Delving into finest zoos in US, this text takes readers on a journey to discover essentially the most distinctive animal collections and top-ranked zoos within the nation.
From iconic structure to distinctive animal encounters, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of zoos and uncover the hidden gems that make each stand out.
High Zoos within the US
America is house to among the world’s most well-known and prestigious zoos, every providing a singular expertise for guests of all ages. From the majestic pandas on the Nationwide Zoo to the colourful birds on the San Diego Zoo, these establishments are devoted to offering a secure and academic setting for each people and animals. With their spectacular collections and state-of-the-art services, the highest zoos within the US are a must-visit vacation spot for anybody fascinated by wildlife and conservation.
Rating of the Most Common Zoos
In accordance with varied sources, together with the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and TripAdvisor, the next are among the hottest zoos within the US:
- The San Diego Zoo, California: Situated in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is known for its lush gardens and naturalistic habitats, housing greater than 3,500 animals from over 650 species.
- The Nationwide Zoo, Washington D.C.: As one of many oldest and most well-known zoos within the US, the Nationwide Zoo is house to 1,800 animals, together with large pandas, orangutans, and elephants.
- The St. Louis Zoo, Missouri: With over 18,000 animals from 600 species, the St. Louis Zoo is among the largest zoos within the nation, additionally that includes a free-admission coverage.
- The Bronx Zoo, New York: As the biggest metropolitan zoo within the US, the Bronx Zoo has over 6,000 animals and a 6-acre Himalayan Highlands exhibit.
- The Houston Zoo, Texas: Unfold over 55 acres, the Houston Zoo is house to over 6,000 animals and affords quite a lot of reveals, together with a Texas Wetlands exhibit and a Texas Wild exhibit.
Every of those zoos affords a singular expertise, with world-class reveals, academic packages, and conservation efforts. Guests can anticipate to see a variety of animals, from the majestic lions and tigers to the colourful birds and reptiles.
Distinctive Options and Notable Displays
Along with their spectacular collections, every of those zoos affords distinctive options and reveals that set them other than the remaining. A number of the most notable reveals embody:
- The San Diego Zoo’s Tiger Path, which encompasses a naturalistic habitat with a water characteristic and a viewing space for guests to watch the majestic tigers up shut.
- The Nationwide Zoo’s Big Panda Habitat, which affords a singular alternative to see these majestic animals in an indoor-outdoor setting.
- The St. Louis Zoo’s Insectarium, which encompasses a distinctive exhibit on bugs, together with a butterfly backyard and a reptile home.
- The Bronx Zoo’s Congo Gorilla Forest, which affords a naturalistic habitat for the western lowland gorillas and supplies guests with an immersive expertise.
- The Houston Zoo’s Texas Wetlands exhibit, which encompasses a naturalistic habitat with a swampy space, a forest, and a prairie, all house to quite a lot of animals, together with alligators, snakes, and birds.
Measurement and Format
The scale and format of every zoo range vastly, from the big and sprawling St. Louis Zoo to the intimate and compact Nationwide Zoo. Nonetheless, every zoo is rigorously designed to offer guests with an pleasant and academic expertise.
The San Diego Zoo’s 100-acre campus is designed to imitate the pure habitats of the animals, with quite a lot of gardens, forests, and wetlands.
The St. Louis Zoo, then again, covers over 90 acres and options quite a lot of reveals, together with the well-known Polar Bear Level exhibit and the Insectarium. The Bronx Zoo, positioned on a 265-acre web site, affords a singular city zoo expertise with quite a lot of reveals and points of interest.
The Houston Zoo is unfold over 55 acres and affords quite a lot of reveals, together with the Texas Wetlands exhibit and the Texas Wild exhibit. The Nationwide Zoo, with its 163-acre campus, options quite a lot of reveals, together with the well-known Big Panda Habitat.
Every of those zoos is rigorously designed to offer guests with an pleasant and academic expertise, with a deal with conservation, schooling, and animal welfare.
Zoo Options and Facilities
In trendy zoos, animal conservation and schooling play a vital function in selling the well-being of animals and elevating consciousness in regards to the significance of defending wildlife. By providing partaking experiences and academic packages, zoos can encourage guests to take motion in preserving the pure world.
