San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo

Entrance to the zoo with an elephant topiary
Date opened 1915
Location Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA
Land area 107 acres (43 ha)
Number of animals 4000 [1]
Number of species 800 [1]
Memberships AZA,[2] AAM,[3] ZAA [1]
Major exhibits Absolutely Apes, Children's Zoo, Elephant Odyssey, Giant Panda Research Station, Ituri Forest, Monkey Trails, Polar Bear Plunge
Website http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, is one of the largest and most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. It is also one of the few zoos in the world that houses the giant panda.[4] It is privately operated by the nonprofit Zoological Society of San Diego on 107 acres (0.43 km2) of parkland leased from the City of San Diego, and ownership of all animals, equipment and other assets rests with the City of San Diego.

The San Diego Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums (AAM), and a member of the Zoological Association of America (ZAA).

Contents

History

The San Diego Zoo grew out of exotic animal exhibitions abandoned after the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth founded the Zoological Society of San Diego, meeting October 2, 1916, and initially following precedents set by the New York Zoological Society at theBronx Zoo. A permanent tract of land in Balboa Park was set aside in August 1921, and the zoo began to move in the following year. The publication ZooNooz commenced in early 1925.

Frank Buck went to work as temporary director for the San Diego Zoo on June 13, 1923, signed to a three year contract by Dr. Wegeforth. Dr. William T. Hornaday, director of the Bronx Zoo, had recommended Buck for the job. But Buck quickly clashed with the strong-willed Wegeforth and left the zoo after three months to return to animal collecting.[5]

After several other equally short-lived zoo directors, Dr. Wegeforth appointed the zoo's bookkeeper, Belle Benchley, to the position of executive secretary, in effect zoo director; she was given the actual title of zoo director a few years later. She served as zoo director from 1925 until 1953. For most of that time she was the only female zoo director in the world. She was succeeded as director by Dr. Charles Schroeder.

The San Diego Zoo has been a pioneer in building "cageless" exhibits. Dr. Wegeforth was determined to create moated exhibits from the start, and the first lion area at the San Diego Zoo without enclosing wires opened in 1922.[6]

Until the 1960s, admission for children under 16 was free regardless of whether they were accompanied by a paying adult.

The zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) was founded in 1975 at the urging of Dr. Kurt Benirschke, who became its first director. CRES was renamed the division of Conservation and Research for Endangered Species in 2005 to better reflect its mission. In 2009 CRES was significantly expanded to become the Institute for Conservation Research.[7]

Conservation

The zoo is extremely active in conservation and species-preservation efforts. Its Institute for Conservation Research (formerly the Center for the Reproduction for Endangered Species) raises California Condors, Pandas, Tigers, African Black Rhinos and a large number of other endangered species. Many species are bred in captivity for release into their native habitats where appropriate. It employs numerous professional geneticists, cytologists and veterinarians and maintains a cryopreservation facility for rare sperm and eggs called the Frozen zoo.

Features

Two Skyfari gondolas

The zoo offers a guided tour bus that traverses 75% of the park. There is an overhead gondola lift called the Skyfari, providing an aerial view of the zoo. The Skyfari was built in 1969 by the Von Roll tramway company of Bern, Switzerland.The San Diego Zoo Skyfari is a Von Roll type 101.

Exhibits are often designed around a particular habitat. The same exhibit features many different animals that can be found side-by-side in the wild, along with native plant life. Exhibits range from an African rain forest (featuring gorillas) to the Arctic taiga and tundra in the summertime (featuring polar bears). Some of the largest free-flight aviaries in existence are here. Many exhibits are "natural" with invisible wires and darkened blinds (to view birds), and pools and open-air moats (for large mammals).

The San Diego Zoo also operates the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which displays animals in a more expansive setting than at the Zoo. Animals are regularly exchanged between the two locations, as well as between San Diego Zoo and other zoos around the world, usually in accordance with Species Survival Plan recommendations.

The San Diego Zoo is one of the world's few major zoos to have almost all of its major exhibits be open-air; in fact, the only major exhibition building on grounds is the Reptile House.

The cool, sunny maritime climate is well suited to many plants and animals. Besides an extensive collection of birds, reptiles and mammals, it also maintains its grounds as an arboretum, with a rare plant collection. As part of its gardening effort, it raises some rare animal foods. For example, the zoo raises 40 varieties of bamboo for the pandas on long-term loan from China, and it maintains 18 varieties of eucalyptus trees to feed its koalas.

Keepers and most other employees at the San Diego Zoo are members of Teamsters Union Local 481.[8]

Exhibits

Monkey Trails and Forest Tales Monkey Trails showcases monkeys and other animals from the rainforests of Asia and Africa. It replaced the older exhibit known as the Monkey Yard. Monkey Trails is home primarily to monkeys such as guenons, mangabeys and the colorful mandrill, but it also showcases many other species of animals, such as Visayan Warty Pigs. Pygmy hippos, slender-snouted crocodiles, and many species of turtles and fish can be seen in a series of water/land exhibits all with underwater viewing areas. The Scripps Aviary is home to many colorful birds such as the amethyst starling, Tinkerbirds and the sociable weaver. In smaller exhibits are many reptiles and amphibians such as Pancake tortoises, and many species of arthropods such as Madagascar Hissing Cockroachs. Monkey Trails utilizes a new method of displaying tree climbing animals- by climbing up an elevated walkway throughout the exhibit. Some of the horticultural highlights in Monkey Trails include a ficus tree, cycads, and the ever colorful bog garden.

