Chahinkapa Zoo facts for kids
| Date opened | 1933 |
|---|---|
| Location | Wahpeton, North Dakota |
| Coordinates | 46°16′29″N 96°35′53″W / 46.2747°N 96.598°W |
| No. of animals | 200+ |
| No. of species | 70 |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Chahinkapa Zoo is an amazing place to visit in Wahpeton, North Dakota. It covers 29 acres and is home to over 200 animals! This zoo first opened in 1933, making it the very first zoo built in North Dakota.
You can visit the zoo from May through October. Sometimes, you can even visit by appointment during the winter. Get ready to see everything from playful gibbons to mighty Bengal tigers and huge White rhinos. The Chahinkapa Zoo has been officially recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1995. This means it meets high standards for animal care and education.
A Look Back: History of the Zoo
The city of Wahpeton bought the land for Chahinkapa Park in 1903. In 1933, the town created a Park Board. That's when the zoo officially started with just a few animals.
In the 1960s, the zoo moved to its current spot. It now covers 18 acres at the north end of Chahinkapa Park. The Chahinkapa Zoo Association was formed in 1974. This group helps plan and raise money for the zoo. By 1984, they had a big plan for the zoo's future.
The Rodger Ehnstrom Nature Center opened in 1989. This center is a great place for learning about animals. The zoo hired its first director in 1994. Then, in 1995, the zoo earned its important AZA accreditation.
In April 1997, the zoo faced a big flood. But don't worry, all the animals were safely moved! The zoo reopened at the end of May. After that, a special wall called a levee was built. This levee protects the zoo and the north side of Wahpeton from future floods. The zoo was also updated with new exhibits, paths, and a fun petting zoo.
Meet the Animals!
The Chahinkapa Zoo is home to more than 200 animals. These animals represent about 100 different kinds of species.
You can see many types of primates at the zoo. These include orangutans, white-handed gibbons, black-handed spider monkeys, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, ringtailed lemurs, crowned lemurs, and tiny cottontop tamarins.
The zoo also has many grazing mammals. Look for Bactrian camels, plains zebras, llamas, alpacas, bison, Dall sheep, and elk.
Other cool mammals you might spot include Bengal tigers, snow leopards, fossas, grizzly bears, cougars, bobcats, river otters, and red kangaroos.
The bird collection is also amazing! You can see majestic bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks, and turkey vultures. Other birds include black vultures, great horned owls, eastern screech owls, colorful pheasants, many kinds of ducks, Australian black swans, and beautiful peafowl.
Don't forget the reptiles! The zoo has American alligators, red-tailed boas, Burmese tortoises, sulcata tortoises, and eastern leopard tortoises.
Fun Rides: The Prairie Rose Carousel
The Prairie Rose Carousel is a special ride at the zoo. It's a restored wooden carousel from 1926! It was built by Spillman Engineering for a place called Lee Funland in upstate New York.
This carousel has twenty jumping horses arranged in two rows. It also has two chariots for riders. Music for the carousel comes from a special band organ. The carousel is now kept in a building that controls the temperature. This helps keep it safe and ready for you to enjoy!