Animal conservation and schooling are basic elements of contemporary zoos. Zoos not solely present a secure haven for animals but in addition function facilities for analysis, breeding packages, and neighborhood outreach initiatives. By supporting conservation efforts and sharing information in regards to the significance of defending wildlife, zoos contribute to the preservation of species and ecosystems.
Varied Varieties of Displays
Zoos supply a variety of reveals that cater to totally different pursuits and preferences. A number of the hottest varieties of reveals embody:
– Primate Enclosures: These reveals present a habitat for primates resembling gorillas, orangutans, and lemurs. Primate enclosures usually characteristic giant indoor and outside areas that mimic the animals’ pure habitats.
– Huge Cat Displays: House to majestic predators like lions, tigers, and leopards, massive cat reveals supply guests an exhilarating expertise. These reveals often characteristic giant viewing areas and generally even present alternatives to stand up shut and private with the animals.
– Reptile and Amphibian Displays: These reveals showcase quite a lot of reptiles and amphibians, together with snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs. Reptile and amphibian reveals usually characteristic tropical or desert environments that spotlight the variety of those often-overlooked animals.
Every kind of exhibit serves a singular function in selling schooling and conservation. By providing immersive experiences and offering insights into the lives of various animal species, zoos can foster a deeper appreciation for the pure world.
Habitat Restoration and Rehabilitation Applications
Along with offering enclosures for animals, zoos additionally play a vital function in habitat restoration and rehabilitation packages. These packages purpose to revive degraded or broken habitats and promote the conservation of ecosystems.
– Habitat Restoration: Habitat restoration includes returning ecosystems to a wholesome state by eradicating invasive species, reintroducing native plant and animal species, and repairing broken habitats.
– Rehabilitation Applications: Rehabilitation packages deal with offering care and therapy to injured or orphaned animals with the objective of releasing them again into the wild.
Zoos usually collaborate with conservation organizations and authorities businesses to implement habitat restoration and rehabilitation packages. These efforts not solely profit the animals and ecosystems but in addition assist native communities and promote sustainable land use practices.
Zoo Eating places and Cafes
Visiting a zoo generally is a enjoyable and academic expertise, nevertheless it will also be hungry work. That is why many zoos supply a variety of eating choices, from informal cafes to high-quality eating eating places.
– High quality and Selection: Zoo eating places and cafes usually supply a various vary of cuisines, from basic American fare to worldwide specialties. Some zoos even have themed eating places that match the animal reveals, resembling a jungle-themed cafe or a safari-style restaurant.
– Sustainable Practices: Many trendy zoos prioritize sustainability of their eating choices, providing eco-friendly options and lowering waste by composting and recycling packages.
By offering partaking experiences, selling schooling and conservation, and providing a variety of eating choices, zoos can create a memorable and pleasant expertise for guests of all ages.
Wildlife and Conservation Efforts
US zoos have turn out to be a vital hub for wildlife conservation and schooling, providing a platform for the general public to interact with and be taught in regards to the pure world. By varied packages and initiatives, zoos are working in direction of defending endangered species, selling sustainable practices, and elevating consciousness in regards to the significance of conservation.
Profitable Animal Conservation Applications in US Zoos
One notable instance of profitable animal conservation is the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, applied by the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The SSP program goals to handle and breed threatened and endangered species in zoos, with the objective of releasing offspring into the wild or augmenting declining populations. Some notable examples of SSP packages embody the California Condor Restoration Program, the Blackfooted Ferret Conservation Program, and the Sumatran Rhino Program.
The SSP program has led to vital will increase in inhabitants numbers for a lot of species, such because the African Elephant, the Amur Leopard, and the Hawaiian Goose. By working collectively, zoos, conservation organizations, and authorities businesses have made substantial strides in defending these species and selling their conservation.
The Impression of Human Conduct on Wildlife Populations and Habitats, Greatest zoos in us
Human conduct has a profound affect on wildlife populations and habitats, usually leading to inhabitants declines, habitat loss, and even extinction. Habitat fragmentation, brought on by deforestation, urbanization, and different human actions, has led to the isolation of species and lowered their capacity to adapt to altering environmental circumstances.
