Potter Park Zoo facts for kids
Zoo entrance sign on Pennsylvania Avenue
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| Date opened | 1915 |
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| Location | Lansing, Michigan United States |
| Land area | 102 acres (41.3 ha) |
| Coordinates | 42°43′03.87″N 84°31′42.24″W / 42.7177417°N 84.5284000°W |
| No. of animals | 500+ |
| No. of species | 160+ |
| Annual visitors | 167,000  18% |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Website | www.potterparkzoo.org |
The Potter Park Zoo is a fun zoo located in Lansing, Michigan. It's actually the oldest public zoo in Michigan! The zoo covers a large area of 102 acres (41.3 ha) and is home to more than 160 different kinds of animals. The City of Lansing owns the zoo, and Ingham County helps run it. Potter Park Zoo is also a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which means it meets high standards for animal care.
Contents
History of Potter Park Zoo
Potter Park Zoo was officially opened on July 5, 1915. It started welcoming visitors in 1920.
Early Buildings and Animals
Many animal homes were built in the early years. The Bird and Reptile building opened in 1929. A special building for Lions was ready in 1930. In 1936, the bighorn sheep exhibit was built. An aviary, which is a large enclosure for birds, was added in 1941. In 1949, the barnyard and petting zoo opened, letting visitors get closer to some animals. By the 1950s, the zoo had many animals, including 138 mammals and 267 birds.
Growth and New Exhibits
In the late 1960s, the zoo faced some challenges. But the community stepped up to help! In 1969, a writer for the Lansing State Journal encouraged people to raise money for the zoo.
A cool new exhibit for Magellanic penguins opened in 1985. In 1986, the zoo became a member of the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This showed their commitment to excellent animal care. In 1989, the Lion House was updated and renamed the Feline and Primate Building.
Recent Milestones
In 2005, something very exciting happened: endangered tiger cubs were born at the zoo! They even appeared on NBC's Today Show. Also in 2005, new homes for River Otter and Arctic Fox opened. In November 2006, the city of Lansing handed over the daily running of the zoo to Ingham County.
In January 2009, the zoo shared plans to make the eastern black rhinoceros exhibit even bigger. Later that year, the Wings from Down Under aviary opened. It's home to more than 600 birds from Australia! In March 2010, Potter Park Zoo made history. They successfully used artificial insemination to help a female snow leopard get pregnant. This was believed to be the first time this was done without surgery or anesthesia. A larger exhibit for the Eurasian Eagle-owl opened in September 2010.
Animals and Exhibits at Potter Park Zoo
Potter Park Zoo has many amazing animals to see! Here are some of the main areas:
Feline and Primate Building
This building is home to many exciting animals. You can see two Amur tigers, powerful African lions, and beautiful snow leopards. It also houses playful mandrills, unique Pallas' cats, and tiny cotton-top tamarins. Look for black-headed spider monkeys, golden lion tamarins, and different types of lemurs like mongoose, red-ruffed, and ring-tailed lemurs.
Bird and Reptile House
Step into this house to discover rare flying creatures and scaly species. You might spot Bali starlings, colorful chestnut-fronted macaws, and different kinds of owls like eastern screech owls and Eurasian eagle owls. There are also green aracaries and Jambu fruit doves. For reptile fans, you'll find chukwallas, inland bearded dragons, leopard geckos, blue-tongued skinks, Gila monsters, water dragons, boa constrictors, and green tree pythons.
Coral Reef Room
Dive into the underwater world in the Coral Reef Room! This exhibit shows off amazing fish, cool crustaceans, slithery eels, and colorful coral.
Farmyard EdVentures
At Farmyard EdVentures, kids can have a hands-on experience! This area includes a barnyard and a petting zoo where you can pet and feed friendly animals. You'll meet goats, burros, reindeer, yaks, toy pigs, tortoises, and fluffy rabbits.
Wing From Down Under Aviary
This special aviary lets you walk among birds from Australia. You can see grass parakeets, chirpy cockatiels, and colorful eastern rosellas flying around.
Outdoor Habitats and Other Animals
Around the zoo, you'll find lovely gardens and a pond. These areas are home to ducks, geese, swans, and pelicans. Other animals you can discover at Potter Park Zoo include kangaroos, penguins, river otters, bongos, majestic bald eagles, eastern timberwolves, adorable red pandas, arctic foxes, and porcupines.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Potter Park Zoo's Magellanic penguins
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Amur (Siberian) tiger at Potter Park Zoo
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Snow leopard at the zoo
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Potter Park Zoo in winter
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An April 2007 USGS aerial photograph of Potter Park Zoo
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Potter Park Zoo entrance sign from Lansing River Trail
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Potter Park and Zoological Gardens sign along the entrance drive to the zoo
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African spurred tortoise at Potter Park Zoo
