Assiniboine Park Zoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Assiniboine Park Zoo

Assiniboine Park Zoo entrance
Date opened	1904
Location	2595 Roblin Blvd, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3P 2N7
Land area	32 hectares (80 acres)
Coordinates	49°52′09″N 97°13′50″W / 49.86917°N 97.23056°W / 49.86917; -97.23056
No. of species	160
Memberships	CAZA AZA
Major exhibits	11
Website	assiniboinepark.ca/zoo

Assiniboine Park Zoo is a famous zoo located inside Assiniboine Park in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded back in 1904, it is one of the oldest zoos in Canada. It is cared for by the Assiniboine Park Conservancy. The zoo is officially recognized by both the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo covers an area of 32 hectares (80 acres). More than 160 different species of animals live here. Visitors can explore winding nature trails, fun interactive playgrounds, and modern animal homes. The zoo teaches people about nature and works hard to protect rare wildlife.

Exploring the Site

Assiniboine Park Zoo sits on 80 acres of green parkland at 2595 Roblin Boulevard in Winnipeg. It has welcomed guests since 1904. The Assiniboine Park Conservancy took over the management of the zoo grounds in 2008. The site includes outdoor pastures, warm indoor pavilions, flower gardens, and walking trails. The habitats show off wild places from Manitoba and across the globe.

The park layout has changed a lot over the decades. In the 1960s, newer buildings replaced older iron cages. In 2009, a huge $200 million redevelopment plan started. This ten-year plan created new modern animal zones. It also upgraded many older facilities across the property.

Today, the zoo features several themed areas. These include Journey to Churchill, Animals of Asia, Grasslands and Boreal Forest, Open Range, and Toucan Ridge. Children can play at Aunt Sally's Farm or learn inside the Kinsmen Discovery Centre. Guests can dine at the Tundra Grill restaurant or watch scientists work at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre.

History of the Zoo

Early Years of Growth

In 1904, the Winnipeg Parks Board purchased several native animals to create a public wildlife collection. These first animals included deer, wild bison, and large elk. Workers built a sturdy bear habitat in 1908. By 1909, the zoo cared for 116 animals belonging to 19 species.

The zoo grew throughout the twentieth century. It welcomed its very first lion in 1935, which was an energetic female. In 1939, keepers took in an orphaned wild polar bear cub named Carmichael. In February 1940, another young polar bear named Clementine arrived to keep Carmichael company.

During the 1960s, the zoo built a warm home for a gibbon and playful monkey troops. A rare snow leopard and more rescued polar bears arrived soon after. Workers added an upper viewing floor to the polar bear habitat in 1967. The zoo built the Tropical House, the Native Animal Exhibit, and a new south gate in 1968 and 1969.

The Zoological Society of Manitoba began raising funds in the 1980s. Their support paid for educational signs, pathways, and new animal shelters. They rebuilt the primary visitor entrance with a large gift shop and updated the Carousel Restaurant.

Modern Redevelopment

In the year 2000, zoo experts created a bold master plan to modernize every single exhibit. Architects from the University of Manitoba helped remodel the zoo's Education Center in 2004. The major rebuilding projects turned old enclosures into spacious, natural habitats.

In September 2014, the zoo earned prestigious accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This honor proved that the facility follows top standards for animal wellness, education, and safety. Today, the zoo remains a world-class center for wildlife care.

Exciting Animal Exhibits

Journey to Churchill

A magnificent polar bear swimming in the Journey to Churchill exhibit.

Journey to Churchill is an incredible zone that recreates the rugged landscapes of northern Manitoba. It is the most complete northern wildlife exhibit in the world. It is named after the coastal seaport town of Churchill, which sits on the shores of Hudson Bay. Churchill is famous for being near huge wild polar bear denning areas.

This northern exhibit lets guests watch tough arctic creatures explore spacious fields and chilled waters. Guests can see:

• Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) playing in deep pools
• Sturdy muskox herds (Ovibos moschatus) with thick winter coats
• Great white polar bears (Ursus maritimus) roaming grassy hills
• Majestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) with branching antlers
• Patient snowy owls (Nyctea scandiaca) sitting on rocky perches

The Gateway to the Arctic is the centerpiece of the northern zone. Inside, visitors walk through the Sea Ice Passage, which is an underwater glass tunnel. Guests can look up to see massive polar bears swimming directly above them. Rescued seals swim through deep water right next to the bears, separated safely by a clear partition.

