Philadelphia Zoo facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Philadelphia Zoo
The gate above the zoo's entrance
Date opened	July 1, 1874 (1874-07-01)
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Land area	42 acres (17 ha)
Coordinates	39°58′21″N 75°11′48″W / 39.97250°N 75.19667°W / 39.97250; -75.19667
No. of animals	~1,700
No. of species	340+
Annual visitors	1.2 million
Memberships	Association of Zoos and Aquariums

The Philadelphia Zoo is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, right by the Schuylkill River. It holds a special place in history as the first real zoo in the United States! It was officially created on March 21, 1859, but its opening was delayed by the American Civil War until July 1, 1874. When it finally opened, the zoo had 1,000 animals and cost only 25 cents to get in.

Today, the Philadelphia Zoo is known worldwide for its amazing work in helping animals that are hard to breed in captivity. The zoo also partners with groups globally to protect the natural homes of the animals they care for. The zoo covers 42 acres (17 ha) and is home to about 1,300 animals, many of which are rare or endangered. You can find fun features like a children's petting zoo, a lake for paddleboats, a rainforest-themed carousel, and even a ropes course!

Discovering the History of America's First Zoo
Amazing Animals and Exhibits
Images for kids
See also

Discovering the History of America's First Zoo

The idea for the Philadelphia Zoo came from the London Zoo, which opened to the public in 1847. Dr. William Camac from Philadelphia visited the London Zoo in the 1850s. He was so inspired that he pushed for a zoo in the U.S. On March 21, 1859, the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was officially formed. Their goal was to collect and show wild animals to the public for learning and fun.

Dr. Camac and other members of the Zoological Society raised money and got 33 acres of land near the Schuylkill River. This land used to belong to John Penn, who was the grandson of William Penn. The American Civil War (1861-1865) put the zoo's opening on hold.

Grand Opening and Early Days

When the Philadelphia Zoological Garden finally opened its Victorian gates on July 1, 1874, over 3,000 people came to visit! It was the only place like it in the New World. The zoo started with many different animals, including 200 mammals like buffalo, deer, wolves, foxes, bears, and monkeys. It also had 67 bird species and 15 reptiles. Smaller animals and reptiles lived in The Solitude, a mansion built by John Penn in 1785. The zoo's design and gardens looked like a beautiful Victorian garden, which you can still see parts of today.

In 1876, the Centennial Exposition (a big world's fair) was held nearby. U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant even visited the zoo! This helped the zoo's attendance jump to almost 680,000 visitors that year.

Advancements in Animal Care

In 1901, the zoo opened the Penrose Research Laboratory. This was the first lab of its kind in any zoo! It helped reduce diseases and made animals healthier and live longer. The lab even started doing necropsies (animal autopsies) on every animal that got sick and died. This helped them learn how to prevent future illnesses.

The Philadelphia Zoo has become famous for its successful breeding programs. They have had many "firsts," including:

The first successful birth of an orangutan and a chimpanzee in a U.S. zoo (1928).
The first cheetahs born in a zoo (1956).
The first successful birth of an echidna in North America (1983).
The first successful birth of a giant river otter in North America (2004).
The first Guam kingfisher raised by its parents in a zoo (1985).

The zoo also led the way in caring for flamingos. They found new ways to feed them so the birds would get their bright pink and red colors. They were the first to successfully breed Chilean and greater flamingos in captivity.

Helping Endangered Species

The Philadelphia Zoo has played a big role in saving species from extinction. For example, the brown tree snake caused many bird species on the island of Guam to disappear. In 1983, the zoo started the Guam Bird Rescue Project to save the Guam kingfisher and the Guam rail. They captured these birds and started a breeding program in U.S. zoos. The goal was to keep these species alive until they could be returned to the wild.

Modern Developments and Exhibits

On July 1, 1999, the zoo opened a new primate exhibit. It has 2.5 acres (10,000 m²) of indoor and outdoor spaces for 10 species of primates, like Sumatran orangutans and western lowland gorillas. In 2006, the zoo opened a new big cat exhibit with lions, Siberian tigers, and Amur leopards, designed to look like their natural homes.

In 2010, the zoo featured a special exhibit called Creatures of Habitat. It had over 30 life-size Lego brick statues of endangered animals, created by artist Sean Kenney.

In 2011, the zoo launched its amazing Zoo360 animal exploration trail system with the Treetop Trail. Zoo360 is a network of see-through mesh trails, some high up and some on the ground. Animals can use these trails to explore different parts of the zoo outside their usual homes! Other trails like the Great Ape Trail, Big Cat Crossing, Gorilla Treeway, and Meerkat Maze have been added since.

On April 13, 2013, the zoo opened KidZooU. This is a huge children's zoo and education center. It has many eco-friendly features like rain gardens and green roofs, making it the first LEED-certified exhibit at the zoo.

In 2019, the zoo opened WildWorks, a 34 ft (10 m) high ropes course with bridges and obstacles. It has courses for different ages and skill levels, plus a smaller system for younger children.

Amazing Animals and Exhibits

The Philadelphia Zoo has many exciting areas to explore:

Zoo360: This unique system lets animals travel through mesh trails above and around the zoo. It includes Big Cat Crossing, Gorilla Treeway, Treetop Trail, Great Ape Trail, and Meerkat Maze.
The Rare Animal Conservation Center: Here you can see some of the world's most endangered animals up close. Look for Rodrigues fruit bats, naked mole-rats, and blue-eyed black lemurs.
Hamilton Family KidZooU & Faris Family Education Center: A children's zoo with indoor and outdoor areas for smaller animals. You can even pet and feed some animals here!
African Plains: This area features animals from Africa like southern white rhinoceros, reticulated giraffes, plains zebras, and hippos.
McNeil Avian Center: An aviary (bird house) with many bird species, mostly from Africa and the Pacific Islands. You can see the Guam kingfisher and Guam rail, which are extinct in the wild!
Bird Valley: Home to American flamingos, different kinds of geese, and trumpeter swans.
Bear Country: Meet four sloth bears and an Andean bear.
Big Cat Falls: See powerful wild cats like African lions, Amur tigers, Amur leopards, snow leopards, jaguars, and cougars.
Small Mammal House: This house features smaller mammals such as pygmy loris, meerkats, and pygmy marmosets. The Meerkat Maze trail lets meerkats travel through tunnels near visitors.
Monkey Junction: Watch black-headed spider monkeys, brown spider monkeys, and squirrel monkeys play.
Outback Outpost: Discover animals from Australia like emus and a group of red kangaroos.
PECO Primate Reserve: Opened in 1999, this area has different primate species, including Sumatran orangutans, western lowland gorillas, and four types of lemurs.
Penguin Point: Opened in 2018, this habitat is home to 17 Humboldt penguins.
The Reptile and Amphibian House: Explore many species of amphibians and reptiles, including giant tortoises, crocodilians, and the amazing Panamanian golden frog.
Water is Life: See a family of rare giant otters (the first born in North America!), red pandas, and a fossa.
Wings of Asia: An outdoor aviary designed as an Asian garden. You can even hand-feed some Asian birds here!

The zoo also offers special behind-the-scenes tours and overnight stays for groups. They host fun events throughout the year, like Boo at the Zoo for Halloween!