One of the four male gorillas housed at the zoo’s recently opened Congo Falls exhibit looks into the camera. Credit: Courtesy / San Antonio Zoo

The San Antonio Zoo has yet another accolade to add to its list. This time, travel magazine Condé Nast has ranked the attraction as one of the best zoos on earth.

The magazine’s authors said they chose what they considered the world’s 15 best zoos based on their conservation efforts, habitat restoration programs and fieldwork. The publication also took into account the variety of animals housed at the facilities.

The San Antonio Zoo was one of only 10 North American zoos to make the cut and one of only two zoos in Texas, the other being the Fort Worth Zoo.

Condé Nast applauded the San Antonio Zoo for its efforts to restore populations of the endangered Texas horned lizard and Project Selva, a collaborative conservation venture with Indigenous groups in the Amazon River basin.

“To be recognized as one of the best zoos in the world is an incredible honor, but what makes this recognition especially meaningful is the focus on conservation,” San Antonio Zoo CEO Tim Morrow said in a statement. “Our vision has always been to secure a future for wildlife, whether that work is happening right here in Texas or alongside communities thousands of miles away. This recognition belongs to our entire Zoo Crew and the conservation partners, supporters, and guests who make that work possible every day.”

The honor from Condé Nast is just the latest award for the local zoo, which SA Current readers also voted Best Family Attraction and Best Tourist Attraction in our most recent Best of San Antonio issue.

The wildlife attraction’s other awards include ranking as the No. 7 Best Zoo in America by USA Today, being named among the 10 Best Zoos in the nation by Condé Nast last year and Newsweek naming it No. 2 zoo in the U.S.

The San Antonio Zoo’s latest award also comes amid significant growth, including the opening of the Naylor Savanna, the Congo Falls gorilla exhibit and an interactive overnight lodging experience.

“These expansions and projects move us closer to becoming the zoo our city deserves – and that’s nothing short of the best zoo in the country,” Morrow said. “Alongside the zoo’s expanding conservation work in Texas and around the world, these efforts reflect its commitment to world-class animal care, conservation, education, and unforgettable guest experiences.”

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...