The Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, has debuted the Museum of Living Art (MOLA), a $19 million, 30,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor herpetological facility. The brand-new facility houses more than 260 amphibian and reptile species and approximatelyt 4,000 animals in total.
The MOLA features spacious, humidity-controlled exhibits and state-of-the-art conservation tools, such as quarantine rooms and hibernaculums that facilitate the breeding of rare, endangered and critically endangered animals. In response to the recent global amphibian crisis, the Fort Worth Zoo has prioritized the housing, research and breeding of amphibians.
At the MOLA’s Komodo Kingdom exhibit, visitors can watch Indonesian Komodo dragons bask in the sun and, at the Discovery Hub, guests come face-to-face with the largest aquatic amphibian on Earth (a salamander), which can weigh up to 100 pounds. Those entering the Discovery Hub can also learn more about sustainable and efficient energy practices. A nursery filled with hatchlings and tadpoles helps emphasize the importance of conservation.
Burmese pythons, Fly River turtles, a king cobra, Utila Island iguanas (a rare sight, as the Fort Worth Zoo is one of only two zoos in the nation to house them), green-tree pythons and yellow-spotted climbing toads can also be spotted in the MOLA’s 15 themed exhibits.
Entrance fees are $12 for adults and $9 for children.
Fort Worth Zoo
www.fortworthzoo.com
