Golden Gate Metropolis Zoo

[Sher Shah Suri]

Dartwood Park Zoo

 

Located in the medium-sized town of Dartwood Hills, Texas, set in Dartwood Park, is the DP Zoo. A small park zoo with nearly 145 animals of 40 species, it is a surprisingly popular attraction, with some rare species included, such as Andean mountain cats and sorraias, though most of the animals are the kind you would expect in a town zoo; deer, bears, the like. The entrance, as seen above, is decorated with fountains, statues, maples, willows, aspens, and more.

 

Taking a right will take you to the prairie-esque American bison habitat. These huge cattle used to roam through Dartwood Hills merely 300 years ago, but are now extinct. Their importance in the prairie ecosystem has led them to being the zoo's mascot. Since 1997, four babies have been born, three of them now living in the wild, with the fourth to come soon.

 

Resembling a rolling steppe is a habitat for rarely-seen zeren and Przewalski's horses. Sadly, many people look over these animals, mistaking them for common horses or gazelles. Due to conditions in the rough world of the steppe, wild zeren populations are subject to various fluctuations, but they are still at Least Concern, unlike their habitat partners, Przewalski's horses. We are on our 3rd generation of equines, which is a very good thing for their populations.

 

Continuing on, you'll walk up a handicap-friendly deck to see a flock of great blue herons with plenty of strut and swagger. These five herons, born on the coast of Louisiana, are hurricane survivors, who all damaged their wings in the frightening gales and hail and rain. It is always the zoo's best interest to help out animals in need.

 

Taking another right, a habitat comes up for western pond turtles. The four turtles that can be seen here were found in a Texas drainage system just 25 miles from the zoo, half-grown and malnourished. Luckily, the little guys pulled through, and are thriving quite well in the zoo today.

 

This is easily the most heavily forested section of the zoo, and while it is not an exhibit in itself, it does ahve some permanent residents, a pair of pileated woodpeckers (represented by And1's Ivory-Billed) and their young. The woodpeckers came to the zoo nearly six years ago, and have had successful brood every year since.

 

A hilly woodland is up next, inhabited by Eurasian brown bears. Some of the largest bears in the world, and of the aggressive kind descending from Asia, they are also the most dangerous of the zoo's bear stock. Beyond the rock formations of the bear's habitats, you can see empty grassland. Pretty soon, this will be part of the zoo's plan to restore native prairie habitat, with only native plants to be put in the soil. When the project is finished, a trail will lead through the grassland, with the purpose to educate zoo visitors.

[pukkie]

this is one breathtaking zoo :wub:

[Iceberg]

How do you do the elevation for the restaurant on the first zoo? What wall and railing are you using? thanks

[pukkie]

That's the red brick path and red brick fences by Genkicoll if I'm not mistaking

[Firehawke]

I love the natural look of the zoo!!! Can't wait to see more! :glitter_happy:

[Kreek]

Such a lush green zoo. I love the lay out!

[Sher Shah Suri]

[Firehawke]

Way too fun!!! Are you planning more newsletters??? What program did you use?

[Sher Shah Suri]

Yeppers, more newsletters are planned. :D The above is, in fact, only 1/4 of what's to come. :th_hapydancsmil: The program used is Microsoft Office Publisher 2007.

[Firehawke]

Glad to hear that there's more coming!

I've used Published before, but only once and it was for a low key brochure for work. I'm glad to see that it can be used for fun stuff!