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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Fort Worth Zoo received well-deserved |
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recognition when it was named the Best Zoo in North America by USA |
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Today in July 2020; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year, USA Today assembles a panel of industry |
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experts to select the 20 zoos in North America that maintain the |
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highest professional standards, and the newspaper then asks readers |
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to vote for their favorite from the list; the Fort Worth Zoo claimed |
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the No. 1 spot for the first time in 2020 and has finished in the top |
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five on three previous occasions; and |
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WHEREAS, Drawing one million visitors annually, the Fort |
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Worth Zoo is renowned for being the home of many rare animals; it is |
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the only zoo in Texas, and one of just seven in the nation, to house |
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bonobos, and it is one of five locations in the world to include |
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both black and greater one-horned African rhinoceroses; moreover, |
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it hosts the most successful breeding colony of lesser flamingos in |
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the world, and its residents include 68 endangered and threatened |
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species, including the harpy eagle, the Storm's stork, and the |
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Komodo dragon; among other accomplishments, the zoo has led the |
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effort to save the Jamaican iguana, the most endangered lizard in |
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the world; and |
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WHEREAS, The Fort Worth Zoo benefits from the efforts of a |
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dedicated staff that includes 185 full-time members, 400 part-time |
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seasonal workers, and as many as 200 seasonal volunteers; it is |
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accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Zoological |
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Association of America, and American Humane; and |
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WHEREAS, The Fort Worth Zoo has been delighting and educating |
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visitors about the natural world for more than a century, and it is |
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truly deserving of this special honor; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Fort Worth Zoo for being named |
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the Best Zoo in North America by USA Today and extend to the zoo's |
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staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the zoo as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |