Montgomery Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1920, reopened 1972 |
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| Location | Montgomery, Alabama |
| Land area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Coordinates | 32°25′12″N 86°16′38″W / 32.420128°N 86.277201°W |
| No. of animals | 750 |
| No. of species | 140 |
| Memberships | Zoological Association of America |
The Montgomery Zoo is a fun and exciting place to visit in Montgomery, Alabama. It covers 40 acres and is home to about 750 animals. These animals represent 140 different species from all over the world! The zoo is a member of the Zoological Association of America. This means it meets high standards for animal care.
The Montgomery Zoo has seen some special animal births. In 1991, the first African elephant was born in Alabama right here at the zoo. In 2013, the zoo welcomed the first Indian rhinoceros ever born using a special process called artificial insemination. The zoo also has the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum. It opened in 2003 and features amazing displays of animals, focusing on wildlife found in nature.
Contents
History of the Montgomery Zoo
The Montgomery Zoo started small in 1920 at Oak Park. It began as a children's zoo with a few animals. These included alligators, monkeys, and bears. Kids could also enjoy a small train and a carousel. The zoo faced some challenges and closed down between 1960 and 1971.
In 1972, the Montgomery Zoo reopened at its current location. It started with six acres and a small petting zoo. There were also monkeys, a special bird cage, and a chimpanzee named Benji. In 1976, the zoo held its first big fundraising event called Zoo Day. This event grew into the popular annual "Zoo Weekend." Today, Zoo Weekend can welcome as many as 18,000 guests!
Zoo Expansion and New Exhibits
In 1989, work began to expand the zoo to its current 40 acres. After two years of building, a new and improved zoo opened in 1991. The new design allowed visitors to see animals without barriers. It also featured exhibits with multiple species living together. The zoo was divided into five areas, each representing a different continent: Africa, Australia, Asia, North America, and South America.
Since then, the zoo has continued to grow. In 1992, new exhibits opened for cougars and lynx in North America. The Reptile House, jaguar, and ocelot exhibits were finished in South America. New homes for chimpanzees and colobus monkeys opened in the Africa area.
In 1993, the Bengal tiger exhibit opened in the Asia area. It featured both white and orange tigers. The bald eagle exhibit opened in North America in 1995. Monkey Island in South America was also updated. In 1996, the American black bear exhibit opened. That same year, the zoo welcomed its first baby cheetah.
More animals arrived in 1998 with the opening of the maned wolf and Indian rhinoceros exhibits. A new front entrance and gift shop opened in 1999. In 2003, the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum was completed. The African elephant exhibit opened in 2004, housing three female elephants.
Recent Additions and Attractions
In March 2008, the North American river otter exhibit opened. It featured two river otters and a home for an alligator snapping turtle. In June 2010, the zoo added the Giraffe Encounter. This allows visitors to feed giraffes. Feeding stations were also added at the river otter and koi fish ponds.
The next year, Parakeet Cove and Horse Trail Rides were added. In August 2012, the Zoofari Skylift Ride was completed. This ride gives great views of the zoo. Later that year, two male lions, Baron and Vulcan, arrived from the Birmingham Zoo. A new habitat for four male American alligators opened in summer 2014.
Explore the Zoo's Exhibits
The Montgomery Zoo is divided into different areas. Each area represents a continent and features animals from that part of the world.
Australia Realm
The Australian Realm is viewed from a boardwalk. It is currently being updated. This area used to have Australian animals like red kangaroos and emus. Today, you can see red river hogs in a seasonal exhibit. The old kangaroo yard now houses pygmy hippos, Black swans, and Pekin ducks.
Asia Realm
The zoo has a large area for Asian hoofstock. These are animals with hooves. You can see many famous Asian species here:
- Fallow deer
- Axis deer
- Blackbuck
- Nilgai
- Sarus crane
- Chinese goose
There are also special habitats for the Bengal tiger and Indian rhinoceros. The first baby rhino at the zoo was born in 2007. The first Indian rhinoceros born by artificial insemination was born here in 2013.
Africa Realm
The African Realm is the largest exhibit area at the zoo. The African Savanna Elephant habitat opened in 2005. It has waterfalls, a big pool, and a barn for the elephants. You can see the elephants from several viewing spots. There is even a double-decker platform!