In accordance with the IUCN Purple Listing, human actions are the first explanation for inhabitants decline for 60% of threatened species. Moreover, air pollution, local weather change, and looking have all contributed to the decline of many species.
Neighborhood Engagement and Schooling
Neighborhood engagement and schooling are vital elements of any profitable conservation program. By educating the general public in regards to the significance of conservation, zoos can encourage people to make a constructive affect on the setting. By varied packages, resembling faculty outreach, neighborhood occasions, and interactive reveals, zoos can increase consciousness in regards to the plight of endangered species and promote sustainable practices.
Most Endangered Species Present in US Zoos
The next species are among the many most endangered and may be present in US zoos:
- Sumatran Rhino: Critically endangered, with fewer than 80 people remaining within the wild. The US zoo breeding program goals to reinforce the wild inhabitants by the discharge of captive-bred offspring.
- African Elephant: Endangered as a result of habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife battle. The SSP program has helped to extend the inhabitants of African Elephants in zoos, with over 1,500 people collaborating in this system.
- Amur Leopard: Critically endangered, with fewer than 70 people remaining within the wild. The US zoos have a breeding program for the Amur Leopard, aiming to extend the inhabitants and finally launch offspring into the wild.
- California Condor: Endangered, with solely 400 people remaining within the wild. The US zoo breeding program has helped to extend the inhabitants of California Condors, with over 500 people collaborating in this system.
Greatest Zoos to Go to Based mostly on Location
When planning a visit to a zoo, it is important to contemplate the situation and what every zoo has to supply. Every area in the US has its distinctive set of zoos, providing a various vary of points of interest, reveals, and experiences for guests. On this part, we’ll spotlight the perfect zoos to go to primarily based on location, together with the East Coast, West Coast, and family-friendly zoos throughout the nation.
East Coast’s High Zoos
The East Coast is house to among the oldest and most famed zoos in the US. Listed here are among the prime zoos to go to:
- Zoo New England in Boston, Massachusetts – House to over 2,000 animals, together with elephants, giraffes, and lions. The zoo’s reveals are designed to imitate the animals’ pure habitats and supply a singular viewing expertise for guests.
- Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania – The primary zoo in the US, based in 1874. It is house to over 1,300 animals, together with the well-known “McCarthy’s Wildlife” exhibit, that includes animals from world wide.
- Nationwide Zoo in Washington D.C. – A Smithsonian Establishment zoo, providing free admission and a variety of animals, together with large pandas, orangutans, and elephants.
- North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina – A 550-acre zoo, house to over 2,000 animals, together with elephants, giraffes, and lions. The zoo can also be a frontrunner in conservation and is house to a number of packages geared toward defending endangered species.
- Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois – House to over 450 species of animals, together with dolphins, penguins, and monkeys. The zoo’s reveals are designed to offer an immersive expertise for guests.
West Coast’s High Zoos
The West Coast is house to a various vary of zoos, every providing a singular expertise for guests. Listed here are among the prime zoos to go to:
- San Diego Zoo in California – One of the well-known zoos on the earth, recognized for its lush gardens and naturalistic habitats. House to over 3,500 animals, together with large pandas, koalas, and giraffes.
- Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo in Washington – A 92-acre zoo, house to over 1,100 animals, together with elephants, tigers, and monkeys. The zoo is thought for its conservation efforts and its distinctive viewing experiences.
- Portland Zoo in Oregon – A 64-acre zoo, house to over 2,000 animals, together with elephants, giraffes, and lions. The zoo’s reveals are designed to offer an immersive expertise for guests.
- Zoo Miami in Florida – A 740-acre zoo, house to over 3,000 animals, together with giraffes, elephants, and lions. The zoo is thought for its conservation efforts and its distinctive viewing experiences.
- San Francisco Zoo in California – A 100-acre zoo, house to over 250 species of animals, together with elephants, tigers, and monkeys. The zoo’s reveals are designed to offer an immersive expertise for guests.
Household-Pleasant Zoos
When visiting a zoo with your loved ones, it is important to decide on a zoo that caters to the wants of youngsters. Listed here are some family-friendly zoos throughout the US:
- Zoo Atlanta in Georgia – House to over 1,000 animals, together with large pandas, gorillas, and elephants. The zoo affords quite a lot of interactive experiences for youngsters, together with a petting zoo and a playground).
