Elmwood Park Zoo facts for kids
Guests view a sloth at Elmwood Park Zoo
|
|
| Date opened | July 4, 1924 |
|---|---|
| Location | Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Land area | 16 acres |
| Coordinates | 40°08′00″N 75°20′15″W / 40.1332°N 75.3375°W |
| No. of animals | 300 |
| No. of species | 100 |
| Annual visitors | 800,000 |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Elmwood Park Zoo is a fun place to visit in Norristown, Pennsylvania. It is home to many different animals from all over the world. The zoo helps protect animals and teaches people about wildlife.
Contents
Discovering the Zoo's History
The Elmwood Park Zoo first opened its doors on July 4, 1924. It started when a kind person gave some land and a few white-tailed deer to the town of Norristown. At first, the zoo mostly had animals that lived in North and South America.
Growing Over the Years
For many years, the Norristown Zoological Society helped the zoo grow. This group became a non-profit organization in 1985. They took over running the zoo.
Between 1999 and 2002, the zoo got much bigger. Its size doubled from 8 acres to 16 acres! New additions included a new entrance, offices, a cafe, and a gift shop. A very popular spot, the Thomas Kimmel Playground, opened in 2001. In 2002, the Oberkircher Discovery Center opened. This building is used for cool education programs.
In 2013, the zoo opened a special exhibit for giraffes. Visitors can even feed the giraffes every day, which is a big hit!
New Animal Homes and Special Programs
The "Trail of the Jaguar" exhibit opened in 2017. This area is home to animals from the southwestern parts of North America. You can see amazing animals like Ocelots, Bobcats, Jaguars, Burrowing Owls, and Gila Monsters there.
In May 2018, the Elmwood Park Zoo became the first zoo in the world to be a Certified Autism Center (CAC). This means the zoo has special training to help visitors with autism and other sensory needs have a great time.
In the spring of 2021, the zoo started letting guests bring their pet dogs on certain days. This was one of the first zoos in the country to do this!
A brand new Welcome Center and Veterinarian Hospital opened in the summer of 2024. This modern building has interactive displays and even allows visitors to see into the animal hospital's exam rooms.
Zoo Keepers at Work
The Elmwood Park Zoo has a group called the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK). This is a non-profit group made up of people who work with animals at the zoo. They help care for the animals and support conservation efforts.
Amazing Animals at the Zoo
The Elmwood Park Zoo is home to many different kinds of animals. You can see amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, and even invertebrates (animals without backbones). Some animals are on exhibit for everyone to see. Others are "Educational Ambassadors" who help teach people during presentations at the zoo or when they travel to schools.
Meet the Zoo Residents
Some of the animals you can see on exhibit include red pandas, bison, zebras, giraffes, jaguars, otters, and an American alligator. There are many more exciting creatures to discover!
Noah the Bald Eagle
One very special resident is a North American bald eagle named Noah. Noah was born in July 2001. When he was just 8 weeks old, he fell from his nest and got hurt. He spent a year getting better at an animal hospital. Because he couldn't live safely in the wild, Noah became an Educational Ambassador.
The Elmwood Park Zoo adopted Noah in 2008. He now helps teach people about wildlife conservation. Noah is also the live mascot for the professional football team, the Philadelphia Eagles!
Protecting Threatened Animals
The Elmwood Park Zoo works hard to protect wildlife and natural resources. They are a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This group helps zoos work together to save animals.
Species Survival Plan
The zoo takes part in the AZA's Species Survival Plan (SSP). This important program helps protect animals that are in danger of disappearing. Some of the animals at Elmwood Park Zoo that are part of this plan include:
- Panamanian golden frog
- Giraffe
- Jaguar
- White-faced saki
- North American river otter
- Burrowing owl
- Chacoan peccary
- North American porcupine
- Golden lion tamarin
Saving Natural Habitats
Besides helping individual animals, the Elmwood Park Zoo also works to protect important natural places. They support projects that focus on keeping environments healthy. Some of the conservation projects the zoo has helped include:
- The Titi Conservation Alliance
- Reforestation (planting new trees)
- The Naranjo River Biological Corridor
- Environmental education programs
- The Red Panda Network
- The American Bird Conservancy
- The CCCI
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium "Seafood Watch" program, which helps people choose seafood that is caught in a way that doesn't harm the ocean.
