Bill Text: TX HR1196 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating the Fort Worth Zoo on the birth of its newest Asian elephant calf, Travis.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-04-28 - Reported enrolled [HR1196 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR1196-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1196 | ||
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| WHEREAS, On March 2, 2023, Texas Independence Day, the Fort | ||
| Worth Zoo hosted a celebration in honor of its newest resident, baby | ||
| Asian elephant Travis, who was born on February 23, 2023; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Travis entered the world measuring 37 inches tall | ||
| and weighing 270 pounds, making him the zoo's biggest male calf to | ||
| date; continuing the tradition of new calves receiving names with | ||
| strong ties to the state, Travis is the fifth Asian elephant calf | ||
| born at the Fort Worth Zoo, joining his half-brother Brazos, his | ||
| mother Belle, his aunt Bluebonnet, and Bowie, who now resides at the | ||
| Oklahoma City Zoo; his father, Romeo, who is 30 years old, has lived | ||
| at the zoo since 2015; Travis is an important addition to the | ||
| family, and his bonding with his mother and family unit mimics how | ||
| herds behave in the wild; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The oldest continuous zoo site in Texas, the Fort | ||
| Worth Zoo was founded in 1909 with one lion, two bear cubs, an | ||
| alligator, a coyote, a peacock, and a few rabbits; today, it is home | ||
| to more than 500 species, and it brings in approximately 1 million | ||
| visitors each year; moreover, it is one of only 65 zoological | ||
| facilities in the world to hold the distinction of being a Humane | ||
| Certified park; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In April 2021, the Fort Worth Zoo completed its | ||
| state-of-the-art Elephant Springs habitat, which features a | ||
| 400,000-gallon river, a climate-controlled environment, and 15 | ||
| stalls to give the animals their own individual spaces; the habitat | ||
| represents the zoo's commitment to the conservation of Asian | ||
| elephants, a critically endangered species and one of the most | ||
| poached animals in the world; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Through his presence at the Fort Worth Zoo, Travis | ||
| will provide visitors with the gift of being able to see firsthand | ||
| one of the world's most magnificent creatures, and it is fitting to | ||
| commend his handlers and the zoo's staff as they continue their work | ||
| to advocate for this vulnerable species; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby congratulate the Fort Worth Zoo on the birth of | ||
| its newest elephant and extend to baby Travis a Texas-sized welcome | ||
| as a new citizen of the Lone Star State; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the Fort Worth Zoo as an expression of high regard by | ||
| the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Goldman | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1196 was adopted by the House on April | ||
| 28, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
