Oakland Zoo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Oakland Zoo | |
.jpg) Main entrance
|
|
| Location | Oakland, California, USA |
| Land area | 100 acres (.40 km²) [1] |
| Coordinates | 37°45′03″N 122°08′52″W / 37.7508°N 122.1477°WCoordinates: 37°45′03″N 122°08′52″W / 37.7508°N 122.1477°W |
| Number of animals | 440 [1] |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Official website | |
Oakland Zoo, in the past known as the Knowland Zoo, is a zoo located in southeastern Oakland, California, United States. Oakland Zoo is relatively small for a city of its size, but it contains modern exhibits. Many of its animals are kept in relatively "natural" habitats, and expanded natural habitats are planned. The newly completed Valley Children's Zoo is a good example of where the zoo is headed, with interactive exhibits, state of the art animal housing facilities and children's play areas. The Zoo is nationally known for its excellent elephant exhibit and has been praised for allowing their elephants to roam freely.
Contents |
[edit] The Beginning of the Zoo
Naturalist Henry A. Snow established the Oakland Zoo in 1922 on 19th St and Harrison St in downtown Oakland. Snow Park now occupies the site of the Zoo's first home. Over the years the zoo relocated several times: to Sequoia Park, Joaquin Miller Park and finally in 1939 to Durant Park. Under Joseph R. Knowland, Chairman of the California State Park Commission, California purchased the land and in 1950 renamed the park to Joseph Knowland State Arboretum and Park.[2] The East Bay Zoological Society (EBZS), founded in 1936 by Henry Snow's son, Sidney, has had a long relationship with the Oakland Zoo. At the time of its founding, EBZS was known as the Alameda County Botanical and Zoological Society.
[edit] Growing a Zoo
Although EBZS has always been involved with zoo projects and operations to some extent, it was not until after major development of the zoo from 1958-1965 that the EBZS's role increased dramatically. Through their efforts, money was raised to develop the African Veldt (1965), the Australian Outback (1975) and the original tiger exhibit (1980). In 1977, the EBZS purchased the food, rides and Children's Zoo concessions.
In 1982 the EBZS entered into an agreement with the City of Oakland to manage the zoo and develop it under non-profit status. The zoo has flourished since that time. In 1985, Joel Parrott, DVM, was hired as Executive Director of the Oakland Zoo. Many new exhibits have been created, including those for the Hamadryas Baboons and the Chimpanzees. A new, spacious elephant exhibit was built in 1987. The current sun bear exhibit was finished in 1995 and was featured on Animal Planet “Ultimate Zoos.” The White-Handed Gibbons now live on a lush island in the heart of the Rainforest. The African Savanna, with giraffes, camels, lions, elephants, meerkats, hyenas and more was completed in 1998.
The Education Center opened its new doors in 1999 with the new main entrance following soon after in summer 2001 (see picture). In autumn of 2001, a new Squirrel Monkey exhibit opened along with a larger, newly renovated Tiger exhibit. In the spring of 2007, the four dromedary camels were moved to a larger, fenced enclosure uphill from their old enclosure.
[edit] The Valley Children’s Zoo
Summer 2005 the 3-acre (12,000 m2) Valley Children's Zoo opened with spacious new animal exhibits along with plenty of interactive play-structures for children. The Ring-Tailed Lemurs, century old Aldabra Tortoises, the interactive Goat and Sheep Contact yard along with the River Otters can be found in the Children’s Zoo. The popular American Alligators, the Bats, the Pot-Bellied Pigs, the Old-World Rabbits along with the Bug Room, and the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Room are also in the Children’s Zoo. One of the most interesting and popular features with the smaller children are the brass insects embedded in the concrete walkways, which were installed as a form of public art.
[edit] The Playground
Just outside of the zoo, there is a small playground with four structures: an elephant slide, a crawl-through hippo tunnel, a turtle that children can climb on, and a climber which is hard to tell if it is a giraffe or a camel.
[edit] The Zoo Today
Today the zoo is home to over 440 native and exotic animals and is a member of the AZA. The following animals are on exhibit to the public:
Mammals
Baboon, Hamadryas
Sun Bear
Bison*
Bobcat
Camel, Arabian
Chimpanzee
Cow, Scottish Highland (retired)
Deer, Sika*
Eland
Elephant
Elk, Tule*
Flying Fox, Island
Flying Fox, Malayan
Gazelle
Gibbon, White Handed
Giraffe
Goat, Pygmy
Goat, Alpine
Goat, La Mancha
Goat, Nubian
Hyena
Lemur, Ring-tailed
Lion
Meerkat
Monkey, Squirrel
Muntjac
Otter, River
Pig, Asian Miniature Potbelly
Rabbit, Old World
Sheep
Siamang
Tiger
Cotton-topped Tamarin
Vervet (Green Monkey)
Warthog
Zebra
Birds
Bishop, Orange
Corella, Long-Billed
Crane, African Crowned
Crane, Lilford
Crow, Pied
Dove, Tambourine
Duck, White-faced Whistling
Egret, Cattle
Fishers Lovebird
Flamingo
Goose, Egyptian
Guinea Fowl, Helmeted
Hammerkop
Hornbill, Wreathed
Hornbill, Red-Billed
Hottentot, Teal
Ibis, Hadada
Ibis, Sacred
Kookaburra
Lapwing Plover
Lilac-Breasted Roller
Macaw, Blue & Yellow
Parrot, Princess
Pigeon, Speckled
Roller, Blue-Bellied
African Spoonbill
Toucan, Chestnut Mandibled
Vulture, Griffon
Weaver, Taveta Golden
Reptiles and Amphibians
Anaconda, Yellow
Alligator, American
Boa, Emerald Tree
Boa, Columbian Red-Tailed Boa
Chameleon, Nosy Be
Frog, Panamanian Golden
Frog, Golden Mantella
Gecko, Giant Leaf-Tailed
Lizard, African Plated
Lizard, Black Tree Monitor
Lizard, Common Chuckwalla
Lizard, Desert Grassland Whiptail
Lizard, Gila Monster
Lizard, Great Plated
Lizard, White-throated Monitor
Snake, Brown House
Snake, Taiwan Beauty
Tortoise, Aldabra
Tortoise, Spurred
Turtle, Florida Red-Bellied
Turtle, Spotted
Arthropods
Ants, Honey Pot
Ants, Leaf-Cutter
Beetle, Dermestid
Cockroach, Madagascar-Hissing
Lubber, Florida Eastern
Millipede, African Giant
Scorpion, Desert Hairy
Spider, Black Widow
Spider, Golden Silk
Tarantula, Chilean Rose
Vinegaroon, Giant
Walking Stick, Giant Thorny
- The (*) indicates animals only viewable on sky-ride
[edit] References
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
