El Paso Zoo Celebrates Taj the Rhino's 10th
Visitors sang Happy Birthday to the zoo's rhino in English and Spanish during a November 8 celebration.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Wildlife
The El Paso Zoo marked the 10th birthday of Taj the rhino on November 8, 2026, with a celebration running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors sang "Happy Birthday" to Taj in English and Spanish, and guests enjoyed activities and giveaways.
Why it matters
The celebration marked a decade of Taj's life and gave the El Paso community a chance to celebrate together at the zoo. The event highlighted the zoo's role as a shared local gathering place for wildlife enrichment and family activities.
Taj turned 10 years old during a two-hour celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the El Paso Zoo. Attendance figures for the event were not reported.
The players
El Paso Zoo
The El Paso Zoo is a municipal zoo in El Paso, Texas, that houses a variety of animals and hosts public education and enrichment events.
Taj
Taj is a rhinoceros who was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2016 and later lived at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle before arriving in El Paso.
The details
Visitors gathered to sing "Happy Birthday" to Taj in English and Spanish. At noon, Taj received a birthday enrichment treat prepared by his care team, and the event also featured activities and giveaways for guests.
Timeline
2016: Taj was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
2023: Taj arrived at the El Paso Zoo.
November 8, 2026: The El Paso Zoo held Taj's 10th birthday celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Roadmap
Public birthday events for zoo animals are a common practice at accredited zoos, where enrichment treats serve both a celebratory and a behavioral purpose. Taj's celebration follows this pattern of pairing community events with animal care routines.
El Paso residents can visit the zoo to see Taj and the rest of its animals during regular operating hours. Families planning a visit may find that zoo birthday events offer a chance to see enrichment activities up close.
The takeaway
Animal birthdays at zoos are often used to share enrichment routines with the public, making them a simple way for visitors to learn about animal care. Taj's celebration shows how a single event can connect a community to the animals in its local zoo.
Further reading
For more animal news from the region, explore Wildlife coverage on El Paso.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KDBC.
