Seneca Park Zoo facts for kids
Entrance to Seneca Park Zoo
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| Date opened | 1894 |
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| Location | Rochester, New York, United States |
| Land area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Coordinates | 43°12′23″N 77°37′26″W / 43.2065°N 77.6238°W |
| Annual visitors | 335,663 (2015) |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Major exhibits | Animals of the Savanna, A Step into Africa, Cold Asia, Genesee Trail, Rocky Coasts |
The Seneca Park Zoo is a fun place to visit in Rochester, New York. It covers 20 acres and is home to over 90 different kinds of animals! You can see mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, and even spiders here. The zoo is officially recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means it meets high standards for animal care. The zoo first opened its doors way back in 1894.
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Discovering the Zoo's History
The Seneca Park Zoo is part of Seneca Park, which was designed by a famous park designer named Frederick Law Olmsted. The park opened in 1893, and animals started arriving in 1894. One of the first big buildings for animals was added in 1931. It housed many different creatures.
How the Zoo Grew and Changed
In 1957, the Seneca Park Zoo Society was formed. This group is a non-profit organization that helps the zoo a lot. They create fun educational programs, plan special events, and raise money. They also help protect wildlife in their natural homes. Many families in the area enjoy being members of the Society.
In 1975, a special home for two polar bears named Penny and Nickels opened. Kids from local schools helped collect the money to bring these bears to the zoo! In 1993, the zoo opened the Genesee Trail and Discovery Center. This was a new type of exhibit that made visitors feel like they were right in the animals' habitats. The Rocky Coasts exhibit followed in 1997.
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In 2012, the zoo opened A Step Into Africa. This area looks like a part of the NgoroNgoro Crater in Tanzania. Here, you can see amazing animals like African bush elephants, olive baboons, and Southern African lions.
More recently, in 2018, the zoo added a Cold Asia section. This new area has a cool home for snow leopards and brought in red pandas. That same year, the A Step Into Africa area got even bigger! It added a new home for the southern white rhinoceros. It also welcomed new animals like Masai giraffes, plains zebras, and ostriches.
Exploring Amazing Animal Exhibits
The zoo has several exciting areas where you can see animals from all over the world. Each exhibit is designed to make you feel like you are in the animals' natural homes.
Rocky Coasts: Animals from Cool Places
The Rocky Coasts exhibit opened in 1997. This area is for animals that live in cold or mild coastal regions. You can see African penguins, California sea lions, and snowy owls here. One of the coolest parts is an underwater viewing area. You can watch the sea lions swim right in front of large glass windows!
A Step Into Africa: A Safari Adventure
A Step Into Africa opened in 2012. This exhibit makes you feel like you're on a safari! It has a replica Maasai hut and a "Dig Zone" where you can uncover fake fossils. There are also interactive tools to help you learn. You can even view the zoo's African lions from a pretend safari bus! This area is home to African bush elephants, olive baboons, and African lions. The Seneca Park Zoo was the first zoo in New York State to have African bush elephants.
New Animal Homes and Babies
The zoo's animal collection often changes. This happens based on recommendations from the AZA, especially through their Species Survival Plans (SSPs). These plans help make sure animal populations stay healthy. The zoo also welcomes new animals through births. For example, in spring 2013, the zoo welcomed two lion cubs, six African penguin chicks, and a baby Bornean orangutan!
In 2018, the zoo started a big plan to make improvements. The Cold Asia area opened with new homes for snow leopards and red pandas. Later that year, the Animals of the Savanna exhibit opened. This five-acre area has Masai giraffes, plains zebras, a white rhino, and even tiny naked mole-rats!
Learning and Helping Animals
The Seneca Park Zoo is passionate about teaching people. They want everyone to learn about animal and resource conservation. They also teach about environmental awareness and recycling.
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Educational Programs for Kids
The zoo is a very popular place for school field trips. They have special "expeditions" for students to learn specific lessons. The ZooMobile program brings small, friendly animals to places like libraries and schools. This lets more people meet animals up close!
The Butterfly Beltway program helps plant special gardens. These gardens attract monarch butterflies, which are important pollinators. Other programs like ZooCamp and ZooTeens give kids and teens a chance to work with educators and zookeepers.
Fun Events at the Zoo
The Seneca Park Zoo hosts many exciting events all year long. Some events are free with your admission ticket. These include conservation education days and daily "Summer Experiences."
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Popular Fundraisers and Races
The zoo also has popular fundraising events. These include ZooBrew, Zoobilation, and ZooBoo for Halloween. You can even have "Breakfast with Santa" during the holidays!
Every July, the zoo holds the Jungle Jog 5K race. Runners get to go through Seneca Park and even inside the zoo! This race is very popular with runners and families in the area.
Images for kids
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Entrance to Seneca Park Zoo
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Chester, a male Southern African lion at the zoo
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The Animals of the Savanna expansion opened in September 2018 and features Masai giraffes, plains zebras, and more.
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The Zoo welcomed red pandas in spring of 2018.
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Red Panda at Seneca Park Zoo Rochester, NY 2023
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Seneca Park Zoo is the first Zoo in New York State home to African bush elephants
