Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park | |
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Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in New Mexico | |
Location | Eddy, New Mexico, United States |
Coordinates | 32°26′30″N 104°16′39″W / 32.44167°N 104.27750°W |
Area | 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) |
Elevation | 3,200 ft (980 m) |
Established | 1967[1] |
Governing body | New Mexico State Parks Division |
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, formerly the Living Desert Zoological and Botanical State Park, is a zoo and botanical garden displaying plants and animals of the Chihuahuan Desert in their native habitats. It is located off U.S. Route 285 at the north edge of Carlsbad, New Mexico, at an elevation of 3,200 feet (980 m) atop the Ocotillo Hills overlooking the city and the Pecos River. It is open every day except Christmas.
The park has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2002.[2][3]
Exhibits
The zoo features more than forty native animal species, including pronghorn, badger, bison, bobcats, mule deer, elk, kit fox, Gila monster, cougar, prairie dogs, reptiles, fourteen species of snakes, and Mexican wolves. An aviary contains golden eagles, hawks, owls, a roadrunner, songbirds, and turkeys. The gardens feature a greenhouse and hundreds of cacti and succulents from around the world, including acacia, agave, small barrel cactus, cholla, ocotillo, prickly pear, saguaro, sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri), and yucca.
1.3 miles (2.1 km) of self-guided trails lead through sand dunes, arroyos, and pinyon pine/juniper forest.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park Management and Development Plan" (PDF). Retrieved October 20, 2010.
- ^ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
- ^ a b "Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park Receives Accreditation by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums" (PDF). state.nm.us. State of New Mexico. April 3, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
External links
- Media related to Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park at Wikimedia Commons
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park - Visit Carlsbad New Mexico
- Articles with short description
- Short description matches Wikidata
- Use mdy dates from August 2022
- Coordinates on Wikidata
- Commons category link from Wikidata
- Articles with VIAF identifiers
- Articles with LCCN identifiers
- Articles with BGCI identifiers
- Botanical gardens in New Mexico
- Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert
- State parks of New Mexico
- Parks in Eddy County, New Mexico
- Protected areas established in 1967
- Zoos in New Mexico
- Zoos established in 1967
- 1967 establishments in New Mexico