Buffalo Zoo facts for kids

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Buffalo Zoo

Date opened	1875
Location	300 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, New York, United States
Land area	23.5 acres (9.5 ha)
No. of animals	1200
Annual visitors	400,000
Memberships	AZA
Major exhibits	Arctic Edge, Rainforest Falls, Sea Lion Cove, Otter Creek, Vanishing Animals, Rhino Yards, Giraffes, Kookaburra Corner, EcoStation, Heritage Farm (Children's Zoo)
Website

Buffalo Zoo Entrance Court
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Buffalo Zoo Entrance Court, April 2013
Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	300 Parkside Ave. Buffalo, New York
Area	less than one acre
Built	1935 (1935)-1938
Architect	Brent, John Edmonston
NRHP reference No.	13000305
Added to NRHP	May 22, 2013

The Buffalo Zoo is a fantastic place to visit in Buffalo, New York. It first opened in 1875, making it the seventh oldest zoo in the United States. Each year, about 400,000 people come to explore the zoo. It is the second most popular tourist spot in Western New York, right after Niagara Falls.

The zoo covers 23.5 acres inside Buffalo's Delaware Park. You can see a wide variety of wild and exotic animals here. The zoo also has more than 320 different kinds of plants. It is open all year long, so you can visit any time!

Discovering the Buffalo Zoo's History
Amazing Animals at the Buffalo Zoo
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

Discovering the Buffalo Zoo's History

The Buffalo Zoo has a long and interesting history. It all started in the mid-1800s. A man named Jacob E. Bergtold, who worked with furs in Buffalo, gave two deer to the city. To give the deer space to roam, Elam R. Jewett, who published a local newspaper, offered to keep them on his land.

At the same time, plans were being made for a new city park, which is now Delaware Park. The mayor, William F. Rogers, hired a famous landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted was asked to include a zoo as part of the park's design. Five years after the deer were donated, more animals joined the collection. The first permanent building was built in 1875, officially creating the Buffalo Zoological Gardens.

Zoo Expansion During the Great Depression

The zoo grew a lot during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people needed jobs. The zoo became a big project for the Works Progress Administration. This program helped people find work. Many new buildings were constructed during this time.

One important new structure was the Buffalo Zoo Entrance Court. It is located at Parkside Avenue and Amherst Street. An African-American architect named John Edmonston Brent designed it. It was built between 1935 and 1938. This entrance court was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it is a very important historical site.

Modern Changes and Conservation Efforts

Over the next few decades, more exhibits and facilities were added. These included the Reptile House in 1942 and the Children's Zoo in 1965. A Giraffe House and Veterinary Hospital opened in 1967. The Gorilla Habitat Building was added in 1981.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the zoo's mission began to change. Under the leadership of Minot Ortolani, the zoo started to focus more on saving animals. They began reducing the number of animals they had. Instead, they focused on breeding endangered species. This helps animals that might not survive in the wild. The zoo also started to teach visitors more about animals and their natural homes.

From 2000 to 2017, Dr. Donna M. Fernandes was the zoo's President and CEO. Norah B. Fletchall took over in 2017.

New Exhibits and Renovations

In 2002, the zoo shared a big plan for the next 15 years. They wanted to make the zoo even better. This plan included new visitor areas and more natural-looking animal habitats. Some of the planned areas were the Asian River and Highlands Zone, African Watering Hole, and Arctic Edge. A new Wonders of Water Children's Zoo was also planned.

The first part of this plan brought many new exhibits. These included the Vanishing Animals exhibit, EcoStation, Otter Creek, and Sea Lion Cove. The first phase finished on September 10, 2008. This was when the South American Rainforest opened. This amazing exhibit is open all year. It has a two-story waterfall, many colorful birds, and other rainforest animals.

In the fall of 2015, the $14 million Arctic Edge opened. This cool exhibit features polar bears and lynxes. Originally, it also had Arctic wolves. In 2016, Arctic foxes replaced the wolves. The foxes fit the exhibit size better. Today, Arctic Edge is home to two polar bears named Anana and Luna. Luna is the cub of Anana and Nanuq, who now lives at the Columbus Zoo.

In March 2018, the zoo's Reptile House closed for over a year for a big renovation. It cost $3.7 million to update. It reopened on May 24, 2019. It is now called the Donna M. Fernandes Amphibian and Reptile Center. It has a new roof, refreshed exhibits, and interactive displays. There is also a special room for conservation efforts.

In August 2018, the zoo announced a change for its two Asian elephants, Jothi and Surapa. They were moved to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. The Buffalo Zoo decided it could no longer care for them properly. As of 2022, black rhinoceroses now live in the former elephant habitat.

In June 2020, a red-footed tortoise was reported stolen from the zoo. The tortoise, named 'Red', was never found.

Amazing Animals at the Buffalo Zoo

The Buffalo Zoo is home to many different kinds of animals from all over the world. You can see mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and even invertebrates!

Animal species in collection