San Antonio Zoo Debuts Climbable ‘Pollinators’ Sculptures Exhibit in Go Wild Realm, Running February 28–April 26

A spring-time exhibit built around hands-on learning

The San Antonio Zoo is introducing a limited-run attraction designed to put visitors face-to-face with the animals that help plants reproduce and support food systems. The exhibit, titled Pollinators, is scheduled to run from Feb. 28 through April 26, 2026, and is billed as a world premiere.

Installed in the Zoo’s Go Wild realm, the experience centers on 12 oversized sculptures that visitors can approach and climb. The exhibit is included with standard Zoo admission and is free for members during the run.

What visitors will see: familiar icons and overlooked species

The sculptures are modeled on a range of pollinating species, pairing animals with the plants they interact with in nature. Planned displays include a monarch butterfly positioned on a Mexican torch sunflower and a hummingbird set near a trumpet vine.

Alongside more recognizable pollinators, the exhibit highlights species that are less commonly featured in public programming, including:

• Chocolate midges, small flies known for their role in pollinating cacao flowers
• Mexican long-tongued bats, mammals associated with pollinating certain night-blooming plants

Why pollinators matter—and how the exhibit frames the issue

Pollination is a biological process that enables many plants to produce fruit and seed, linking animal behavior directly to ecosystems and agriculture. By emphasizing interaction—climbing, close-up viewing, and themed pairings of animals with host plants—the exhibit uses physical scale and proximity to explain how pollen moves between flowers and why that movement can be essential for plant reproduction.

Zoo programming tied to the exhibit is also structured around practical takeaways for households and neighborhoods. The messaging focuses on small, concrete steps that can support pollinator habitat, including planting native flowers, providing water sources, and reducing pesticide use.

How it fits into San Antonio’s broader pollinator focus

The Zoo sits within Brackenridge Park, an area that hosts recurring community events centered on butterflies and pollinator education. The new exhibit arrives as the city and local organizations continue to build public-facing programming around habitat awareness, seasonal migration, and backyard-friendly conservation practices.

For visitors, the exhibit’s premise is straightforward: make the invisible work of pollination visible, memorable, and tactile—especially for families and school-aged children.

Visiting details

Pollinators runs Feb. 28 through April 26, 2026, at the San Antonio Zoo (3903 N. St. Mary’s St.). The exhibit is included with regular admission and is available to members without an additional fee.