Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo Popular Family Entertainment
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Tyler residents can embark on an adventurous safari without ever leaving the city limits‚ thanks to Caldwell Zoo‚ which sits on 85 acres and contains 2‚000 animals representing 250 species.
Lions‚ elephants‚ giraffes‚ monkeys‚ macaws‚ ostrich‚ crocodiles and flamingos are just a handful of the animal exhibits that attract more than 600‚000 visitors to the zoo every year.
In March 2006‚ five pairs of black-footed penguins were welcomed to the Caldwell Zoo family. Black-footed penguins come from islands off the coast of southwestern Africa. They stand 18 to 20 inches tall and have bodies shaped like bowling pins.
“The black-footed penguins are literally able to fly through water at speeds up to 22 miles per hour‚” says Hayes Caldwell‚ executive director of the Caldwell Zoo. “The penguins use their flipper-like wings to propel them selves through the water. They can even shoot up out of the water with forward propulsion to catch a quick breath. These are truly amazing creatures.”
Caldwell Zoo has been a popular Tyler attraction since it was started in the back yard of D.K. Caldwell‚ Hayes’ uncle‚ in 1937. It began as a petting zoo with parrots‚ monkeys and squirrels‚ and by 1967‚ the zoo had acquired 500 animals from 87 species.
In 1970‚ trespassers broke into the zoo‚ vandalizing it and killing several small animals. As a result‚ local children began collecting pennies to restore the zoo. D.K. Caldwell and his wife used the money collected to purchase Kimbo‚ a baby Asian elephant‚ in 1971‚ and she sparked the creation of the modern zoo visitors know and love today.
Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Antony Boshier
