Dakota Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | 3 June 1961 |
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| Location | Bismarck, North Dakota, United States |
| Coordinates | 46°47′58″N 100°48′24″W / 46.7995°N 100.8068°W |
| No. of animals | 600+ |
| No. of species | 125 |
| Annual visitors | 100,000 |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Dakota Zoo is a super cool zoo located in Bismarck, North Dakota. You can find it right by the amazing Missouri River. Did you know it's the third zoo ever built in North Dakota?
The Dakota Zoo is officially recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means it follows high standards for caring for its animals.
Contents
History of the Dakota Zoo
The Dakota Zoo started on a 67-acre farm. This farm belonged to Marc and Betty Christianson near Bismarck. At first, they cared for pets like dogs, cats, and horses. They even raised mink for a while.
How the Zoo Began
People soon learned that the Christiansons loved animals. They started bringing stray or hurt animals to the farm. Marc and Betty always took good care of them. As more animals arrived, more people wanted to see them.
A local TV station shared their story. This made many people excited about a community zoo. About 780 people signed petitions to support the idea. Marc Christianson then showed these petitions to the Bismarck Park Board.
Opening Day and Growth
In 1958, the Park Board gave 88 acres of land for the zoo. Marc and his team built most of the zoo themselves. They used materials that were given as gifts. The Dakota Zoo officially opened on June 3, 1961.
On opening day, the zoo had 75 mammals and 23 birds. About 15 acres of land were ready for visitors. In its first year, 40,000 people visited the zoo. Each person paid only ten cents to get in! By 2007, the zoo had grown a lot. It welcomed over 100,000 visitors each year. They came to see 125 different kinds of animals and birds.
Zoo Accreditation and Support
The Dakota Zoo has been recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1991. This shows their commitment to animal care. The zoo supports itself through ticket sales and food sales. They also get money from animal adoptions, memberships, and donations.
Animals at the Dakota Zoo
The Dakota Zoo is home to many different animals. You can see animals from all over the world!
Hoofed Animals and Grazers
Many hoofed animals, called Ungulates, live in the southern part of the zoo. They have large, open areas to roam. You might see goats, pigs, and miniature horses. There are also miniature donkeys and Highland cattle.
Other animals in this area include bison and pronghorn. Look for Przewalski's horse and Bactrian camel. You can also spot Dall sheep, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. Don't miss the moose, reindeer, and longhorn cattle. Large Clydesdale horses and elk also live here. In the northeast part of the zoo, you can find llamas, mouflon, and aoudad.
Predators and Wild Hunters
Predators live in the northern part of the zoo. These animals are hunters. You can see powerful tigers and beautiful snow leopards. There are also wolves and different kinds of bears.
Other predators include the Canada lynx and bobcats. Look for cougars, coyotes, and foxes. You might also spot badgers and servals.
Birds of All Kinds
Birds live in many smaller homes and aviaries. Most of them are in the center of the zoo. You can see majestic eagles and large emus. There are many colorful South American birds.
The zoo also has turkey vultures and wild turkeys. You can find different types of owls. Many water birds also make their home at the zoo.
Monkeys and Primates
Most Monkeys live in the Monkey Barn near the zoo's center. This includes tiny cotton-top tamarins and Goeldi’s monkey. You can also see golden-headed lion tamarins and pygmy marmosets.
Other primates here are red ruffed lemurs, squirrel monkeys, and white-fronted marmosets. The Spider monkeys have their own outdoor area to play in.
Other Amazing Animals
The zoo also has a special exhibit for reptiles and small mammals. There is a fun butterfly house. You can also visit a prairie dog town.
Zoo Facilities
The Bismarck Tribune Discovery Center is right inside the zoo. It's a great place to learn more about animals.
Conservation Efforts
The Dakota Zoo helps protect animals. It takes part in the AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP). This plan helps save endangered animals.
The Future of the Zoo
In 1987, the Bismarck Tribune asked the zoo to plan for its future. The zoo board created a master plan. This plan is checked and updated regularly. The last update was in 2005.
Raising Money for New Homes
The zoo has had three big campaigns to raise money. These campaigns helped build new homes for the animals. The "Beyond the Bear Necessities" campaign started in 1988. It raised money for the bear habitat and river otter exhibit. It also helped build homes for canine and small animals.
The second campaign was called "Discovery 2000 - Turning Dollars Into Senses." It raised $1.5 million. This money helped build exhibits for moose, mountain goats, and mountain lions. It also helped create homes for bobcats and lynx. The Discovery Zoo was also built with these funds.
In 2002, the "Make the Big Cats Roar" campaign began. Its goal was to raise $1.9 million. They reached this goal by late 2005. Then, they set a new goal of $2.3 million to do even more!
