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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Lufkin are celebrating the 50th |
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anniversary of the Ellen Trout Zoo on June 17, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1965, local businessman Walter W. Trout and the |
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Lufkin Rotary Club proposed establishing a zoo that would feature |
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the fauna of East Texas, but when Mr. Trout received a baby |
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hippopotamus as a gift, the focus of the zoo shifted to include more |
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exotic creatures; and |
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WHEREAS, The zoo was officially opened on June 17, 1967, and |
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named in honor of Mr. Trout's mother, with his granddaughter |
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Barbara cutting the ribbon; in 1983, it became the fifth zoo in |
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Texas to be accredited by the American Association of Zoological |
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Parks and Aquariums, and the following year, the Friends of Ellen |
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Trout Zoo was created to help the zoo promote conservation, acquire |
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new animals, build new exhibits, and purchase equipment; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the Ellen Trout Zoo draws some 150,000 |
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visitors each year from across East Texas and western Louisiana |
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with the opportunity to see a variety of wild animals, including |
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Maasai giraffes, southern white rhinoceroses, Malayan tigers, and |
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the largest zoo colony of cotton-top tamarin monkeys in the United |
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States; since 2002, the state-of-the-art Hippoquarium has allowed |
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visitors to view the zoo's two hippos in a natural river setting; |
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the zoo also features a miniature train, a fishing lake, a hiking |
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trail, a playground, and picnic areas; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 10,000 area students visit the facility |
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each year to learn more about the natural world; in addition, the |
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zoo is active in several important conservation efforts to help |
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preserve and increase the populations of a variety of animals, |
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including the Louisiana pine snake and the East Texas black bear, |
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and it has also provided support to protect the Orinoco crocodile, |
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the clouded leopard, jaguars, and other species whose survival is |
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at risk; and |
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WHEREAS, For half a century, the Ellen Trout Zoo has proven to |
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be an invaluable cultural and educational resource, delighting |
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residents and visitors alike with its unique collection of some of |
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the world's most remarkable creatures; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ellen |
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Trout Zoo and extend to the zoo's staff, volunteers, and guests |
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sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable celebration; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Ellen Trout Zoo as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |