Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

How many turkey’s does it take to break into Fossil Rim’s Admissions
Office?

We captured these curious toms inspecting our security system pre-Thanksgiving!
🦃🌎

It’s Raka’s 26th birthday 🎂! Raka was born at Fossil Rim to M’bili, and has lived her whole life as one of the stars of our white rhino herd! Wish this lovely lady a day full of mud puddles and delicious hay! 😋

Waterbuck are one of the more elusive species at Fossil Rim. These large antelope prefer to hang out near water, and are generally uninterested in people and their activities. 🌍

Wildebeest learn how to stand minutes after birth! Everything else however, takes a little bit more time...😅🌍

Did you know that animal care at Fossil Rim is divided into sections? We have an entire team dedicated to our carnivorous species, which include wolves, cheetahs and black-footed cats.

While it may look rough, fighting is an important part of being a wildebeest. Not only does it help establish herd dynamics, but it builds skills and strength 💪🧪

Naia is the oldest known black-footed cat alive, but she still enjoys enrichment like this scented bucket of hay!

Spot the difference

A peaceful scimitar-horned oryx for your Wednesday feed 😍🌍

two giraffe stand in profile, one taller than the other.

a young giraffe looks right at the camera with his tongue out.

All giraffe have unique spot patterns, but some have special shapes that really stand out! Do you notice any particularly interesting spots on these giraffe? 🌎

Three cheetah cubs sleep on the ground. They are spotted, but have dark brown fur covering their legs and bellies. Their eyes and ears are still closed.

Three cheetah clubs explore as their mother surveys the enclosure around them. The cubs have fluffy lines of fur from their heads down their backs.

Cheetah cubs start out dark in color, lightening as they age. This, along with their fluffy mohawks of hair, help camoflauge them during their vulnerable early months. 🧪🌍

Yola is learning about boundaries! All of our animals can choose how often to approach guests, and it varies based on species and individual. Giraffe calves are curious, but may take some time to warm up to hand-feeding 🌍

Antelope get zoomies just like any other animal! Chilly weather means everyone has more energy to run around, having fun while displaying health and fitness to the rest of the herd! 🌍

A Japanese red-crowned crane stands in profile to the camera. The crane has a white chest and head, black neck and a red splotch in the center of its forehead.

Two sandhill cranes stand facing opposite directions, their necks overlapping in profile. Both are a grayish white color with red feathers on top of their heads extending to their beak.

Can you spot the difference between these two birds? While they're strikingly similar, the red-crowned crane (left) is native to East Asia, while the sandhill crane (right) is a North American species.

If only we could all nap this good on a Wednesday morning 😴

Someone is enjoying her sweet potatoes as the weather gets cold! Sound on for her squeaks! 🌍

Did you know that the Arabian oryx is the first species to have gone from "Extinct in the Wild" to "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List? Captive breeding management and reintroduction efforts allowed the wild population to regrow to a stable size, marking a huge step forward for conservation. 🌍🧪

Guess who's celebrating their 1st birthday this month! 🎂Turbo, our youngest Southern white rhino calf, has grown a lot this past year, gaining weight and graduating from the maternity pasture to the main pasture with his mom and half-brother, Rocket.

an orangish-brown antelope looks in through a passenger car window.

An orangish-brown antelope calf sticks its tongue out. The calf has white stripes and very large ears.

Bongos are one of the few mammals with prehensile tongues! This means that their tongues have the ability to grasp and hold, like a monkey's tail or a raccoon's paws. They use this prehensility when eating to pull food into their mouths. 🌍😛

Wildebeest calves are just like any other baby, squeaking to get mom's attention when it's time to eat! 🎶

When your sibling insists on going everywhere with you...

These sable antelope are part of a tight-knit herd, but clearly enjoy the company of some more than others 🌍🧪🐾

Poppy chose to eat her pumpkin like an apple 🍎 Her rodent teeth are perfect for gnawing through the tough exteriors of fruits and vegetables

Luna got her very own haunted house this Halloween 🎃 As a box turtle, she likes to shelter under cover when possible, usually digging small burrows, but a spooky hide works too!

We caught a silly video of an addax trying to keep up a tour van. They are very snack motivated, and this is pretty common behavior

We can't get enough of this year's baby wildebeest. These large antelope have to be ready to move soon after they're born to avoid predators. 🌍🧪

Despite being called Mexican gray wolves, this species once freely roamed between Northern Mexico and the Southwest United States. Today the movement has become more difficult, contributing to falling population numbers. 🌍🐺🧪

Everything about a cheetah is made for speed, from their small, aerodynamic ears, to their large nasal cavity capable of taking in a lot of air.

🌍

an American Red Wolf peers through the trees. The wolf is a reddish brown color, and in focus in the center of the frame. Bright green leaves surround it.

A Mexican wolf lounges on a large gray rock surrounded by trees. The wolf is pale gray, with reddish and black accents across its fur. It looks off, relaxed, to the right.

It's #wolfawarenessweek! Fossil Rim houses two endangered species, the American Red Wolf and the Mexican wolf. Both used to be found in Texas, but their ranges have declined enough that they no longer live in the state

No pumpkins go to waste when our Animal Discoveries residents are involved! Pumpkin makes for a fiber and vitamin rich snack, and the fun shapes and hidden treats add extra enrichment 🎃

Three staff members in surgical masks stand around a sedated cheetah. The associate veterinarian shaves the cheetah's stomach, preparing for a procedure.

Two veterinarian staff members stand around the bottom of a sedated wolf. The top half is covered with a protective blanket. The associate vet holds the wolf's leg in examination.

Dr. Julie Swenson, Fossil Rim's Associate Veterinarian will officially be stepping into the role of 2026 President for the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. We are so proud of her accomplishment and look forward to her term!