Birmingham Zoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Birmingham Zoo

Date opened	April 2, 1955; 70 years ago (1955-04-02)
Location	Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Land area	122 acres (49 ha)
Coordinates	33°29′14.65″N 86°46′46.52″W / 33.4874028°N 86.7795889°W / 33.4874028; -86.7795889
No. of animals	900+
No. of species	195+
Annual visitors	644,667
Memberships	AZA, AAZK

The Birmingham Zoo is a fantastic place to visit in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It's a special park where you can see many different kinds of animals. The zoo first opened its doors in 1955.

This zoo is a non-profit organization, which means it uses all its money to care for the animals and teach people about them. It's also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means the zoo meets very high standards for animal care and conservation. In fact, it's the only AZA-accredited zoo in all of Alabama!

More than 550 animals from 180 different species call the Birmingham Zoo home. You can see amazing creatures like giraffes, ostriches, zebras, rhinos, and elephants. Many of these animals are endangered, and the zoo helps protect them. They come from six different continents, making the zoo a truly global animal adventure.

Discovering the Zoo's Past

How the Zoo Began

The Birmingham Zoo started very small, with just a few exotic animals kept in a firehouse. As more animals joined the collection, they moved to different parks, like Avondale Park. One of the first special animals was "Miss Fancy," a lone elephant. She was donated by a local club that bought her from a circus.

As the animal collection grew, city leaders asked experts for advice on how to build a proper zoo. They learned from other zoos and started making plans for a permanent home for all the animals.

Finding a Home at Lane Park

Between 1889 and 1896, Birmingham bought land south of Red Mountain. This area became a city park in 1934 and was named Lane Park. The Works Progress Administration helped build some structures there, including a fish hatchery. This hatchery provided fish for local lakes until the zoo took over the park.

After World War II, people in Birmingham really wanted a new zoo. In 1946, a group called the Birmingham Junior Chamber of Commerce started working to make this happen. Mayor James R. Morgan was a big supporter of the idea.

The Jimmy Morgan Zoo Opens

A special zoo committee decided to build the zoo on 50 acres (20 ha) of land at the foot of Red Mountain. They had a budget of $250,000. This land, along with the nearby botanical gardens, became part of Lane Park.

When the zoo opened on April 2, 1955, it had six main exhibits. These included "Monkey Island," an elephant house, a bear moat, a birdhouse, a snake pit, and a seal pool. The money for these exhibits came from donations and community support. The zoo was first known as the Jimmy Morgan Zoo.

In 1960, Bob Truett became the zoo's first official director. He changed the name to the Birmingham Zoo. He also helped create the Alabama Zoological Society, a group that raises money to support the zoo. Bob Truett was the zoo director for 30 years, helping it grow into a well-known zoo.

Modernizing the Zoo

By the late 1990s, the zoo needed a lot of improvements. Because of old facilities and money worries, it lost its AZA accreditation for a short time. But in 1999, community leaders and the Alabama Zoological Society worked together. They created a new organization, Birmingham Zoo, Inc. (BZI), to run the zoo.

This new group worked hard to fix problems and get the zoo re-accredited by the AZA. This meant the Birmingham Zoo was once again recognized as one of the best animal facilities in the country.

William R. Foster became the CEO in 2004, bringing lots of experience. Later, Chris Pfefferkorn took over as President & CEO in 2018.

Since becoming a private organization, the zoo has added many new things. They've hosted special exhibits with bats and koalas. They also added a permanent Komodo dragon exhibit and an interactive lorikeet aviary. In 2005, for its 50th anniversary, the zoo opened the Junior League of Birmingham – Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo. This huge exhibit is all about animals and environments found in Alabama.

In 2004, a western lowland gorilla named Babec made history. He became the first gorilla to receive a pacemaker for a heart condition.

New Exhibits and Animal Friends

In 2011, the zoo opened its amazing Trails of Africa exhibit. This area was designed to house a group of male African elephants. The zoo became a leader in caring for and breeding elephants. The exhibit welcomed elephants like Bulwagi, Callee, and Ajani. Later, Tamani joined them. The Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter also opened, letting visitors get up close to giraffes.

The zoo has continued to welcome new animals and improve habitats. In 2012, a southern white rhinoceros named Max arrived to join the breeding program with the zoo's two female rhinos, Laptop and Ajabu. In March 2014, two female American black bear cubs arrived from Montana, and a year later, the Barbara Ingalls Shook Black Bear Trail exhibit opened for them.

