around the world.
The nonprofit Dallas Zoo is open 364 days a year and welcomes more than one million guests yearly. Our more than 350 employees and 750 volunteers are dedicated to providing unparalleled care, educational experiences, and supporting local and global conservation efforts. We invite you to join us for a memorable day at the Zoo. Or, if you share our passion and vision, please become a member or donor so our animals and staff can continue their work on behalf of wild animals and wild places around the world.
Located three miles south of downtown Dallas, the 106-acre Dallas Zoo is the oldest and largest zoo in Texas. Founded with just two deer and two mountain lions in 1888 as the first zoo in the Southwest, this City of Dallas-owned but privately managed zoo is a thriving example of a successful public-private partnership. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for 35 years, the Zoo provides a home for more than 2,000 animals representing over 400 species.
- Founded in 1888
- AZA Accredited
- 2,000+ animals
- 400+ species
- 106 acres
- Open 364 days a year
- 350+ employees
- 750+ volunteers
