Birmingham Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | April 2, 1955 |
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| 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 |
| No. of animals | ~550 |
| No. of species | 195+ |
| Annual visitors | 470,000 (2006) |
| Memberships | AZA, AAZK |
The Birmingham Zoo is a fun and exciting place to visit in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. It first opened its doors in 1955.
This zoo is special because it's a non-profit organization. This means it uses all its money to care for animals and educate people. It's also recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This shows it meets high standards for animal care. The Birmingham Zoo is the only AZA-approved zoo in Alabama.
About 550 animals live here, representing over 195 different kinds of species. You can see amazing animals like sea lions, zebras, and rhinos. The zoo also helps protect animals that are in danger of disappearing from the wild. These animals come from six different continents!
Contents
History of the Zoo
How it Started
The Birmingham Zoo began very small. It started with a few interesting animals kept in a firehouse. As more animals joined, they moved to Magnolia Park. Then they moved again to Avondale Park.
At first, most animals were not very exotic. But there was one special elephant named "Miss Fancy." A local club bought her from a circus and donated her to the city.
As the animal collection grew, city leaders asked experts for advice. They wanted to know how to build a proper home for the animals. This led to big plans for a new, permanent zoo.
Finding a Permanent Home
The city of Birmingham bought land south of Red Mountain a long time ago. This land became Lane Park in 1934. Part of this park was once a cemetery.
During the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration built a fish hatchery there. They also built pavilions using local stone. A natural spring fed the hatchery. It provided fish for lakes until the zoo took over the park.
After World War II, people wanted a new zoo. In 1946, a group called the Jaycees started working on this idea. The mayor, James R. Morgan, also strongly supported building a city zoo.
The Jimmy Morgan Zoo
A special zoo committee decided to build the zoo on 50 acres of land. This land was at the base of Red Mountain. The budget for building it was $250,000. This money came from donations and community support.
The zoo, first called The Jimmy Morgan Zoo, opened on April 2, 1955. Its first exhibit was "Monkey Island." Other early exhibits included an elephant house and a bear moat.
In 1960, Bob Truett became the first real zoo director. He helped change the name to the Birmingham Zoo. He worked for 30 years and helped the zoo grow a lot.
Over the years, the zoo needed more money to keep up its standards. A group called the Alabama Zoological Society was formed to help raise funds. But even with their help, the zoo faced challenges.
In the late 1990s, the zoo lost its AZA accreditation. This happened because some buildings were old. Also, there was uncertainty about future funding.
A New Beginning
In 1999, community leaders worked with the mayor. They created a new way to run the zoo. A new organization, Birmingham Zoo, Inc. (BZI), took over. This new group worked hard to fix problems.
They wanted the zoo to get its AZA accreditation back. This would put the zoo among the best in the country. In 2001, they started a big fundraising effort.
In 2004, Dr. William R. Foster became the zoo's CEO. He is a veterinarian and a national expert in zoo management. Under his leadership, the zoo continued to improve.
The Zoo Today
Since becoming a private organization, the Birmingham Zoo has added many new things. They have hosted special exhibits like bats and penguins. They also added a permanent Komodo dragon exhibit. You can even feed lorikeets in their aviary!
The zoo also got its AZA accreditation back. In 2005, they opened the Junior League of Birmingham – Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo. This $15 million exhibit is all about animals from Alabama. It was a big celebration for the zoo's 50th anniversary.
In 2004, a gorilla named Babec made history. He was the first gorilla to get a pacemaker for his heart.
The zoo welcomes over 450,000 visitors every year. In 2005, it was named Alabama's top tourist spot!
In 2011, a major new exhibit opened called Trails of Africa. This area is home to a group of male African elephants. The zoo aims to be a leader in elephant care. It also opened the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter, where you can get close to giraffes.
The zoo often welcomes new animals or sends others to different zoos. This helps with breeding programs to protect species. For example, new rhinos and black bear cubs have joined the zoo family. In 2017, a male jaguar named Khan arrived.
The zoo also had a temporary exhibit with fifteen animatronic dinosaurs. It was called "Dino Discovery" and was very popular!
Exhibits to Explore
Main Zoo Areas
- Alligator Swamp
- Bird Aviaries
- Camel Rides (available in spring and summer)
- Flamingo Lagoon
- Lorikeet Interactive Feeding and Observation Aviary (open in spring and summer)
- Predator Building (soon to be Asian Passage)
- Predator Zone
- Primate Building (featuring animals from South America)
- Reptile Building
- Sea Lions
- Tortoise Yard
- Wildlife Stage
Junior League of Birmingham-Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo
- Alabama Barn
- Alabama Wilds
- Barbara Ingalls Shook Black Bear Trail
- The Corral
- Grandma's Back Porch
- Granny's Butterfly House (open Memorial Day through Labor Day)
- Granny's Goose Patch
Trails of Africa
- Boma Yard
- Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter
- Main Elephant Yard
- Pachyderm Building
- Savannah Hoofstock Yards
Other Fun Things to Do
- Carousel
- Primary Giftshop (now in the Children's Zoo area)
- Nourish 205 Cafe
- Lorikeet Feeding
- Flamingo Feeding
- 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge Birmingham Zoo Express/Red Diamond Express trains
- Wild Burger Cafe
- Safari Peak Pavilion
- Sea Lion Show
- Tiki Hut Giftshop
- Wildlife Show
Trails of Africa: A Special Exhibit
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In 2007, the zoo announced a big new project called Trails of Africa. It opened in 2011. This amazing exhibit is home to a group of male African elephants. It's special because it's one of the first zoos in the U.S. to house multiple male elephants together. This helps to copy how these elephant groups live in the wild.
Currently, three elephants named Bulwagi, Gadze, and Lutie live here. Trails of Africa has an interactive boma yard, a safari cafe, and a waterhole exhibit. This exhibit makes the Birmingham Zoo a national leader in caring for and breeding elephants.
After the main exhibit was finished, the old pachyderm building was updated. This helps the staff give even better care to the three Southern White Rhinos and one Nile Hippo that live there. A new giraffe yard was also added in 2012. It lets the zoo's young giraffe herd grow. Visitors can also get a closer look at the giraffes from a new feeding platform.