- St. Louis Zoo in Missouri – House to over 18,000 animals, together with penguins, monkeys, and elephants. The zoo affords quite a lot of interactive experiences for youngsters, together with a carousel and a practice.
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio – House to over 10,000 animals, together with sharks, penguins, and polar bears. The zoo affords quite a lot of interactive experiences for youngsters, together with a water park and a playground.
- Phoenix Zoo in Arizona – House to over 200 species of animals, together with monkeys, giraffes, and lions. The zoo affords quite a lot of interactive experiences for youngsters, together with a petting zoo and a playground.
- Denver Zoo in Colorado – House to over 4,000 animals, together with elephants, giraffes, and lions. The zoo affords quite a lot of interactive experiences for youngsters, together with a playground and a petting zoo.
Zoos Providing Distinctive In a single day Experiences
When you’re on the lookout for a singular expertise when visiting a zoo, contemplate one of many zoos providing in a single day experiences:
- Zoo Atlanta’s “Roar and Snore” – A possibility to spend the night time in a giraffe-themed habitat, full with a guided tour and breakfast with the animals.
- St. Louis Zoo’s “Zoo Overnights” – A possibility to spend the night time within the zoo’s giraffe habitat, full with a guided tour and breakfast with the animals.
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s “Zoo Crew In a single day” – A possibility to spend the night time within the zoo’s Africa exhibit, full with a guided tour and breakfast with the animals.
- Phoenix Zoo’s “Zoo Lights” – A possibility to spend an evening within the zoo’s animal reveals, full with a guided tour and scorching chocolate.
- Denver Zoo’s “Zoo Overnights” – A possibility to spend the night time within the zoo’s Asia exhibit, full with a guided tour and breakfast with the animals.
Zoos with Distinctive Points of interest
When visiting zoos within the US, some points of interest stand out for his or her creativity and talent to offer immersive experiences for guests. These distinctive points of interest vary from petting zoos and behind-the-scenes excursions to drive-thru zoos and walkabout zoos, in addition to water points of interest that deliver marine life to the forefront.
Petting Zoos and Behind-the-Scenes Excursions
Many zoos within the US supply petting zoos, which give a hands-on expertise, permitting guests to work together with quite a lot of pleasant cattle. These areas are designed to be secure and academic, instructing kids and adults alike in regards to the significance of animal care and conservation. Behind-the-scenes excursions, then again, give guests a better take a look at the zoo’s operations, usually together with non-public viewing areas for animals, demonstrations of animal enrichment actions, and alternatives to fulfill with zoo professionals.
* San Diego Zoo’s Petting Zoo, California: Encompasses a playground and petting zoo with animals like goats, sheep, and rabbits.
* Nationwide Zoo’s Animal Encounter Program, Washington D.C.: Affords behind-the-scenes excursions and interactive experiences, together with animal feedings and meet-and-greets.
* Zoo Miami’s Petting Zoo, Florida: Gives a petting zoo and playground with animals like giraffes, monkeys, and lemurs.
Drive-Via Zoos
Drive-thru zoos supply a singular method to expertise wild animals from the consolation of your personal car. These zoos are designed to resemble the animals’ pure habitats, offering an immersive expertise as you drive by the reveals. Drive-thru zoos usually characteristic quite a lot of species, together with unique animals like tigers, bears, and monkeys.
* Wild Animal Park’s Drive-Via Safari, South Dakota: Takes guests on a 6-mile journey by the park’s varied reveals, that includes animals like rhinos and bison.
* Fossil Rim Wildlife Heart, Texas: Affords a 9.5-mile drive-through safari with animals like giraffes, lions, and cheetahs.
Walkabout Zoos
Walkabout zoos characteristic open areas the place guests can stroll amongst animals, usually with out bodily limitations. These zoos purpose to recreate pure habitats, offering guests with an immersive expertise and inspiring interplay with the animals. Walkabout zoos usually characteristic quite a lot of species, together with unique animals like elephants, rhinos, and primates.
* Henry Doorly Zoo’s African Veldt, Nebraska: Encompasses a walkabout exhibit with animals like lions, giraffes, and rhinos roaming freely.
