Escape for the Day to the Zoo - Desertexposure

By Sylvia Quintanilla

We often take for granted the close proximity of several cities making day trips accessible. With summer here, the open road offers opportunity to take any day of the week and find enjoyment.
On a very sunny Tuesday afternoon, we loaded up the car and headed on a cruise to the zoo. In just over 60 minutes from Las Cruces is the Alameda Park Zoo, located in Alamogordo, Alameda Park is the oldest zoo in the state and was founded in 1898.
Guests enter via the gift shop to pay admission and get a chance to view the stuffed animals of some of the animals in the park.
Walking through the 12-acre property, guests encounter several different animals that call Alameda Park Zoo home. On our walk, we saw lemurs, owls, bears, a camel and several confident peacocks.
Close to the turkey vultures and raven, was a sassy bobcat ready for her lunch. Near the bobcat was an exhibit for raccoons lounging among the trees. Neighbors to the raccoons were the river otters, who were having a joyful day swimming and playing what seemed to be a game of tag.
By far, the exhibit that carries the most character is the walk-through aviary. Housed in an enclosed standalone building, the walk-through aviary has 10 different animals. There are eight species of birds, ducks, fish and turtles.
Going into the aviary, you go through a secure double door. Trees provide shade and paint a backdrop of serene nature. There is a bridge over the pond that has koi fish. Turtles take in the sun on the moist rocks and ducks nest nearby.
Watching the white peacocks walk by and quails scurry is really a sight to see considering all of these different types of animals coexist.
Kate Rogers, zoo manager, said "For any exhibit, we will research diets, climates, prey/predator, and compatibility of animals."
Rogers said she believed the aviary was completed in 2014; the Alamogordo Friends of the Zoo donated a project.
"Alamogordo Friends of the Zoo started while Bud Wiser was the zoo manager back in the 1980's. The group has been active until 2023," she said.
Taking a moment and observing the animals in the aviary was truly relaxing. We enjoyed watching the small yellow Taveta Golden-weaver find twigs to weave its nest in the trees.
Rogers said the zoo has great support from the community and Alamogordo city management. "This support is allowing us to provide better care to the animals, staff, and guest experience," she said.
"We are a small zoo providing the public the opportunity to see different animals in their natural environment. We are growing and improving the facility all the time," Rogers said.
The Alameda Park Zoo is located on 1021 N. White Sands Blvd., Alamogordo. It is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Last entry is at 4:30 p.m. Admission for children four and under is free, children five to 12 is $2.50, guests 13-59 are $4, seniors (60+) $2.50 and active/retired military members are $2.50. For more information, call 575-439-4290.