Aggieland

It’s an undeniable fact, small things are cute. There is just something about miniatures that adds up to big smiles. And while baby animals will always have a special place in our hearts, our list of favorites will always have room for minis.

Where do minis come from? Sometimes they are bred for size, but that is not always the case. There are some breeds that are naturally small in stature in comparison to their mainstream counterparts.

Today we want to talk about three such miniature animals that may be small in size, but big on personality, the mini donkey, zebu, and pygmy goat.  

Mini donkey

Donkeys are easily recognized by their large head, long ears and face, and nearly cow-like tails. The mini donkey is a smaller, more compact version, typically reaching no more than 3 feet tall and weighing up to 300 pounds. Like their larger counterparts, the mini donkey is clever, a bit stubborn, and very social. They spend a lot of the time grazing and you can hear them bray, just like the big boys. Imported to the US in 1929, mini donkeys originally came from Sicily and Sardinia. A novelty at first, the mini donkey has gained popularity over the years, even as a pet.

Miniature Zebu

Miniature Zebus are actually the smallest species of cattle in the world. They are easy to identify by the tell-tale hump on their upper back and height, which doesn’t exceed about 42 inches. Their small size is natural, they are not a miniaturized version of a larger breed which makes them a bit unusual in the world of small animals. Like all cattle, the mini Zebu is hardy and spends a lot of time grazing. They are also known to be pretty friendly and social, so they do well in groups.

Pygmy Goat

This small goat is a domestic goat that came from Southwest Asia but is now common around West Africa. They typically don’t grow over 23 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh no more than 70 pounds. They are also known for being hardy, low maintenance, and quite friendly and clever. For this reason, and their small size,  pygmy goats are sometimes kept as pets. They do love to play and run around, so they do require plenty of room. They are also social, so they do well in groups where they always have a partner to roughhouse with. 

While all animals are great in their own right, the minis are always a favorite. If you’d like to see one of these fellows for yourself, head on over today!

With the holiday break coming up, many families are looking for fun, affordable and safe things to do. While options may seem a bit limited this year, we’re proud to provide the community a fun, educational, and family-friendly option. 

Here are a few of the reasons you’ll want to pack up the entire gang and head on over during your holiday vacation. 

All-ages holiday activity: If you have kids on break from school, you are probably looking for something fun to do. If you have family visiting for the holidays, you might need an entertaining activity for your guests. Luckily, a trip to our park is the perfect family outing. Kids of all ages love visiting the animals, and there is something for everyone, from a relaxing drive-through area to a walk-through park and play area.

Easy outing to schedule: While many places slow down for the holidays, we’re open every day except for Christmas! This makes it easy to plan your trip, especially if you’re hosting any family holiday gatherings. We open at 9 and the last car is admitted at 4, so you have all day to enjoy the adventure.

Fun holiday events to participate in: Visitors through December 24th can participate in our Christmas Animal Enrichment Drive. This allows you to spread a little extra holiday cheer by giving presents to our animals’ friends! You can visit the Wishing Tree in the gift shop and make an animal’s holiday bright!

Safe outing for groups: It’s easy to practice social distancing during your visit, making our park a great destination for your family. You can drive through in the comfort of your own car, further limiting your exposure to others.

Affordable family activity: Your admission gives you access to the drive-through safari, the walk-through adventure zoo, the playscape and includes parking. This makes your trip an affordable outing for the entire gang! Additionally, online tickets include a discount, and we have veterans, active military, and first responder’s discounts as well!

You’ve got to see our Wishing Tree:  We have a special tree in the gift shop that has ornaments that list Christmas enrichment items for animals in the park. All you have to do is select an ornament, make sure the item listed is something you can provide, and take the ornament home with you for your own tree. These commemorative ornaments feature a photo of your animal to accompany their Christmas wish.  

Next, you return the gift mentioned on the ornament to the park, or through the mail. Please note, admission to the park is not required to drop off your items. Learn more about the Wishing Tree and donation process here. 

Of course, you can participate in our Christmas Animal Enrichment Drive online too. Just visit our online wish list but don’t delay, you have until January 1 to make an animal’s holiday wishes come true by sending your gifts!

Kids of all ages love visiting Aggieland Wild Animal Safari, and what’s not to love! With hundreds of animal species to see,  great food to snack on, and even a playscape to run wild in, our park has something for everyone. Now, with the help of a few animal-themed games, you can make your trip even more fun and educational.

