Greenville Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1960 |
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| Location | Greenville, South Carolina, United States |
| Land area | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| Coordinates | 34°50′51″N 82°23′14″W / 34.8474°N 82.3871°W |
| Annual visitors | 325,000 |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Greenville Zoo is a fun place to visit in Greenville, South Carolina. It first opened its doors in 1960. The zoo is about 14 acres big and is located inside Cleveland Park.
A typical visit to the zoo usually takes about one to one and a half hours. Cleveland Park, right next to the zoo, has lots of cool things to do. You can find picnic tables, paths for biking and walking, and courts for tennis and volleyball. There are also playgrounds for kids.
The Greenville Zoo is officially approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means it meets high standards for animal care and education. The zoo is open every day of the year, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Discover the History of Greenville Zoo
The idea for the zoo was approved in 1957. Construction began in 1960. When the zoo first opened, it mostly had animals native to the area. These included bears, deer, bobcats, foxes, ducks, and prairie dogs.
In 1962, a special dome for monkeys was built. Twenty-six colobus monkeys then joined the zoo's animal family. Later in the 1960s, the zoo added fences and paved walkways. A building for chimpanzees was also added. More animals arrived, like sea lions, otters, a macaw, and two leopards.
In the 1970s, the zoo became home to large elephants. By 1981, the zoo had 70 animals in 11 different display areas. It also grew from 5 acres to its current 14 acres.
The zoo closed for big improvements in 1984. It reopened in 1986 with many new features. These included an education center, a reptile building, and a gift shop. There was also a new South American area and a lagoon for waterfowl.
In 2002, the Cub Kingdom preschool playground opened for younger visitors. An Asian Encounter exhibit followed in 2003. A special exhibit for Masai giraffes opened in 2008. This exhibit featured two giraffes named Autumn and Walter.
In 2015, the zoo changed its former elephant area into a South American Pampas exhibit. This new home welcomed a Giant anteater named Moe. Later, two Rheas joined him from New York's Queens Zoo.
Meet the Animals at Greenville Zoo
The zoo is home to many exciting animals from around the world. You can see powerful African lions and tall Masai giraffes. There are also several types of primates, which are like monkeys and apes.
Besides the wild animals, the zoo has a farm exhibit. Here, you can see domestic animals that live on farms. The reptile house is another cool spot. It features many different lizards, frogs, and snakes.
In October 2012, the Greenville Zoo welcomed its first baby giraffe. This baby, named Kiko, was born to Autumn, a female Masai giraffe. Kiko later moved to the Toronto Zoo in Canada. This made him the first giraffe born in South Carolina to travel to Canada.
On March 14, 2015, the zoo celebrated another new arrival. A baby gibbon was born, the first ever at the Greenville Zoo. On June 21, 2015, a baby red panda was born. He was named "Willie" after the famous country singer Willie Nelson.
