Sacramento Zoo facts for kids
 |
|
| Date opened | June 2, 1927 |
|---|---|
| Location | William Land Park, Sacramento, California, United States |
| Land area | 14.3 acres (5.8 ha) |
| Coordinates | 38°32′23″N 121°30′14″W / 38.539605°N 121.504026°W |
| No. of animals | Just over 500(2012) |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Sacramento Zoo is a fun place to visit in William Land Park in Sacramento, California. It first opened its doors on June 2, 1927. Back then, it was home to 40 animals and covered about 4.2 acres. The zoo grew bigger in the early 1960s to its current size of 14.3 acres. In 2012, the zoo had more than 500 animals living there.
Contents
History of the Sacramento Zoo
How the Zoo Started
The zoo began as the "William Land Park Zoo" on June 2, 1927. It was about 4.2 acres big. The first 40 animals came from other local parks. These animals included monkeys, raccoons, birds, and deer.
SUE the Elephant Arrives
In 1948, a local newspaper, the Sacramento Union, helped raise money. They wanted to buy an elephant for the zoo. In 1949, a special elephant named SUE arrived. Her name, SUE, stood for "Sacramento Union Elephant." Local teenagers chose her name in a contest. In 1955, the zoo got SUE a friend named Winky.
Growing Support and Education
The Sacramento Zoological Society was created in 1958. This group helps support the zoo and raises money for it. City funding was becoming less, so their help was important. Also in 1958, the zoo started its first education programs. This was a big deal, as only nine zoos in the United States had such programs then. In 1997, the society took over running the zoo every day.
Zoo Expands and New Animals Arrive
The zoo expanded to 14.3 acres in the early 1960s. Many new animal homes were built. In 1965, the zoo welcomed its first grizzly bear and two orangutans. That year, the zoo also started charging 25 cents to get in. The zoo officially became the "Sacramento Zoo" in 1970. A new reptile house was finished, and a docent program began. Docents are volunteers who help teach visitors about the animals.
New Exhibits and Habitats
On April 6, 2007, a new exhibit opened with six penguins. The mayor and other guests dressed in black and white to welcome them. These penguins were on loan for a special one-year event.
In 2009, the zoo started building a new home for its giraffes. The old wooden barn was replaced with a much bigger, heated one. The new barn has large stalls for giraffes and their babies. This new giraffe habitat, called "Tall Wonders," opened on February 12, 2010. It has a special area where visitors can see the giraffes eye-to-eye.
In 2011, a new river otter exhibit opened. It has glass walls so visitors can get close to the playful North American river otters. You can watch them swim and play in their natural-looking home.
In September 2014, the zoo opened "Small Wonders of Africa." This exhibit features animals like aardvarks, Wolf's guenon monkeys, and red-billed hornbill birds.
The zoo is also working on replacing its old Reptile House. The new building will be called the Biodiversity Center.
Recent Animal News
In June 2020, a red panda named Amaya gave birth to her second baby at the Sacramento Zoo.
Future Plans for the Zoo
Zoo officials have looked into moving the zoo to a new, larger location. In November 2018, they considered the former ARCO Arena site in Natomas. The current zoo location is a bit small for all their plans. However, the Sacramento Kings basketball team had other plans for that site. Part of the former ARCO Arena site was given to California Northstate University for a new medical center.
In 2024, there was an announcement that the zoo would move to Elk Grove. This new location is about fifteen miles south of the current one. It would offer much more space and better facilities. However, as of April 30, 2025, the plan to move the zoo was officially stopped. This was due to money concerns. So, the Sacramento Zoo remains in William Land Park for now.
Photo gallery
See also
In Spanish: Zoológico de Sacramento para niños
