Great Plains Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | 30 June 1963 |
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| Location | Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 43°32′15″N 96°45′53″W / 43.5374°N 96.7648°W |
| No. of animals | 1,000+ |
| No. of species | 137 |
| Annual visitors | 300,000+ |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Great Plains Zoo is a 45-acre zoo located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. It is home to over 1,000 animals from 137 different species. The zoo is a fun place to learn about wildlife from all over the world. It is managed by a partnership between the City of Sioux Falls and the Zoological Society.
The City of Sioux Falls owns the zoo's land and buildings. The Zoological Society of Sioux Falls, a non-profit group, takes care of the animals. They also manage the daily operations of the zoo. In 2016, the Great Plains Zoo received a special award. It was given the "Quarter Century Award" by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This award recognized 25 years of being a continuously accredited zoo.
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History of the Great Plains Zoo
The idea for a zoo in Sioux Falls started a long time ago. In the late 1800s, Senator Richard F. Pettigrew had some animals on display. These were in local parks. By the 1930s, the Sioux Falls Parks System took over. They put more animals permanently in Sherman Park.
The Zoological Society of Sioux Falls was created in 1957. This group helped build the Great Plains Zoo. The zoo first opened its doors to visitors on June 30, 1963.
Zoo Growth and New Exhibits
In the 1970s and 1980s, the zoo added many new areas. These included a Children's Zoo. They also built a Black-footed Penguin Rookery. A Birds of Prey aviary was added too. Other additions were a Primate Complex and a 10-acre North American Plains Exhibit.
In 1984, the Delbridge Museum of Natural History joined the zoo. It displayed over 150 mounted animals. These were donated by the CJ Delbridge family. During the 1990s, the zoo updated many of its older buildings. New habitats were also created. These included the Asian cat habitat and the Wild Dogs of America exhibit. The Australian Outback, Bear Canyon, and Galapagos tortoise exhibit were also added.
Overcoming Challenges and Modernizing
Around 2005, the zoo faced some big challenges. Its buildings were getting old. There were also financial difficulties. The zoo was almost forced to close. In 2005, Elizabeth Whealy became the CEO and President. She worked to improve the zoo. She focused on better animal care and making visits more enjoyable.
In 2007, the Sioux Falls City Council approved the zoo's improvement plan. Since 2005, the zoo has completed many projects. These include a renovation of the Asian Cat exhibit in 2008. The "Monkeys, Magic and More" project was finished in 2013. In total, about $14 million was spent on improvements. The zoo has also doubled its animal collection. It grew from 500 to over 1,000 animals. Old exhibits were updated for new animals.
In 2020, there was a change in leadership at the zoo. The Delbridge Museum of Natural History closed permanently in August 2023. This was because of harmful chemicals found in its taxidermy collections. In June 2024, the zoo opened a new African lion exhibit. It features a male lion named Simba and a lioness named Amahle.
Amazing Zoo Exhibits
Asian Cats Exhibit
The Asian Cat exhibit was updated in 2008. It offers great views of amazing animals. You can see Amur tigers, snow leopards, and Pallas' cats.
Hyvee Face-to-Face Farm
In 2009, the old Children's Zoo was rebuilt. It became the Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm. This area has many rare types of farm animals. You can see San Clemente Island goats, African Pygmy goats, and Nigerian Dwarf goats. There are also Alpacas, Jacob's sheep, and different kinds of Chicken.
Rare Rhinos of Africa
The Great Plains Zoo opened a new home for a pair of Eastern black rhinoceros in 2010. This exhibit provides a special habitat for these rare rhinos. It also helps them to breed. One rhino, Komati, moved to Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2023.
Japanese Macaques Exhibit
In 2013, the zoo opened its Japanese Macaque exhibit. This project also updated the zoo's entrance. Educational areas and the Chilean Flamingo exhibit were improved too. The Snow monkey exhibit gives 180-degree views. It has covered shelters and two water features for the macaques. In 2015, this exhibit won an award for its design. The Great Plains Zoo is one of only a few zoos in the U.S. that cares for Snow monkeys.
Fortress of the Bears
In 2018, the zoo updated its Bear Canyon habitat. This is one of the zoo's oldest and most popular exhibits. The new design is like Southeastern Alaska. This area has the largest number of Grizzly bears in North America.
Walkabout Australia
In 2019, the zoo transformed parts of its eastern area. It became an Australian-themed exhibit. This new area is home to red and eastern grey kangaroos. You can also see Bennett's wallabies and emus. The exhibit also features New Guinea singing dogs and Bactrian Camels. There are sheep in a petting area and several types of Australian birds.
New and Upcoming Projects
The zoo has plans for more exciting new exhibits. New homes for meerkats and leopards are being built. These will be in the African Savannah area. The Roar Café, the zoo's restaurant, is also being renovated. It will have more seating and views into animal exhibits.
The Black Bear exhibit is also being updated. This renovation is part of improving the zoo's older buildings.
