Oakland Zoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oakland Zoo

Main entrance
Date opened	1922; 103 years ago (1922)
Location	9777 Golf Links Rd. Oakland, California 94605
Land area	100 acres (40 ha)
Coordinates	37°45′03″N 122°08′52″W / 37.7508°N 122.1477°W / 37.7508; -122.1477
No. of animals	850+
Annual visitors	975,000
Memberships	AZA

The Oakland Zoo is a fun and educational place to visit in Oakland, California. It first opened its doors on June 6, 1922. A group called the Conservation Society of California manages the zoo. This group is a non-profit, which means they use their money to help animals and the zoo, not to make a profit.

The zoo is home to over 850 different animals. These include animals from California and many other parts of the world. The Oakland Zoo is also a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means it meets high standards for animal care.

The Oakland Zoo is known for its excellent animal care. They have special programs for elephants. They also rescue and help injured or sick wildlife. The zoo has a modern animal hospital. It is the largest wild animal hospital in Northern California.

Many groups have given the Oakland Zoo "Best of" awards. U.S. News & World Report named it one of the top U.S. Zoos. USA Today also gave it a "10 Best" award. On July 12, 2018, the zoo opened a big new area called the California Trail. This area teaches visitors about California's amazing native wildlife.

Discovering the Zoo's History

Henry A. Snow, the founder of Oakland Zoo, around 1922

A nature lover named Henry A. Snow started the Oakland Zoo. It first opened on June 6, 1922. The zoo was originally located at 19th and Harrison streets in downtown Oakland. Today, Snow Park is in the same spot where the zoo first began.

Over the years, the zoo moved a few times. First, it moved to Sequoia Park. Then it went to Joaquin Miller Park. Finally, in 1939, it moved to Durant Park. In 1950, the land was bought by California. It was then renamed Joseph Knowland State Arboretum and Park.

In 1936, Henry A. Snow's son, Sidney Snow, started a non-profit group. It was first called the Alameda County Botanical and Zoological Society. This group helped run the zoo for the City of Oakland from 1982. In 2017, its name changed to the Conservation Society of California. This new name better shows the zoo's focus on saving wildlife. Today, this group still manages and runs the Oakland Zoo.

The zoo works with over 25 wildlife groups around the world. It gives money to help their efforts to save animals. The zoo also partners with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. Together, they rescue and care for animals harmed by wildfires or human actions. They have helped many animals, including 22 mountain lions and 38 California condors. They have also helped 8 bears and over 600 yellow-legged frogs.

Exciting New Zoo Areas

An African elephant walking in its spacious habitat

The Oakland Zoo has added many new and improved animal homes. They built new exhibits for hamadryas baboons and chimpanzees. A large home for elephants was finished in 1987. The sun bear exhibit opened in 1995. It was even shown on the TV show Ultimate Zoos. White-handed gibbons live on a green island in the Tropical Rainforest area. The African Savannah, with camels, lions, elephants, and meerkats, was completed in 1998.

The zoo's Education Center opened in 1999. A new main entrance followed in 2001. In the fall of 2001, a squirrel monkey exhibit opened. The tiger exhibit was also made bigger and better. In 2007, the four dromedary camels moved to a larger, fenced area.

The Oakland Zoo offers free or low-cost science programs. These programs are for students from schools that need extra help. The zoo gives out 5,500 vouchers each year. This is part of its Zoo-to-Community program. It helps over 3,000 students and 1,000 adults learn about animals each year.

In 2012, a new animal hospital opened. It was built using green building standards. The Oakland Zoo Biodiversity Center opened in 2013. In 2014, the Condor Recovery Center also opened. These projects have greatly improved animal care at the zoo. They also help save animal species in the wild.

Exploring the California Trail

An aerial gondola ride takes visitors to the California Trail

The California Trail was a huge project, costing $70 million. It teaches visitors about California's native animals and plants. It shows how humans and nature are connected. It also highlights how changes affect them all.

Visitors ride an aerial gondola from the main zoo to reach the trail. Along the trail, you can see animals like bears, wolves, and mountain lions. You can also spot bison and birds of prey. The California Wilds! playground is for younger children. It has fun play structures that look like California wildlife. Inside the Conservation Habitarium, you can see grizzly bears through a large window. Here, you can learn about California's different habitats. You can also see how you can help protect wildlife.

The Oakland Zoo is a leader in caring for animals. The California Trail shows how much they care. It gives animals natural and enriching homes. This helps animals act like they would in the wild. The California Trail is a great example for other zoos. It shows that zoos play a key role in rescuing and caring for wildlife.

The Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo

In the summer of 2005, the Valley Children's Zoo opened. This area is about 3 acres big. It has new animal exhibits and fun play areas for kids. You can find lemurs, tortoises, and river otters here. There is also a special area where you can pet goats and sheep. Alligators, bats, pigs, and rabbits also live in the Children's Zoo. Don't miss the Bug Room and the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Room! A fun feature for younger kids is the brass insects. They are set into the walking paths as cool art.

Animals You Can See at Oakland Zoo

Flamingo Plaza

• African spoonbill
• Lesser flamingo

Tropical Rainforest

African Savanna

Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo

Wild Australia

• Agile wallaby
• Common wallaroo
• Emu

California Trail

Glowfari: A Dazzling Light Event

Glowfari is a special light event the zoo hosts in the winter. It features huge, glowing lantern animals. The path is one mile long and has over 100 animal lanterns. There are also more than 800 other light displays. You can explore three different worlds: Aquatic, Ecosystem/Food chain, and Jurassic.

Gallery

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  Outback Express Adventure Train

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  A majestic lion at the zoo

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  Conservation work happening at the zoo

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  Giraffes enjoying their exhibit

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  A tiger in its habitat

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  Beautiful flowering plants at the zoo

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  An African crowned crane

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  Flamingos gathered at the main entrance

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  Gibbons playing at the zoo

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  A zebra resting in the shade

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  Glowfari, the zoo's winter light event