John Ball Zoological Garden facts for kids

The John Ball Zoo is a fun and exciting place located on the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. It sits on hills and bluffs, offering unique views.

This zoo is home to over 2,000 animals from more than 200 different species. It's a very popular spot for people in the region to visit. The zoo also helps the community and the world through its Zoo School and Wildlife Conservation Fund.

John Ball Zoo is a special member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It was actually the very first zoo in Michigan to get this important accreditation.

Discovering the Zoo's History

How the Zoo Began

Statue of John Ball in Grand Rapids.

The land for the zoo, about 40 acres, was given to the city by a famous explorer named John Ball. He donated it when he passed away in 1884. Soon after, another 100 acres were added. This extra land allowed for new features like ponds, a theater, playgrounds, and the zoo itself.

Animals were first mentioned on the property in 1891. At that time, city leaders discussed buying more animals to join the injured and orphaned ones already there.

During the Great Depression, a very tough time for the country, the zoo faced difficulties. Many animals were sent to other zoos. Some animals, like buffalo and deer, were used to help feed people who were struggling. Only a few older animals remained.

The Zoo's New Beginning

In 1949, a woman named Katherine Whinery suggested to the mayor of Grand Rapids that they should bring the zoo back to life. She proposed forming a "zoo society," which is a group of people who support the zoo. The city agreed that if a society was formed, they would hire a director to run the zoo.

Fred Meyer became the first director. Construction began on the Monkey Island Exhibit, which was the first big exhibit built there. It opened on June 1, 1950. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the John Ball Zoo grew larger on the property's hills.

Recent Exciting Changes

Chimps in the Mokomboso Valley Chimpanzee Exhibit.

The City of Grand Rapids managed the John Ball Zoo until 1989. Then, Kent County took over its operation.

In the 1990s, the zoo expanded even more. They built the Living Shores Aquarium, which is one of only two aquariums in Michigan. A new cafe was also added nearby. At the same time, a new home for bald eagles was created. The Mokomboso Valley Chimpanzee Exhibit opened in 2001.

From 2000 to 2003, there was a discussion about moving the zoo to a flatter part of the property to build an elephant exhibit. This idea caused some debate between the zoo and its neighbors. To help resolve the disagreement, Fred Meijer offered to donate land and money if the zoo decided to move.

In 2004, people in Kent County voted on whether to move the zoo. The idea was voted down, so the zoo stayed in its current location.

Bongo rests in the shade in the African Veldt Exhibit.

In 2005, a new big plan for the zoo was created. This plan covered all 140 acres of the zoo's property. It aimed to update the entire zoo, adding to existing exhibits like those for camels, African veld animals, chimps, and the petting zoo. The new plan also included a system of streams called "Grand Rivers of the World."

On April 27, 2007, the zoo started building the first part of its new plan. This was a $4.1 million "BISSELL Lions of Lake Manyara" exhibit. The zoo had not had a lion since 2005. This new exhibit was designed for six lions, but only three were placed there.

The new, environmentally friendly lion exhibit opened to the public on June 21, 2008.

Stingrays in the Stingray Lagoon.

In 2008-2009, Kent County helped pay for half of the cost to renovate the Monkey Island Exhibit. The other half was to come from the zoo society. In May 2009, the spider monkeys were able to explore their newly renovated island. The old concrete wall around the exhibit was removed. The cement floor and rocks were replaced with grass and more natural-looking rocks.

In 2014, the zoo formed a non-profit organization. This group took ownership of the zoo, separate from Kent County. This change helps the zoo grow and develop even more.

On July 8, 2016, the stingray lagoon exhibit had to close. All 18 cownose stingrays and 3 spotted bamboo sharks sadly died due to a mechanical problem. A heavy rainstorm caused a pump circuit to short out. The backup system that should have warned zoo staff about the pump failure also did not work.

Riding the Inclined Railway

In August 2012, a special inclined railway opened at the zoo. This train has three cars linked together. It offers a four-minute ride to the higher parts of the park. The zoo calls it a funicular, which is a type of railway that often uses two cars to balance each other. However, this one is more like an inclined elevator because it doesn't have two balancing vehicles. Still, having a three-car train makes it quite unique!

Amazing Animals at the Zoo

The John Ball Zoo is home to many different kinds of animals. Most of the animals at the zoo were born in other zoos. Very few animals are taken from the wild. Almost all wild animals at the zoo are there because they were injured. This means they can no longer live safely in their natural homes.

In 2004, the zoo welcomed a Komodo dragon named Precious. In 2005, the zoo created an Australian walk-through exhibit. Here, you can see wallabies and budgies. Sometimes, the wallabies might even come out into the walkway, and you can gently pet them!

On May 9, 2007, the river otters had a baby boy. He first appeared in the exhibit in mid-July.

In early September, the female black-footed cat had two kittens.

The ring-tailed lemur exhibit opened in May 2009, after starting in March.

In 2010, the zoo brought in a group of Guinea baboons. They also welcomed the largest alligator outside of Florida. The flamingos moved to a different pond. The old tiger exhibit was changed to house a rock hyrax and a group of colobus monkeys.

In 2021, John Ball Zoo announced a new habitat for pygmy hippos was being built near the zoo's entrance. This exhibit will also be home to a pair of white storks. It is planned to open in 2023. In 2022, John Ball Zoo hosted two male koalas. They were part of a special project from the San Diego Zoo. Their exhibit opened on May 11, 2022.

Learning and Protecting Wildlife

Zoo School: A Unique Classroom

The John Ball Zoo School is a special magnet school just for sixth graders. It's part of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Each year, sixty students are chosen to attend this school. They learn the regular school subjects, but they use the zoo as their special "lab."

Students at the John Ball Zoo School have extra studies. Their admission is mostly based on their MEAP scores. They work on big projects, like studying current events and environmental issues. Learning often happens through hands-on experiences. For example, students can visit the zoo often and even have limited access inside some animal enclosures.

Wildlife Conservation Fund: Helping Animals Worldwide

In 1985, a conservation fund was started by John Boyles. This fund focuses on helping animals native to Michigan. However, it also supports programs for endangered amphibians and reptiles around the world. The Wildlife Conservation Fund has helped protect wildlife and their homes in 30 different countries!

See Also

• List of funicular railways