In the wake of the 2021 winter storm that left a third of the Dallas Zoo without power, officials have implemented a series of measures to enhance its preparedness for the winter weather expected to grip North Texas Thursday and Friday.
A key component of the strategy was the installation of nine generators across the zoo, along with a system designed for the quick connection of larger generators, according to Keith Zdrojewski, senior mammal curator at the Dallas Zoo.
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“Some of the facilities staff and some of the zoologist staff will stay overnight and they’ll check the electricity, check the heaters,” he said. “If there’s anything wrong, we have the generators.”
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Watch: Winter storm preparations underway to keep animals warm and safe at Dallas Zoo The Dallas Zoo has begun preparations to keep zoo animals warm and safe during winter storm.
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This upgrade should help address the vulnerabilities that were exposed during the 2021 storm, and ensure that critical areas of the zoo will have the ability to maintain power even during outages.
With these measures, zoo officials aim to safeguard the well-being of the animals, staff and visitors, officials said.
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Animal treatment based on species
Animals are categorized based on their tolerance to cold, with species like alpacas, which are usually found in colder climates, remaining outdoors.
Alpacas snack on hay in their enclosure at the Dallas Zoo, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Dallas. The alpacas will be brought inside the Red Barn at the Children’s Zoo when temperatures drop below freezing. (Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
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“We do different things depending on the animal,” Zdrojewski said. “So certain things like the alpaca that are built for the cold weather get to stay outside, and other animals, such as the small primates who come from like South America, who aren’t built for the cold, they have inside holding that they could be brought into.”
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To ensure the animals’ comfort, zoo workers have implemented various heating solutions, including heat lamps and heating pads.
“We plan ahead,” Zdrojewski said. “For the storms that are coming up, we have what are called write out teams that we have people come in.”
An armadillo roams its enclosure under the glow of a heat lamp at the Dallas Zoo, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Dallas. Zoo staff said animals will be kept warm during the winter storm with a variety of tools including heat lamps, warmers under the animals and heaters in the ceilings of enclosures. (Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
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Intermediate species have access to both indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing them to choose their preferred environment, officials said.
Staff training is another aspect of the zoo’s preparedness plan.
Employees receive training on emergency protocols, including the operation of generators and heaters, as well as the proper placement of heat lamps to avoid overheating, Zdrojewski explained.
To facilitate continuous animal care, the zoo provides overnight accommodations for staff during severe weather events.
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Penguins are seen roaming their habitat at the Dallas Zoo, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
“We’ll set up a place in our hospital that has cots and showers and stoves so they can cook and do all this stuff,” Zdrojewski said. “And then they sleep here, so that if it takes time for people to come in in the morning, the animals could still be taken care of.”
Daily meetings are held to assess weather forecasts and plan accordingly. Walkways are treated with sand and ice-melting solutions to prevent slips and falls from visitors.
The zoo may also delay opening or close its doors to the public during severe weather to ensure that conditions are safe for guests.
