▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁in ▁what ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Disc overy ▁Center . ▁The ▁exhib it ▁was ▁designed ▁and ▁built ▁by ▁the ▁zoo ' s ▁management ▁and ▁staff , ▁and ▁contains ▁ 5 0 ▁natural istic ▁exhib its ▁with ▁ 8 0 ▁species ▁of ▁re pt iles ▁and ▁am ph ib ians . ▁ ▁Also ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Disc overy ▁center , ▁the ▁Trop ical ▁A vi ary ▁is ▁a ▁climate ▁controlled ▁ind oor ▁av i ary ▁that ▁is ▁home ▁to ▁the ▁zo os ▁tropical ▁birds . ▁The ▁zoo ▁also ▁has ▁Bird ▁Gard ens ▁which ▁house ▁other ▁birds ▁in ▁its ▁possession . ▁ ▁El m ▁Creek ▁Back yard ▁Comple ted ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁this ▁area ▁houses ▁species ▁native ▁to ▁the ▁El m ▁Creek ▁area ▁of ▁Texas , ▁including ▁c oug ars , ▁co y otes , ▁por cup ines , ▁racc o ons , ▁b ob c ats , ▁ring t ails , ▁arm ad ill os , ▁sk unks , ▁and ▁river ▁ot ters , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁a ▁some ▁birds , ▁fish , ▁re pt iles , ▁and ▁am ph ib ians . ▁ ▁W et lands ▁of ▁the ▁Amer icas ▁An ▁elev ated ▁board walk ▁that ▁lets ▁visitors ▁get ▁a ▁close ▁look ▁at ▁animals ▁that ▁inhab it ▁the ▁wet lands ▁exhib its ▁at ▁the ▁zoo . ▁The ▁various ▁wet lands ▁exhib its ▁are ▁home ▁to ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁wet land ▁dwell ers ▁including ▁all ig ators , ▁fl aming os , ▁water f ow