The building also features the Aurora Borealis Theatre, which shows northern movies on a huge 360-degree dome screen. The Tundra Grill restaurant lets guests eat lunch while watching polar bears through giant picture windows. The Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre teaches visitors about the fragile arctic ecosystem and changing climates.

Animals of Asia

The Animals of Asia section introduces visitors to rare creatures from distant Asian forests and high mountains. Guests can view the massive Amur tiger, which is the largest cat in the world. The zoo built an expanded 26,000 sq ft (2,400 m²) habitat for the tigers in 2013 to support an international breeding program.

In June 2010, the zoo unveiled the Pavilion of Lions. It originally housed African lions before welcoming rare Asian lions in April 2012. This change made Assiniboine Park Zoo the very first facility in North America to care for Asian lions.

Animals living in this zone include:

• Domestic Bactrian camels with two large fatty humps
• Woolly domestic yaks built for freezing winds
• Fluffy red pandas resting high in tree branches
• Keen-eyed red-tailed hawks watching from tall perches
• Giant Steller's sea eagles with bright yellow beaks
• Sturdy Sichuan takin climbing rocky hillsides
• Nimble Turkmenian markhor wild goats with spiral horns
• Agile white-handed gibbons swinging through the ropes

Toucan Ridge

Brightly colored toucans perching inside the lush Toucan Ridge exhibit.

Toucan Ridge takes visitors into the warm, lush rainforests of Central and South America. It first opened in 1972 as the Tropical House and cost $500,000 to construct. The indoor building covered 1,230-square-metre (13,200 sq ft) and stayed heated at a constant 80 °F (27 °C) all year.

Instead of tearing down the old structure, the zoo spent $3 million to remodel it. The new Toucan Ridge opened its doors on April 20, 2011. It is packed with tropical greenery, splashing waters, and free-flying birds.

Visitors exploring Toucan Ridge can spot many unique mammals, birds, and reptiles:

• Playful common squirrel monkeys and shy Goeldi's monkeys
• Large flying fox fruit bats and short-tailed bats
• Ground-dwelling Patagonian mara and climbing ring-tailed lemurs
• Beautiful birds like the Roseate spoonbill, Scarlet ibis, and noisy Sun Conure
• Ground birds including the Blue-billed curassow, Blue-throated piping guan, and Sunbittern
• Other colorful feathered species like Reeves's pheasant, Great horned owl, and Mourning dove
• Scaly reptiles including the heavy Boa constrictor, Yellow anaconda, and Reticulated python
• Water reptiles such as the Cuvier's dwarf caiman and the Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle
• Land tortoises such as the Red-footed tortoise and the Yellow-footed tortoise
• Tree-dwelling green iguanas and bumpy gargoyle geckos
• Little amphibians like the Solomon Islands leaf frog

Grasslands and Boreal Forest

The Grasslands and Boreal Forest exhibit celebrates the wild animals of North America. These creatures are built to handle hot summers and freezing Canadian winters. In June 2018, the zoo opened a sprawling natural territory for a pack of five grey wolves.

Mammals living across this prairie habitat include:

• Massive American bison that once grazed the Great Plains in giant herds
• Tall American Elk displaying wide branching antlers
• Silent Canada lynx with huge furry paws that act like snowshoes
• Shaggy wild Reindeer and climbing Bighorn sheep
• Secretive Siberian musk deer and silent snow leopards

Guests can also spot many native and visiting birds in this area:

• Enormous American white pelicans with stretchy beak pouches
• Tiny burrowing owls that nest deep inside underground holes
• Elegant sandhill cranes striding through tall wetland grasses
• Flocks of noisy snow geese and white-fronted geese

Kinsmen Discovery Centre

A bronze statue honoring Winnipeg the Bear, the real bear behind Winnie-the-Pooh.

The Kinsmen Discovery Centre is an indoor educational pavilion filled with small animals and interactive games. The building cost $1.75 million and covers 743-square-metre (8,000 sq ft). It officially opened on March 23, 1990.

