![]() "He would buy a snapping turtle from some kids so they wouldn't hurt it, or bring a bullfrog home, or three red fox kits, which we bottle raised, and ground hogs," Burchfield said. "Bless his heart, he put up with them."ĭespite his queasiness about snakes his father loved all animals, even reptiles, another quality he passed on to his son. "My mom was my accomplice and she supported me, so he had to," Burchfield said. "When I started out as a volunteer at the Columbus Zoo in 1959, as a kid basically, I'd always been interested in reptiles and amphibians and caught them since I was a small boy and dragged them home much to my father's chagrin," he said.īurchfield's dad, with matinee-idol looks and expert marksmanship and archery skills, which he passed on to his son, was petrified of snakes. It wasn't long before Burchfield was promoted to general curator in charge of all the zoo's animals, not just reptiles, though he definitely knew something about reptiles. Gladys Porter opened a year later, on Nov. ![]() "Realizing my boss (in Ohio) wasn't going to go anywhere anytime soon, and this was an opportunity to build an entire program, I came in November of 1970." "He said I want you to come down here and take this building and make it work," Burchfield said. At any rate, Thomas bought Burchfield a plane ticket to Brownsville. The fame landed Thomas the job of first director of the Oklahoma City Zoo, which in Burchfield's words "he took from a roadside menagerie to a major world zoo." Now Thomas was helping design Brownsville's new zoo and wanted the master plan to include a reptile exhibit, according to Burchfield. Colo was the world's oldest gorilla in captivity when she died in 2017 at the age of 60. Burchfield cared for the young western lowland gorilla at Columbus in the early 1960s. This was the same Warren Thomas who, as a second-year veterinary student at the Columbus Zoo, was featured in Life magazine for saving from stillbirth the world's first captive-born gorilla, Colo, in 1956. "I sent them back with fairly extensive changes recommended, and apparently Dr. "I said sure, send them on up," Burchfield said. Burchfield at the time was head keeper of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo's new Reptilia-Amphibia Hall, but was asked to review Thomas' blueprints by Gladys Portergeneral curator Tom Hoover, who'd been a fellow zookeeper with Burchfield in Columbus, Burchfield's hometown. Thomas, the zoo's first director, to discuss Burchfield's ideas for the new reptile house Thomas was designing. ![]() Burchfield, now in his 51st year with the Gladys Porter Zoo, as Brownsville's wild gem celebrates its own half century of delighting and educating visitors.īurchfield's first trip to Brownsville was at the invitation of Warren D. 8-If anyone was born to run a zoo it's Dr. ![]() The Gladys Porter Zoo staff would like to thank sponsors, McDonald’s RGV Owner Operators, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, H-E-B, KVEO-Local 23, CBS 4, Digital 101.5 and the City of Brownsville, for their generous donations that helped make this event possible.įor more information, please visit or call (956) 546-7187.Nov. The toy must be valued at $5 or higher-only one free admission will be granted per toy donation. Guests can receive free admission by donating a new, unwrapped toy for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Zoo Members get in free with their membership cards. Tickets for Zoo Nights and Lights are now available on the Zoo’s website, or they can be purchased at the gate. The price of admission for this event is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Unfortunately, there will not be a cookie decorating station this year, but children will receive a coupon for a free cookie from McDonald’s. Zoo staff will also be competing in a Christmas tree decorating contest, and guests will be able to vote for their favorite tree. Visitors can shop for unique holiday gifts at the arts and crafts show and the Zoo gift shop. There will be live musical and dance performances, Christmas karaoke and book readings. ![]() The public is invited to stroll through the Zoo’s pathways, filled with brilliant light displays. The scheduled weekends are December 3rd-5th and 10th-12th from 6 p.m. In order to spread out attendance and give guests more opportunities to visit, Zoo Nights and Lights will be held for two weekends rather than one. This year, the Gladys Porter Zoo is doing things a bit differently. This family-friendly event offers holiday spirit and fun for guests of all ages as well as a romantic setting for a date night. The Gladys Porter Zoo will be hosting its annual holiday celebration, Zoo Nights and Lights. ![]()
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