In March 2017, a three-year-old male jaguar named Khan came to the zoo. In May 2018, the African elephant Ajani moved to the Sedgwick County Zoo to breed. Callee, another African elephant, moved to the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in 2019 for breeding. Bulwagi was the only African elephant until two young male elephants, Ingadze and Lutsandvo, arrived from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

In April 2022, a young adult male lion named Josh arrived from the San Antonio Zoo. In June 2022, a five-year-old eastern black rhinoceros named Moyo arrived from the Saint Louis Zoo. Around the same time, a five-year-old female eastern black rhinoceros named Kesi arrived from the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium to be Moyo's potential mate. Sadly, Moyo passed away in January 2024 after a dental procedure.

The zoo opened new habitats for North American cougars and bobcats in its Alabama Wilds section in March 2025. Khan the jaguar moved to the Brevard Zoo in July 2025 to help with breeding efforts there.

Explore the Zoo's Exhibits

Main Zoo Areas

• Sea Lions: Watch the playful California Sea Lions.
• Southern Bayou: See American alligators in their swampy home.
• Flamingo Lagoon: Enjoy the beautiful black-necked swans and American flamingos.
• Lorikeet Interactive Feeding and Observation Aviary: (Open in spring and summer) Get close to Rainbow lorikeets and coconut lorikeets. You might even get to feed them!
• Predator Building: Meet powerful animals like African lions, Black-footed cats, Coyotes, Fennec foxs, Pallas’s cats, Prevost's squirrels, Red pandas, and Sand cats.
• Primate Building (South America): Discover amazing primates like black howler monkeys and Sumatran orangutans. You can also see jaguars, giant anteaters, and giant otters here.
• Reptile Building: Explore a world of snakes and other reptiles.
• Wildlife Stage: Enjoy educational shows about animals.

A beautiful Buckeye butterfly at the Birmingham Zoo Butterfly House

Junior League of Birmingham-Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo

This special area is designed for younger visitors and families.

• Alabama Barn: Meet friendly goats and other farm animals.
• Alabama Wilds: See local animals like fish, sandhill cranes, North American river otters, and wild turkeys.
• Barbara Ingalls Shook Black Bear Trail: Observe American black bears in their natural-looking habitat.
• Granny's Butterfly House: (Open Memorial Day through Labor Day) Walk among colorful butterflies.
• Granny's Goose Patch: Say hello to the geese.

Trails of Africa logo

Trails of Africa

Opened in 2011, this large exhibit is a highlight of the zoo. It's home to a group of male African bush elephants. The zoo is a leader in caring for these magnificent animals. The exhibit includes a special boma yard, a safari cafe, and a waterhole exhibit.

The old pachyderm building was updated to care for the three southern white rhinoceroses and a Nile hippo. A new giraffe yard opened in April 2012, allowing visitors to feed the giraffes from a special platform. The hippo, Tadpole, passed away in June 2020. The southern white rhinos moved to a conservation facility in December 2021. The zoo now focuses on black rhinos. A pair of eastern black rhinos moved into the renovated habitat, which opened in March 2023. Kesi is currently the zoo's only rhinoceros.

• Boma Yard: An interactive area within the elephant exhibit.
• Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter: Get up close to Reticulated giraffes and even feed them!
• Main Elephant Yard: Watch the African bush elephants.
• Rhinoceros Habitat: See the Eastern black rhinoceros.
• Savannah Hoofstock Yards: Home to Grant's zebras, ostriches, duikers, and tortoises.

Fun Activities and Facilities

A Mute swan (Cygnus olor) swimming peacefully in a pond at the zoo.

The Birmingham Zoo offers more than just animal viewing!

• Birmingham Zoo Express/Red Diamond Express trains: Take a fun ride around the zoo on a narrow gauge railway.
• Carousel: Enjoy a classic carousel ride.
• Primary Giftshop: Find souvenirs and gifts to remember your visit.
• Nourish 205 Cafe: Grab a bite to eat.
• Lorikeet Feeding: (Open seasonally) A chance to feed the colorful lorikeets.
• Wild Burger Cafe: Another great spot for food.
• Safari Peak Pavilion: A place for events and gatherings.
• Tiki Hut Giftshop: (Open seasonally) More unique gifts.
• Wildlife Show: Learn more about animals through engaging presentations.

Important Events at the Zoo

Zoos, like any place with animals, sometimes have unexpected events.

• In February 2006, a zookeeper had minor injuries after an incident with a female lion.
• In September 2019, two white-crested laughing thrushes went missing from their habitat. It's not known if they flew away or were taken.
• In July 2022, the zoo's lioness Akili was sadly injured during an interaction with a new male lion, Josh.