This exhibit also features many other African animals:
- Grant's zebra
- Greater kudu
- Pygmy hippopotamus
- Grey crowned crane
- Marabou stork
- Ostrich
- Slender-horned gazelle
- Dama gazelle
- Bontebok
- Bongo
- Egyptian goose
- African Elephant
- Reticulated giraffe
Next to the hoofstock, you'll find a family of Giraffes and an Abyssinian ground-hornbill. You can get up close to the giraffes and even feed them from the Overlook Cafe. The Old World Aviary is also near the cafe. It is home to many African birds and a mammal:
- Blue duiker
- Hammerkop
- Lilac-breasted roller
- Sacred ibis
- Guinea fowl
- Speckled pigeon
- Crowned hornbill
- African black duck
The African Realm is also home to the siamang (which is actually from Asia), chimpanzees, lions, and cheetahs.
South America Realm
South America is the oldest part of the zoo. It still uses some parts of the original petting zoo from 1972. This section has smaller, more traditional exhibits. Here you can see:
- Jaguar
- Sloth bear (which is from Asia)
- mara
- Toco toucan
- Military macaw, blue and gold macaw, hyacinth macaw, green-winged macaw
- Squirrel monkey
- Spider monkey
- Emperor tamarin
- Golden lion tamarin
- Maned wolf
- Giant anteater
- Andean condor
- Chilean flamingo
- Coscoroba
- Crested screamer
The zoo also has a Flight Cage here. It looks like an old aviary from the 1904 World's Fair. It houses:
The Reptile House is also in this section. It has many reptiles and amphibians from around the world. None of the species are venomous. Some animals you might see are:
- Pancake tortoise
- Emerald tree boa
- Dwarf caiman
- Reticulated python
- Solomon Islands skink
- Mossy frog
North America Realm
The North American exhibit features several animals found in Alabama and other parts of the United States. These include:
There are also separate homes for the cougars, Canadian lynx, black bears, bald eagles, river otters, and a pair of young American alligators.
Mann Wildlife Learning Museum
The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum became part of the Montgomery Zoo in 2003. This museum displays many large animals that were collected by trophy hunter George Mann. Visitors can touch and feel the furs and antlers of some of the animals. The displays are designed to show the animals in their natural homes. They use real plants, rocks, trees, dirt, and sand collected from where the animals lived. There is also a fish room with many mounted fish, including stingrays, sharks, marlin, and even a killer whale.
Other Fun Attractions
The zoo offers many extra attractions for visitors. You can buy food to feed the koi fish at the Asian pond. The Giraffe Encounter Post in the African realm lets you feed giraffes. Parakeet Cove, built in 2012, is another popular spot. You can buy sticks to feed the budgies there. It's located in the Australian realm, near the Zoofari Skylift Adventure Ride.
The petting zoo has pygmy goats, ducks, and llamas. You can buy food to feed these friendly animals. It's located in the playground area in the Asian realm. Zoo keepers also host daily talks and training sessions for the lions and elephants.
Stingray Bay
In 2011, the Montgomery Zoo started raising money for a special new exhibit called Stingray Bay. This exhibit lets visitors directly interact with free-swimming stingrays! It has an oval-shaped saltwater pool. Stingray Bay officially opened on March 6, 2018. Touching and viewing the stingrays is free with your zoo admission. If you want to feed the stingrays, it costs $10 per person. The exhibit also has a smaller tank with other colorful fish. These include the Emperor angelfish, Ocellaris clownfish, and Blue tang. This amazing exhibit cost almost $1,000,000 to build! It is located next to the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum.
Future Plans
The Montgomery Zoo is always planning new and exciting things! Plans are being made to build a butterfly pavilion. This will be a beautiful place to see butterflies.
The zoo is also raising money for a brand new reptile facility. They are working with the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust to house the endangered Gharial (an Indian crocodile) and other species. The 2019 "Zoo Weekend" event was dedicated to raising funds for this new reptile home. This new facility will replace the zoo's current Reptile House.
Books
- Oak Park and Montgomery Zoo (ISBN: 0738553115)