Bai Yun

Panda Research Station As of September, 2008, the San Diego Zoo is one of four zoos in the U.S. which have giant pandas on display, and is the most successful in terms of panda reproduction. The first two giant panda cubs in U.S. history to have been born in the U.S. and survive into adulthood, Hua Mei (female, born to Bai Yun and Shi Shi) and Mei Sheng (male, born to Bai Yun and Gao Gao), were born at the San Diego Zoo, in 1999 and 2003 respectively. Both have since been moved to China, in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Since then, three more giant panda cubs, Su Lin and Zhen Zhen (both females, Zhen Zhen meaning "Precious"), and Yun Zi (Male, "Son of Cloud"),[9] have been born to the resident giant panda parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao. In addition to being able to view this rare animal species, the Giant Panda Discovery Center nearby has interactive exhibits that let the visitor experience first hand what the animals smell and sound like.

Polar Bear Plunge Polar Bear Plunge which was recently renovated in March 2010 houses over 30 species representing the Arctic. The main animals in the area are the three polar bears, named Kalluk, Chinook and Tatqiq. Another animal that makes its home in Polar Bear Plunge is the reindeer or caribou. A large moat separates the bears and the deer, but to the guests it would appear that they are in one exhibit, making it more similar to the wild. An underwater viewing area is available to observe the polar bears swimming. Further down the path lies the arctic aviary, home to the Diving ducks including buffleheads, Harlequin duck, the smew and long-tailed ducks. The aviary houses more than 25 species of duck. The last stop on the polar journey is to look at the two carnivores in the area, a Raccoon and an Arctic Fox. Some of the horticultural highlights include giant redwood trees, many different pine trees, and manzanita.

Ituri Forest Based upon the real Ituri Forest in Africa, this exhibit houses different animal species from the forests of Africa. Animals such as Allen's Swamp Monkeys, Lesser Spot-nosed Guenons, Spotted-necked Otters, a Red River Hog, and an African Forest Buffalo can be found coexisting within the exhibit. One of the highlights of the African adventure are the okapis grazing from the trees. These relatives of the giraffe are rarely seen in zoos and are scarcely witnessed in the wild. Some of Ituri Forest's most prominent inhabitants exist within the hippo exhibit, which includes an underwater viewing area and several species of exotic fish, like tilapia. One can also see the colorful turacos. In the forest, over 30 species of birds reside, including the congo peafowl. Some of the horticultural highlights include banana trees, sausage trees, yellow trumpet trees and even some bamboo.

Elephant Odyssey This exhibit opened on May 26, 2009 in the area once known as Hoof and Horn Mesa. The main feature of the exhibit is the 2.5-acre elephant habitat—more than 3 times the size of the Zoo's former elephant exhibit, in what used to be Elephant Mesa (now the "Urban Jungle"). The herd includes one male (Ranchipur) and eight females (Tembo, Devi, Sumithi, Cha Cha, Mary, Cookie, Tina, and Jewel) and blends the Zoo's herd of one African and two Asian elephants with the Wild Animal Park's four Asian Elephants. Two elephants, Tina and Jewel, were brought to the zoo August 22, 2009. Elephant Odyssey also features a glimpse of the past with the Fossil Portal and life-size statues of ancient creatures of Southern California next to the exhibits of their modern-day counterparts. The ancient life represented include the Columbian Mammoth, the saber-tooth cat, the American lion, the Daggett's eagle, and the Giant Ground Sloth. Elephant Odyssey's other animal exhibits include African Lions, jaguars, tapirs, guanacos, capybaras, tree sloths, Secretary birds, dung beetles, water beetless, desert scorpions, toads, newts, turtles, frogs, dromedary camels, pronghorn, horses, burros, llamas, rattlesnakes, and for the first time at the Zoo, the California condor.

In popular culture

Trivia

Animal list

Africa Rocks

Asian Passage

Discovery Outpost

Elephant Odyssey

Lost Forest

Outback

Panda Canyon

Polar rim

Urban Jungle

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About the San Diego Zoo". sandiegozoo.org. San Diego Zoo. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/disclaimers/aboutus.html. Retrieved 20 June 2010. 
  2. ↑ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. http://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/. Retrieved 20 June 2010. 
  3. ↑ "List of Accredited Museums". aam-us.org. American Association of Museums. http://www.aam-us.org/museumresources/accred/list.cfmt/. Retrieved 20 June 2010. 
  4. ↑ San Diego Zoo: World-famous zoo is a must-see attraction for SD visitors
  5. ↑ San Diego Historical Society History News, Vol. 23, No. 5, May 1987, p. 3. Past Comes Alive, Fascinating facts from the Archives, Frank Buck in San Diego.
  6. ↑ "Animal Attractions: Amazing Tales from the San Diego Zoo:Modern Zoos". Nature. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/animal-attractions-amazing-tales-from-the-san-diego-zoo/modern-zoos/2279/. Retrieved 20 June 2010. 
  7. ↑ San Diego Zoo announcement
  8. ↑ Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1986
  9. ↑ (AP) – August 5, 2009 (2009-08-05). "The Associated Press: San Diego Zoo super panda gives birth to 5th cub". Google.com. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g4hQPr9U4RtxdELdQCUSgSPMR6TQD99ST3JO2. Retrieved 2009-08-25. 
  10. ↑ Filming Locations of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
  11. ↑ movielocations.com
  12. ↑ "An albino koala adds color to San Diego Zoo" CNN.com. June 5, 1998.
  13. ↑ Counterpunch, December 16, 2008

References

External links

Aquariums & Zoos of California
Aquariums
Aquarium of the Bay · Aquarium of the Pacific · Birch Aquarium at Scripps · Cabrillo Marine Aquarium · California Academy of Sciences · Monterey Bay Aquarium · Ocean Institute · Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab & Aquarium · Santa Monica Pier Aquarium · Sea Life Aquarium at Legoland California · Ty Warner Sea Center
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