A little-used building tucked inside the El Paso Zoo is getting a new life, this time as part of a larger effort to help endangered Chihuahuan Desert species survive.
The project, filed through the state’s Texas Architectural Barriers System, calls for the renovation of a roughly 1,000-square-foot building at the zoo, located at 101 Washington St. Construction is expected to begin June 1 and continue through the end of 2026. The filing lists the project as a $65,000 renovation, though city officials said the total project cost is actually about $700,000, funded through the 2012 Quality of Life bond program.
Rick Isaias, communications officer for the City of El Paso, told Chron the Ranch House facility sits within the zoo’s Chihuahuan Desert section and was originally designed as an indoor public exhibit space for smaller animals. Over time, however, zoo staff determined that the building saw limited visitor traffic and was not serving guests as intended.
Rather than letting the space remain underused, the zoo decided to transform it into a conservation-focused breeding facility that supports wildlife preservation and species recovery efforts, Isaias said.
The center will focus on smaller endangered species native to the Chihuahuan Desert, though officials said the exact animals that could eventually be housed there have not yet been finalized. Zoo staff and conservation partners are still evaluating which regional species are most in need of support.
While visitors likely will not be able to tour the completed breeding center, zoo officials say the project will expand the zoo’s ability to participate in breeding, research and recovery programs aimed at preventing species decline and extinction.
“The new breeding center will provide a dedicated, controlled environment specifically designed to support the care, breeding, and long-term survival of smaller endangered species native to the Chihuahuan Desert,” Isaias said.
The renovation is also part of the zoo’s broader push to expand its conservation role in the region. According to city officials, the facility will help strengthen the zoo’s participation in species preservation programs and habitat conservation initiatives tied to the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem.
Construction is expected to have little impact on daily zoo operations or guests. The building is located away from the zoo entrance and major visitor pathways, officials said, and the work area will remain secured during construction. Animal care operations are expected to continue as normal throughout the estimated 13-month project.