SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Zoo will soon be adding to its aquatic offerings. The zoo announced Friday it is building a new lab for ocean conservation.
The lab, which will be 937 square feet, will focus on coral conservation, research, restoration and education, according to the zoo.
The new lab will be named the Brewer Ocean Conservation Lab, in honor of the late R.P. Brewer III, a geology professor at San Antonio College. It will contain Texas and international corral species, a touch tank and educational opportunities.
“Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems worldwide and are vital to the planet’s ecosystem. Rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and disease have devastated reefs globally,” said Tim Morrow, President & CEO of San Antonio Zoo. “With this incredible addition to the zoo, we can showcase our work with corals from the Texas coast and around the world to visitors.”
Coral reef species are in danger of disappearing all over the world. The zoo said it will also work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to cultivate and study corals and restore coral reefs. It will also work to reintroduce corals off the Texas Coast, at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and internationally to help rebuild damaged coral reefs.
The new lab is set to open in the summer of 2026. It will be built next to the Friedrich Aquarium, which is the zoo’s aquarium house with freshwater and saltwater creatures, such as piranhas, turtles, and jellyfish.