March 4,2019- You may have seen the Austin Zoo mentioned in the media lately, and you may be upset about what you saw or read. We were, too. Our mission is to assist animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education. Our purpose is to provide a haven for animals that have come to us from adverse environments, and we strive to meet the very highest professional standards in caring for our animals at all stages of their lives.
 
In the past several months, the zoo has addressed issues raised by current and former zookeeping staff, hired a new deputy director of animal care, expanded and improved animal enclosures, conducted additional staff training and updated operating policies and procedures. In the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing new Board members and announcing several new initiatives focused on providing the very best care and supportive environment for our animals.

We wanted to share with you a letter written by Dr. Leanne Jakubowsky, who was the Zoo’s local veterinarian from 1990 to 2018. She was interviewed by the Statesman’s reporter. As you’ll see in her letter, she believes the article misrepresented her experiences with the Zoo and relied on incomplete and medically inaccurate information about specific animals.
 
 

The Austin Zoo is a forever home for our more than 300 rescued and donated animals only because of the strong support we get from the community. We are committed to making sure we earn and keep your trust. If you have questions about how the Zoo cares for our animals, please reach out to us, and please come see our animals and see how we’re working hard to give them, and our visitors, the best experience we can.

Thank You!