The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is the sixth oldest zoo in the United States, founded in 1873 and opened in 1875. It is located in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It started with 64.5 acres (26.1 ha) in the city’s center but spread to neighboring blocks and several reservations on the outskirts of Cincinnati. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The zoo has more than 500 species, 1800 animals, and 3000 plants. In addition, the zoo has conducted many breeding programs and was the first to breed California sea lions successfully. In 1986, the Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) was established to promote wildlife conservation goals. The zoo is known as the home of Martha, the living passenger pigeon, and the Incas, the last surviving Carolina parakeet.
Animals and Exhibits
Elephant Reserve
The Herbivore House was built in 1906 for $50,000, a large sum at the time. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, it is considered one of the most impressive historical buildings in the zoological world. At 150 feet (46 m) long and 75 feet (23 m) high, it is the largest and most complete zoo for legged animals. In 2000, the attraction became Vanishing Giants, featuring giraffes, okapis, and elephants. From 2007 to 2008, the giraffe and okapi park was converted into a food park, and their species were transported to other wildlife areas. It has since undergone extensive renovations and is now the Cincinnati Zoo’s elephant sanctuary. King Pest Control Cincinnati
Reptile House
The Reptile House is America’s oldest zoo, built in 1875. It housed monkeys and other primates until 1951. It has more than 30 species of birds worldwide in indoor and outdoor exhibits. Selected species include Chinese Alligators, Gila Monsters, Brown Anoles, Emerald Monitors, Quince Monitors, Pascagoula Map Turtles, Pancake Turtles, Spider Turtles, Poison Frogs, Titicaca Water Frogs, hell masters, rat snakes, corn snakes, rattlesnakes, pine snakes, King snakes, Indochinese snakes, boa constrictors, emerald boas, and the Gabon snake from West Africa. Two outdoor exhibits featuring tortoises and bald eagles are adjacent to the Leather House.
Gorilla World
The exhibit opened in 1978 as the Cincinnati Zoo’s rainforest habitat for the western gorillas. The Cincinnati Zoo has led the nation in gorilla births for 48 years. The last gorilla born at the zoo was in 2015. The zoo holds the record for six gorilla births in one year in 1995. That same year, one of their gorillas gave birth to the world’s first tube gorilla. Besides the gorilla exhibit, the zoo also has black and white colobus monkeys.
Address: 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH
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