Montgomery Zoo

About Montgomery Zoo

The Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum is a zoological facility in Montgomery, Alabama. The zoo's website describes it as a 42-acre facility located minutes from downtown Montgomery, with a variety of animals native to Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America. It calls the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum a trademark addition, housing one of the Southeast's largest collections of preserved North American wildlife, artifacts and fossils.

The zoo is a department of the City of Montgomery. Its website states that the zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA). It is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Encyclopedia of Alabama states that the zoo first gained AZA accreditation in 1988, and Wikipedia states that after not renewing its AZA membership in 2013, the zoo opted to remain accredited solely by the ZAA.

The zoo's mission statement, as posted on its website, is creating lasting relationships locally and globally by educating, inspiring and connecting people with wildlife. Its vision is a local community that takes action for global wildlife initiatives.

History

According to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, the zoo began in 1935 as the Oak Park Zoo, when the federal Works Progress Administration built facilities for exotic animals in the city's Oak Park. Its initial animals included monkeys, bears, alligators, deer and a pair of lions.

The same source states that after a 1958 lawsuit to desegregate the city's public parks and a federal court ruling the following year, the city closed its public parks rather than integrate them. The Oak Park Zoo closed on December 31, 1959, and most of its animals were sold. In 1967 the Montgomery City Council approved plans for a 34-acre park. The Montgomery Children's Zoo opened in spring 1971, and in 1972 it was renamed the Montgomery Zoo and expanded to six acres. A zoological society, first called the Dixie Zoological Society and later the Montgomery Area Zoological Society, was established in 1975.

In 1984 the zoo developed a master plan for a 40-acre expansion organized by geography. The Encyclopedia of Alabama states that in 1991 the zoo became a city department, separate from the Parks and Recreation Department, and that the new 40-acre zoo opened in September 1991. The same source lists later additions including the 27,000-square-foot Mann Museum, an elephant habitat, an Old World aviary and a North American river otter habitat.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo's About Us page lists the following rides and attractions.

• A miniature train ride
• The Zoofari Sky Lift Adventure Ride
• Giraffe Encounter
• Reptile Junction, viewable from the train depot breezeway
• Waters of the World Aquatic Learning Center
• The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, an indoor wildlife museum
• Tortoise Trek and a North America interpretive trail, both listed as future development
• The Overlook Cafe and two gift shops

The Giraffe Encounter Post is at the giraffe exhibit in the African realm. The zoo's website says that for an entry fee guests can cross a wooden deck over the moat onto the exhibit and feed the giraffes. Waters of the World, next to the Mann Museum, is described as a tour through an assortment of freshwater fish, turtles, a stingray and water plants.

Wikipedia states that the zoo organizes its animals into five continental realms: Africa, Australia, Asia, North America and South America. The zoo's daily keeper talk schedule names a range of animals that live at the zoo. Among them are bald eagles, pygmy hippos, binturongs, Bengal tigers, maned wolves, giant anteaters, African elephants, cheetahs, jaguars, snow leopards, Indian rhinos, chimpanzees and cougars. The zoo's animal experiences page also names capybaras and reticulated giraffes. The keeper talk schedule refers to a Kori bustard exhibit and to Africa savanna hoofstock.

Conservation and programs

The zoo's website lists conservation, education, research and recreation as the goals of an accredited zoo. It describes zoos as maintaining captive breeding populations of threatened and endangered species and managing their gene pools.

Its animal experiences page lists paid behind-the-scenes encounters for five species: capybara, pygmy hippo, anteater, reticulated giraffe and African bush elephant. The page states that reservations require 48 hours of advance booking, that participants must be at least 5 years old, and that fees do not include zoo admission. The elephant experience includes access to the elephant barn or side yard and the chance to watch and join training exercises. Session times and group sizes are listed on the page.

Keeper talks run twice daily, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and the topic changes from day to day. The zoo's website also offers a downloadable zoo scavenger hunt.

The Montgomery Area Zoological Society is a 501(c) nonprofit and the fundraising arm of the zoo, according to the zoo's website. The zoo's website states that the society has helped bring the African bush elephant exhibit, Waters of the World, the Sky Lift Adventure Ride and the Overlook Cafe complex to the zoo, and that it is raising funds for a new reptile facility and exhibit.

Planning your visit

The zoo's website lists admission that includes entry to the zoo, the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum and Waters of the World, plus a view of Reptile Junction and the daily keeper talks. Giraffe Encounter, the train and the Sky Lift cost extra, and the website lists separate rates for members and non-members. The zoo states that rides, attractions and exhibits are subject to change without notice because of weather, routine maintenance and animal husbandry.

Ride and attraction times are listed on the zoo's map page. The train and Sky Lift are listed as running daily, pending weather. The Sky Lift has a minimum height requirement. Waters of the World and the Giraffe Encounter run at set times in the morning and afternoon. The zoo's website also lists a new admissions, gift shop and office complex as open.

For questions, the zoo lists the phone number (334) 625-4900 and an email address at the City of Montgomery. Ticket details and current hours are on the zoo's website.