Akron Zoo facts for kids
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Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)
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| Date opened | 1953 |
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| Location | Akron, Ohio, United States |
| Land area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Coordinates | 41°04′48″N 81°32′29″W / 41.080047°N 81.541429°W |
| No. of animals | 700 |
| No. of species | 90 |
| Annual visitors | >400,000 |
| Memberships | AZA, WAZA |
| Major exhibits | Legends of the Wild, Komodo Kingdom, Curious Creatures, Penguin Point, Wild Prairie, Wild Asia, Pride of Africa, Grizzly Ridge |
The Akron Zoo is a fun place to visit in Akron, Ohio, United States. It covers about 50-acre (20 ha) and is a non-profit zoo. This means it's not run for money, but to help animals and teach people.
The zoo is home to over 1,000 animals. These animals represent more than 100 different species. Over 400,000 people visit the zoo every year. The animal exhibits are grouped into different themed areas. Each area features animals from specific parts of the world. The Akron Zoo is the most popular attraction in Summit County.
The Akron Zoo is officially recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Being an AZA member means the zoo helps with special breeding programs. These programs work to save animals that are in danger of disappearing forever.
Contents
History of the Zoo
The land where the zoo now stands was given to Akron in 1900. George and Ann Perkins donated the 79 acres (32 ha) for a public park. They wanted it to be a place for children to have fun.
- 1950s: The Akron Children's Zoo opened in 1953. It was connected to the Akron Museum of Natural History. This first zoo showed Mother Goose rhymes using live animals. More exhibits opened in the following years. Special groups helped make sure all children could visit for free.
- 1979: The zoo changed its name to the Akron Zoological Park. The city gave control of the zoo to a Board of Trustees. The zoo became a non-profit organization. It decided to focus on animals from North and South America. This helped with its goals for education and saving animals.
- 1985-1988: The zoo made many improvements. Fun events like Holiday Lights and Boo at the Zoo brought in more visitors. In 1988, a record 133,000 people visited the zoo. The zoo also earned special recognition from other zoos.
- 2005: The zoo opened its biggest expansion ever, called Legends of the Wild. This area has 16 animal exhibits. It features over 20 animal species and more than 400 animals. You can see snow leopards, jaguars, lemurs, and bats here. Later that year, the Komodo Kingdom Education Center opened. It features amazing animals like Komodo dragons and Galápagos tortoises. This building was built using green technology. This means it uses earth-friendly materials and saves energy.
- 2010: A new carousel called "Conservation Carousel" opened. It features carvings of rare and endangered animals.
- 2017: The zoo had its highest number of visitors ever. Over 416,000 people came to explore the zoo.
Zoo Attractions and Regions
The Akron Zoo has eight themed areas. Each area is designed to look like a specific part of the world.
Legends of the Wild
This is the zoo's largest exhibit. It has a tall, 25-foot waterfall. There are over 15 animal exhibits here. You can see Humboldt penguins, lemurs, bats, snakes, alpacas, and Andean condors. Other animals include jaguars, capybaras, snow leopards, and flamingos.
Komodo Kingdom
This is an indoor exhibit. It features a Komodo dragon. You can also see Galápagos tortoises and Chinese alligators. Many other rainforest animals live here too.
Curious Creatures
This indoor exhibit is inside the Komodo building. It shows animals and plants with special ways to survive. These are called unique adaptations.
Wild Prairie
This area has a place to get food. You can also see snowy owls here. There is a fun play area called Frontier Town.
Lehner Family Zoo Gardens
This beautiful garden area includes Nature's View and Nature's Theater.
Grizzly Ridge
Opened in 2013, this was the biggest expansion at the time. It covers about 4.2 acres (1.7 ha). It has a 45-foot (14 m) tall aviary for local birds. This area is home to grizzly bears, bald eagles, otters, red wolves, and coyotes.
Pride of Africa
This area opened in 2019. It features a new exhibit for lions. There's also a renovated area for goats. You can see Speke's gazelles, white storks, and crested guineafowl. Future plans for this area include Giraffes, Zebras, Kudus, and some African Primates.
Wild Asia
This is a new exhibit coming soon. It will replace the old tiger valley exhibit. It will be a new home for the zoo's Sumatran tigers and red pandas. It will also have a new breeding pair of white-cheeked gibbons.
Animal Enrichment Activities
Zoos often use enrichment activities. These are special changes to an animal's daily routine. They help animals act like they would in the wild. For example, keepers might hide food. This encourages animals to search for it, just like they would naturally.
- Zoo keepers sometimes add new smells to an exhibit. This makes animals curious.
- Plants and trees might be moved or added. This lets animals create new hiding spots.
- Animals often get new toys or puzzle feeders. These make them think and play.
Volunteers at the Zoo
The Akron Zoo gets a lot of help from its volunteers. Adult volunteers are called Edzoocators. They help with special events, like "Boo at the Akron Zoo." This event has been going on for over 20 years!
The zoo also has a Jr. Interpreter Teen Program. Teens can volunteer up to 40 hours each week in the summer. They help out around the zoo and learn a lot.
Conservation Efforts
The Akron Zoo works on many projects to help save animals. These projects focus on bringing animals back, protecting them, and reintroducing them to the wild.
Venezuelan Waterfowl Foundation
This group works all over the world. It was started by zoo staff and other conservationists. The Foundation helps protect river systems in Venezuela. They also study the hard-to-find torrent duck.
Butterfly Conservation Initiative
The Akron Zoo works with other Ohio zoos on this project. They help create special places for butterflies. They planted 10 acres (4.0 ha) of grassland. This new habitat helps many types of butterflies.
Audubon Christmas Bird Census
The Akron Zoo takes part in this yearly bird count. Volunteers help count wintering birds across the United States. In 2003, zoo volunteers spent many hours counting birds. They found 28 different bird species.
Gallery
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Akron Zoo Flamingos
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Akron Zoo Bears
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Akron Zoo Swan
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Akron Zoo Jaguar
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Akron Zoo Otter
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Akron Zoo Lion sleeping
Images for kids
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Akron Zoo sign 2004
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Akron Zoo Jaguar 2006
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Akron Zoo Turtle 2006
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Journey to the Reef Mural 2012