* Phoenix Zoo’s Arizona Path, Arizona: Affords a walkabout space with animals like tigers, monkeys, and birds.
Water Points of interest
Some zoos within the US characteristic water points of interest that deliver marine life to the forefront. These points of interest vary from dolphin reveals and sea lion reveals to shark tanks and interactive water reveals. Water points of interest present an academic and entertaining expertise for guests of all ages.
* SeaWorld’s Dolphin Present, California: Encompasses a high-tech present with dolphin performances, academic content material, and interactive experiences.
* Nationwide Aquarium’s Shark Exhibit, Maryland: Affords an immersive expertise with a big shark tank that includes varied species of sharks and different marine animals.
* Shamu Stadium’s Sea Lion Present, Florida: Encompasses a stay sea lion present with acrobatic performances and academic content material.
Zoos with Distinctive Animal Collections
A various and well-rounded animal assortment is a trademark of a world-class zoo. It not solely supplies an enticing expertise for guests but in addition performs a vital function in conservation and schooling efforts. A zoo with an distinctive animal assortment is one that provides a mixture of species, habitats, and interactive experiences that cater to the pursuits of various age teams and studying kinds.
The Significance of Animal Range in a Zoo
A zoo’s animal assortment is its main draw, and a various assortment is crucial for a number of causes. Firstly, it supplies a consultant pattern of the planet’s biodiversity, permitting guests to study and admire the wide selection of species that exist. Secondly, a various assortment permits zoos to take part in species conservation packages, breeding packages, and analysis initiatives that contribute to the worldwide effort to guard endangered species. Lastly, a various assortment retains guests engaged and , making the zoo a preferred vacation spot for households, college students, and animal fans.
Examples of Distinctive Animal Collections
Some zoos stand out for his or her distinctive animal collections, with species which might be uncommon, endangered, and even extinct within the wild. The San Diego Zoo, as an illustration, is famend for its large panda exhibit, which is a part of a world breeding program to avoid wasting this iconic species. The Nationwide Zoo in Washington D.C. has a powerful assortment of large tortoises, that are one of many oldest dwelling species on Earth. In the meantime, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio is thought for its polar bear exhibit, which encompasses a state-of-the-art viewing space and a breeding program that has helped improve the inhabitants of this magnificent species.
The Position of Animal Coaching in a Zoo’s Animal Assortment
Animal coaching is a vital facet of a zoo’s animal assortment, because it allows employees to soundly work together with animals, present enrichment actions, and promote pure conduct. Effectively-trained animals are additionally extra prone to breed and thrive of their enclosures, which advantages each the animals and the zoo’s conservation efforts. Methods resembling constructive reinforcement coaching and clicker coaching are broadly utilized in zoos, permitting animals to be taught and reply to cues in a constructive and non-invasive manner.
Comparability of Animal Collections amongst High Zoos
Whereas all prime zoos have distinctive animal collections, each has its strengths and weaknesses. The San Diego Zoo, for instance, is thought for its lush gardens and naturalistic habitats, however its assortment of massive cats is smaller in comparison with different zoos. The Nationwide Zoo, then again, has a powerful assortment of primates, however its polar bear exhibit is smaller than another zoos. A comparability of animal collections amongst prime zoos highlights the significance of range, conservation, and academic packages in a zoo’s general mission.
Species-Particular Displays
Some zoos stand out for his or her species-specific reveals, which give a singular expertise for guests. The Philadelphia Zoo, as an illustration, has a world-class exhibit on giraffes, that includes a big viewing space and a breeding program that has efficiently raised a number of calves. The Oregon Zoo in Portland has a devoted exhibit on elephants, which incorporates a big habitat and a breeding program that has helped improve the inhabitants of those magnificent animals.
The Impression of Animal Collections on Conservation Efforts
A zoo’s animal assortment is not only a show of animals; it performs a vital function in conservation efforts. By collaborating in breeding packages, conservation analysis, and academic initiatives, zoos assist shield species and ecosystems world wide. The San Diego Zoo, for instance, has participated in breeding packages for the California condor, the black-footed ferret, and the mountain lion, all of that are endangered species.
