Baton Rouge Zoo facts for kids
Baton Rouge Zoo
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| Date opened | 1970 |
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| Location | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 30°33′44″N 91°9′36″W / 30.56222°N 91.16000°W |
| No. of animals | 800 |
| Memberships | previous member of AZA before March 2018 |
The Baton Rouge Zoo is a fun place to visit! It's about 15 minutes north of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This zoo is home to over 800 amazing animals from all over the world. It's run by the Recreation and Park Commission of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (BREC).
For many years, the zoo was recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This group makes sure zoos are doing a great job caring for animals. The Baton Rouge Zoo was the first zoo in Louisiana to get this special recognition. However, in 2018, the zoo lost its AZA accreditation. This happened because of some issues with its buildings and keeping animals safe.
The zoo is open every day except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The zoo's main goal is to help people connect with animals. They also work hard to save wild animals in their natural homes.
A Look at the Zoo's History
The idea for the Baton Rouge Zoo started with a TV star! In the 1950s and 1960s, a local TV personality named "Buckskin" Bill hosted a popular children's show. He always ended his show by saying, "Baton Rouge needs a zoo."
His words inspired the community. People in Baton Rouge came together to support building a zoo. They voted to use some local taxes to fund it. They also held a special "penny drive." Kids and families collected over 600,000 pennies! These pennies helped buy the zoo's first two elephants. One of them was even named Penny! The Baton Rouge Zoo first opened its doors to the public on Easter Sunday in 1970.
Exciting Exhibits to Explore
The Baton Rouge Zoo has many cool areas where you can see animals from different parts of the world.
- Otter Pond: Here, you can see playful otters swimming and playing. There's even a special fishing cabin replica. From inside, you can watch the otters underwater! The zoo often has "otter chats." During these talks, zookeepers share interesting facts and answer your questions.
- La Aquarium de Louisiana: This is a cool, air-conditioned building. It's located near the back of the zoo. Inside, you'll find fish, amphibians, reptiles, and spiders. Many of these animals are native to Louisiana. You can see both local creatures and some exotic ones too.
- World-class Realm of the Tiger: Get ready to see powerful tigers in this exhibit!
- Flamingo Cove: This area is home to beautiful, pink flamingos.
- Giants of the Islands: Discover some of the largest animals that live on islands.
- Safari Playground: Kids can have fun and play in this safari-themed area.
Helping Animals and Learning New Things
The Baton Rouge Zoo is very involved in helping save animals. They take part in over 30 Species Survival Plans. These plans help protect animals that are endangered or threatened. For example, they work with eastern black rhinoceros and golden lion tamarin. Some of these animals have even been successfully returned to the wild!
The zoo also has many educational programs. They offer outreach programs that visit schools. They have reading programs, day camps, and special classes. Teachers can attend workshops to learn more about animals. The zoo also hosts demonstrations. Each year, these programs teach more than 45,000 children about animals and conservation. The zoo also works with Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine. They team up to do important research about animals.
