Mill Mountain Zoo facts for kids

The Mill Mountain Zoo is a fun zoo located on top of Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It first opened its doors on July 4, 1952. For many years, the City of Roanoke helped run the zoo. Since 1988, a special group called the Blue Ridge Zoological Society (BRZS) has been in charge. They are a non-profit group, which means they work to help the zoo, not to make money. They also help raise money to keep the zoo running!

Discover Mill Mountain Zoo's History

For a while, people thought about moving the zoo from Mill Mountain. This was because the mountain top didn't have much space to make the zoo bigger. In 1984, there was an idea to move it to a large area of about 400 acres near the Blue Ridge Parkway. This new place would have been called the Blue Ridge Zoo.

However, this plan didn't happen. Instead, that land was used to create Virginia's Explore Park. So, in 1988, the Blue Ridge Zoological Society decided to keep the zoo right where it was, on Mill Mountain. They then made a big plan for the zoo's future, called Zoo 2001, to help it grow and improve over the next ten years.

Exciting New Additions Since 2008

The zoo is always working to make things better for its animals and visitors! Here are some cool additions that have been made since 2008:

• A new building for holding and checking on new animals. This is also where birds stay in the winter. You can't visit this area.
• A new animal clinic to help keep all the animals healthy. This area is also not open to the public.
• A special home for Red Wolves.
• An exhibit for Eurasian Black Vultures.
• A new home for Black Tufted Marmosets. The Burmese pythons that used to live there moved to the Reptile House.
• An exhibit for the Canadian Lynx. This is where the red tailed hawks used to be.
• An Interactive Aviary where you can walk among some birds.
• A Reptile House where you can see many different reptiles.

Meet the Animals and Fun Attractions

Mill Mountain Zoo is home to many amazing animals! There are about 85 animals from 35 different species. This includes some very special animals that are on the endangered list, like the red panda and the snow leopard. The zoo is always changing, adding new animals and exhibits. For example, the interactive aviary opened in 2008, and the reptile house opened in 2009.

Some of the animals that visitors have loved over the years include:

• Frump Frump was a large African elephant. She came to the zoo in 1970 from a traveling circus. Many people came to see her, making it a very busy time for the zoo!
• Ruby was a beautiful Siberian tiger. She was brought to the zoo in 1988 after police found her being kept illegally as a pet. Ruby lived at the zoo for many years until 2006. Her home is now where the wolves live.
• Oops is a Japanese macaque monkey who became famous in 2006 when she briefly escaped her home! News about her escape was shared all over the country before she was safely found a week later. She has since moved to a bigger home with more monkeys.
• Zoo Choo is a miniature train that has been a favorite ride at the zoo since it opened in 1952. It's a small train with passenger cars. The train has been running almost continuously, except for a few short breaks. In 2007, the original train moved to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The zoo got a new miniature train in 2008, so you can still enjoy the ride!

Some other favorite animals at the zoo are Bo the wolverine, Nina the cougar, and the snow leopards Tasha (who lived a very long life!) and Boris. You might also see Nova and Takeo, the red pandas. And of course, Richard, Mom, and Oops, the Japanese macaques!

Recently, the zoo has welcomed red wolves, cinereous vultures, a Canadian lynx, four Asian small-clawed otters, and Pallas's cats (who will be out once their new exhibit is ready!).

Images for kids

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  A postcard showing the 'Zoo Choo' train at Mill Mountain Zoo.