Alameda Park Zoo

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Alameda Park Zoo, located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, was founded in 1898 and claims to be the oldest zoo in the Southwestern United States. It is one of three AZA-accredited zoos in New Mexico and participates in the Species Survival Plan for the Mexican wolf.FeaturesNotable species at the zoo includethe White Sands pupfish, the Mexican wolf, the Hawaiian goose, and the markhor goat.The zoo is a Species Survival Plan Captive Facilityfor the Mexican gray wolf, and in 2006 there were two wolves resident in the zoo. Three Mexican gray wolf pups were born at the zoo in 1994, and seven in 1995.The zoo receives birds of prey that have been injured and heals them. If the birds are well enough to return to the wild they are released, otherwise they are kept in the zoo.Some special exhibits include a lemur exhibit,a birds of prey exhibit,and a butterfly garden.Several programs operate in the Educational Center, including an Eco-Ranger Junior Zookeeper program.The center is also open to the public for viewing videos and reading books from the collection. Some animals are housed in the center.Alameda Park Zoo is accredited through March 2011 by Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is one of about 220 zoos to hold AZA accreditation, and one of only three in New Mexico (the other two are Albuquerque Biological Park and Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad).