85R32717 JGH-D

By: Ashby H.R. No. 2371

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Proud residents of Lufkin are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Ellen Trout Zoo on June 17, 2017; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, local businessman Walter W. Trout and the Lufkin Rotary Club proposed establishing a zoo that would feature the fauna of East Texas, but when Mr. Trout received a baby hippopotamus as a gift, the focus of the zoo shifted to include more exotic creatures; and

WHEREAS, The zoo was officially opened on June 17, 1967, and named in honor of Mr. Trout's mother, with his granddaughter Barbara cutting the ribbon; in 1983, it became the fifth zoo in Texas to be accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, and the following year, the Friends of Ellen Trout Zoo was created to help the zoo promote conservation, acquire new animals, build new exhibits, and purchase equipment; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Ellen Trout Zoo draws some 150,000 visitors each year from across East Texas and western Louisiana with the opportunity to see a variety of wild animals, including Maasai giraffes, southern white rhinoceroses, Malayan tigers, and the largest zoo colony of cotton-top tamarin monkeys in the United States; since 2002, the state-of-the-art Hippoquarium has allowed visitors to view the zoo's two hippos in a natural river setting; the zoo also features a miniature train, a fishing lake, a hiking trail, a playground, and picnic areas; and

WHEREAS, More than 10,000 area students visit the facility each year to learn more about the natural world; in addition, the zoo is active in several important conservation efforts to help preserve and increase the populations of a variety of animals, including the Louisiana pine snake and the East Texas black bear, and it has also provided support to protect the Orinoco crocodile, the clouded leopard, jaguars, and other species whose survival is at risk; and

WHEREAS, For half a century, the Ellen Trout Zoo has proven to be an invaluable cultural and educational resource, delighting residents and visitors alike with its unique collection of some of the world's most remarkable creatures; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ellen Trout Zoo and extend to the zoo's staff, volunteers, and guests sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable celebration; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Ellen Trout Zoo as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.