The centre contains six themed discovery rooms: water, grasslands, air, underground, and two lush forest galleries. Inside, kids can look closely at insects, swimming fish, nocturnal mammals, and climbing reptiles. In 1992, the zoo unveiled a bronze statue honoring Winnipeg the Bear. This real orphaned Canadian bear cub inspired the beloved storybook character Winnie-the-Pooh.

The discovery galleries feature a wide variety of fascinating creatures:

• Sea life like the Bubble-tip anemone, Pink tipped anemone, and Tricolor Hermit Crab
• Creepy crawlies including the giant cave cockroach and the zebra nerite snail
• Curious fish like the Banded archerfish, Congo tetra, and Saddled Bichir
• Strange fish like the Blotched upside-down catfish, Featherfin squeaker, and Mexican blind cave fish
• Colorful reef swimmers like the Regal Tang, Yellow tang, and several types of clownfish
• Climbing reptiles like the Solomon Islands skink and the dark Black tree monitor
• Tropical birds like the Black-naped fruit dove, Superb starling, and Taveta golden weaver
• Strange mammals like the slow Linnaeus's two-toed sloth and subterranean Naked mole-rat
• Other furry friends like the nocturnal Kinkajou, Prehensile-tailed porcupine, and watchful Slender-tailed Meerkat

Aunt Sally's Farm and Open Range

Aunt Sally's Farm is an outdoor play and learning area designed especially for younger children. The original farm opened in 1959 as a classic petting zoo and operated for thirty years. Today's updated farm gives friendly barnyard animals comfortable yards near fun bridges and playgrounds.

Children visiting Aunt Sally's Farm can meet:

• Playful Kiko goat, Nubian goat, and little pygmy goats
• Long-necked llamas with soft woolen coats
• Friendly Sardinian miniature donkeys
• Round pot-bellied pigs sniffing around the barn
• Proud Indian peafowl showing off bright green and blue feathers

The Open Range area sits right near the middle of the zoo grounds. This wide open pasture gives large running animals plenty of space to roam. Visitors can observe hopping red kangaroos and smaller common wallaroos. Other residents include swift wild Pronghorn, mountain-dwelling West Caucasian tur, wild Guanaco, and tall running emus.

Special Attractions

The zoo offers several seasonal exhibits and unique farm areas for visitors:

• Dinosaurs Uncovered opens during warm summer months. It features 17 roaring animatronic prehistoric beasts along a forest path, including the famous Tyrannosaurus rex and the swift Dakotaraptor. Inside, kids can study real fossils from the ancient Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
• The McFeetors Heavy Horse Center covers 1.9-hectare (4.7-acre) of land. Opened in August 2015, this working barn houses huge draft horses (Equus caballus). Guests can meet giant Percheron and Clydesdale horses and see their carriages.
• The Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden is a warm 2,200 sq ft (200 m²) house open from spring to autumn. Thousands of bright butterflies flutter freely among nectar flowers.

Protecting Wildlife and Nature

Research and Scientific Care

Assiniboine Park Zoo is deeply dedicated to animal conservation. Scientists work at the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre to help endangered animals survive in the wild. The provincial government helped open this research facility in 2012.

Zoo researchers focus heavily on arctic and subarctic species. Teams study how wild polar bears build dens on the tundra. Biologists track wild ringed seals and harbor seals in Hudson Bay to learn how shifting sea ice affects their hunting. Working with Polar Bears International, the zoo also studies wild beluga whales swimming down the Churchill River.

The zoo also protects endangered wildlife native to the grasslands of Manitoba:

• A special head-starting program helps save rare Poweshiek Skipperling butterflies by raising caterpillars in safe labs.
• Breeding and release efforts support wild burrowing owls across prairie habitats.
• Pollinator projects plant native flowers to protect traveling monarch butterflies and nesting songbirds.

Community Programs

Every summer, the zoo hosts educational day camps for curious kids who love animals. Knowledgeable zoo guides lead school field trips and youth groups behind the scenes to learn about wildlife biology.

During the winter holidays, families visit the Zoo Lights Festival to walk among thousands of glowing light sculptures. Since 2021, Boo at the Zoo, a popular family Halloween festival featuring games and pumpkin trails, has been held every October. Through fun family programs, the zoo inspires young people to care for nature and protect wildlife across the planet.