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The Philadelphia Zoo, located in Fairmount Park on the west bank of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, was the first zoo in the United States. Chartered by the state on March 21, 1859, its opening was delayed by the American Civil War until July 1, 1874.
The Philadelphia Zoo is one of the premier zoos in the world for breeding animals that often are difficult to breed in captivity. The zoo also works with many groups around the world to protect the natural habitats of the animals in their care. The Victorian garden comprises 42 acres and is home to more than 1,500 animals, many of which are rare and endangered. In addition, the Channel 6 Zooballooon, which soars 400 feet in the air, offers one of the best views of the Zoo and the city skyline. The Zoo also boasts a duck pond-turned swan paddleboat lake, an exhibit in which guests can purchase nectar and feed tropical birds and a virtual African safari ride. The Philadelphia Zoo was the first Zoo in the North America to open a special zoo just for children. The Tastykake Children's Zoo features a petting yard and daily live animal shows.
The Zoo offers hundreds of educational programs and family workshops, special public events, ecotourism travel opportunities, ADOPT-an-animal programs, Zoo memberships and exclusive retail opportunities that support and promote the Zoo's mission to inspire all who participate to action and leadership on behalf of wildlife conservation.
Recent events
In 1995 a fire in the World of Primates building of the Philadelphia Zoo during the early morning hours of December 24 killed 23 animals, including a family group of six lowland gorillas, a family group of three orangutans, four white-handed gibbons, and ten lemurs (2 ruffed, 6 ringtail, and 2 mongoose). All were members of endangered species. The animals died in their sleep from smoke inhalation (carbon monoxide poisoning); none were burned. Ten primates who were housed in an adjoining building, the Discovery House, survived. At the time of the fire, detection equipment existed in only 20% of the zoo buildings. The primates building which had been constructed in 1985 was not one of the buildings with a detection system. Following the fire the zoo committed $1 million to immediate installation of smoke detection systems in all animal buildings.
In 2000 the PECO Primate Reserve opened; featuring 2.5 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits. The PECO Primate Reserve features ten species of primates including Sumatran orangutans, lowland gorillas, lemurs, langurs and gibbons. The exhibit features twenty-five-foot-high, floor-to-ceiling windows ensuring great views of the primates' indoor playrooms, which are full of ropes, pulleys, logs, crates and cargo nets left by the fictitious loggers. Microphones installed in the indoor playrooms allow visitors to hear what the animals have to say to each other. Within the Primate Reserve the Keystone Health Plan East Gorilla Theatre features huge windows where visitors can see the gorillas out in their yard.
In 2006 the Philadelphia Zoo opened a new, $20 million Bank of America Big Cat Falls exhibit. The new Zoo experience creates a stunning landscape of lush habitats and waterfalls where guests can come face to face with 12 endangered big cats from around the world, including three new snow leopard cubs, three new puma kittens and a new black jaguar cub.
Features of the Zoo
- The Dodge Rare Animal Conservation Center: Interactive graphics and up-close views of some of the world's most endangered animals showcase the Philadelphia Zoo's role in many species survival programs. Giant Rodrigues fruit bats, naked mole rats, blue-eyed lemurs and tree kangaroos are just a few of the animals to see.
- The Reptile and Amphibian House: Featuring the Zoo's newest interactive adventure path to see giant tortoises up-close and personal, this state-of-the-art facility exhibits over 125 species of amphibians and reptiles including the venomous king cobra. Each day an electrifying thunderstorm is the backdrop to the story and status of American crocodiles and alligators.
- A family of six rare and playful giant otters exhibited in the U.S. are featured at Carnivore Kingdom. Carnivore Kingdom also houses snow leopards, red pandas and clouded leopards in unique naturalistic environments.
- Some of the most popular African species: warthogs, sable antelope, Mhorr's gazelle, reticulated giraffes, hippos and zebras; exotic South American animals, such as giant anteaters, capybaras (the largest rodents in the world) and giant bearded pigs.
- The Animal Health Center. Behind the scenes at the Philadelphia Zoo stands one of the nation's busiest and most comprehensive animal hospital and health-care facilities.
External links
"Philadelphia Zoo"