The Position of Animal Welfare in a Zoo’s Animal Assortment
Animal welfare is a prime precedence in a zoo’s animal assortment, with employees working tirelessly to make sure that animals obtain the absolute best care. This contains offering a naturalistic setting, guaranteeing the animals’ bodily and emotional wants are met, and offering alternatives for animals to interact in pure conduct. The Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) units requirements for animal welfare, which zoos should adhere to, selling the well being, security, and well-being of animals in captivity.
Animal Encounters and Enrichment Applications
Animal encounters and enrichment packages are a vital a part of a zoo’s animal assortment, offering guests with a chance to work together with animals in a secure and managed setting. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, for instance, affords animal encounters with lemurs, sea lions, and even sharks, whereas the Nationwide Zoo has a program that permits guests to feed the giraffes. Enrichment packages, resembling habitat rotation and puzzle toys, are designed to stimulate animal conduct and supply psychological and bodily stimulation.
Collaborations and Partnerships in Animal Conservation
Zoos usually collaborate with different establishments, governments, and organizations to advance animal conservation and analysis. The San Diego Zoo, as an illustration, companions with the World Wildlife Fund to guard endangered species and habitats, whereas the Nationwide Zoo collaborates with conservation organizations to guard primates and different animals. These partnerships reveal the dedication of zoos to conservation and their function in defending the planet’s biodiversity.
Zoo Historical past and Structure
The evolution of zoos within the US has been formed by altering societal attitudes, advances in animal care, and the adoption of progressive designs and layouts. From humble beginnings as royal looking grounds to modern-day conservation facilities, zoos have reworked over the centuries to prioritize animal welfare, scientific analysis, and neighborhood engagement.
The Rise of Zoos in America
Zoos in the US date again to the 18th century, with the institution of the Philadelphia Zoo in 1765, usually thought of the oldest zoo within the Western Hemisphere. Nonetheless, it was not till the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that zoos started to take form as we all know them right now. The Cincinnati Zoo, based in 1875, is among the oldest constantly working zoos within the nation.
- The Philadelphia Zoo was initially established as a non-public menagerie for the Governor Thomas Penn and opened to the general public in 1765.
- The Cincinnati Zoo was created with the assistance of a $3 million bequest from philanthropist William Howard Taft’s father.
- The St. Louis Zoo, opened in 1875, started with a single bear and 12 monkeys.
These early zoos served as symbols of American ingenuity and progress, highlighting the nation’s rising curiosity in pure historical past, scientific discovery, and conservation.
Revolutionary Zoo Design and Structure
Zoo design has undergone vital transformations over time, with a deal with creating immersive experiences that join guests with animals and their habitats. Trendy zoos usually incorporate ideas of biomimicry, inexperienced buildings, and sustainable practices. The design of San Diego’s world-famous Balboa Park Zoo exemplifies this shift, that includes naturalistic habitats, lush vegetation, and intelligent use of area.
This emphasis on creating practical and fascinating environments has not solely enhanced the customer expertise but in addition led to raised circumstances for the animals.
Zoo Landscaping and Horticulture
Landscaping and horticulture play an important function in zoo design, offering a tranquil backdrop for animals and facilitating their pure conduct. Effectively-designed zoo gardens can even contribute to improved animal welfare by creating calming environments, offering shade, and mimicking pure habitats.
By integrating crops native to the animals’ pure habitats, zoos can create areas that assist not solely the welfare of the animals but in addition the well-being of the native ecosystem.
Ultimate Assessment: Greatest Zoos In Us
In conclusion, the perfect zoos in US supply an unparalleled alternative to attach with nature, study conservation, and create lifelong recollections.
Whether or not you are a wildlife fanatic, a thrill-seeker, or just a curious customer, there’s one thing to swimsuit each style and curiosity at these distinctive zoos.
FAQ Information
What’s the largest zoo within the US?
The San Diego Zoo covers an space of over 100 acres and is house to greater than 3,500 animals from over 650 species.
Can I work together with animals at zoos?
Sure, many zoos supply interactive experiences resembling animal encounters, behind-the-scenes excursions, and petting zoos.
What’s the oldest zoo within the US?
The Philadelphia Zoo, established in 1859, is the oldest zoo within the US and is house to over 1,300 animals from world wide.