These games are also a great way to help keep restless children more actively engaged during your visit by giving them something to focus on. Just remember, you can adjust the games to fit your children’s age and learning style.

Animal bingo

This game can enhance your visit and help your child learn more about the animals you see.  You can print out animal pictures and glue them on a card. Give your child stickers or a marker to mark off animals they see during your visit. The one to cross out an entire row first wins! You can adapt this to older kids by using words in place of the pictures. You can even challenge the entire family by making a bingo card with the scientific name of the animals!  Of course, you can also offer a treat to the winner, like something special from the Pavillion!

Aggieland Safari scavenger hunt

Why not turn your trip into a scavenger hunt?  You can use a map of our park and encourage your kids to cross off animals as they find them. This will help them learn about animals and even a bit about reading a map! You can also go a bit more traditional with your scavenger hunt and make a list of animals and landmarks you may run into. Let everyone have a copy of the list and see who can cross the most items off. Visit our site to learn more about the types of animals and things you’ll see to help you make your scavenger hunt checklist.

Animal alphabet game

This beloved road trip game can be adapted to your visit! Simply see who can get through more of the alphabet using animals that start with each letter. And since it can be hard to find an animal for every letter, you can open it up to include additional park items, like things in the Pavillion or the Playscape! But don’t forget, there are multiple ways to view animals, from the drive-thru to the 20 acres of the walk-through zoo. This area alone has exhibits housing over 150 mammals, birds, and reptiles! So you’ll have a lot of chances to win this game if you visit each area!

Animal atlas

This is an easy and fun way to explore the park. Simply print out a world map and get some stickers. There are lots of free, printable maps online to get you started. For the stickers, you can order animal-themed versions, but simple star stickers will work as well. During your visit, put a sticker on the map where each animal you see originates from. Not only will this help make your trip more educational, but it also creates a nice keepsake of your visit. 

There you have it, four simple games to enhance your visit. If you have additional ideas please share them with us on Facebook or Instagram.

Have you ever heard of a Zedonk? You may have thought it was a joke, but zedonks are real! These special animals are hybrids or a cross between two different species of animals that are a part of the same animal family.  You can probably guess which two species zedonks come from – donkeys and zebras.

While there are different types of hybrids, we think zedonks are one of the most unique and interesting. Here are some fun facts you may not have known about the zedonk.

What is a zedonk?

Any equestrian animal paired with a zebra falls into the category of being a Zebroid. A zedonk is a zebroid, born from a female donkey and a male zebra. And if that sounds unusual, that’s because it is! Hybrids, though a bit uncommon, exist in nature. In fact, there are some that you probably already know of, like the mule. Mules are hybrids from a donkey and a horse, and the liger is the offspring of a tiger and a lion. 

How are they different from zebra?

A zedonk will take after its zebra and donkey parents, but there are a few differences that make them look as unique as their name sounds. One of the more noticeable differences in their striped fur. They will range from having lighter fur, where stripes will appear, to having darker fur that hides their stripes. This can give them a patchwork-style appearance.  In addition to looking like a mix-and-match of their parents, a zedonk is also unable to parent their own children. This is a fairly common trait for hybrid animals. 

How can you tell them apart?

A zedonk is a pretty unique-looking animal, and you’ll know one when you see one. A zedonk will be smaller in stature than their zebra parent at a minimum height of 3 feet, though it’s still possible for them to reach a height of 5 feet. Their fur will be a mix of stripes from their zebra father and the normal flat color of their donkey mother. The mix of stripes and plan fur can be quite interesting, giving zedonks an unusual look.

As you can tell, zedonks are pretty interesting animals, especially when you see one up close. With their unusual fur and their memorable name, the zedonk makes quite an impression on visitors. Of course, you can always plan a trip to visit us and see one in person – get tickets today.

Welcome to the jungle at Aggieland Safari, where we pay a visit to a new furry friend today-a marsupial who likes to hop around! But don’t confuse a Wallaby with a Kangaroo. The biggest difference between the two is size. But there’s no need to catch a long flight in order to see Wallabies up close, all it takes is one short car ride to Aggieland Safari in Bryan, Texas!

Check out just one of the feeding experiences you can participate in while visiting the Aggieland Safari Adventure Zoo! The Tortoise Walkthrough is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily (lettuce sold until 4:20 pm)!