The Dakota Zoo began on a 67-acre (27ha) farm owned by Marc and Betty Christianson on the northern edge of Bismarck. At first, the farm boarded domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. At one point, the farm was used to raise mink for profit. Over time, people who knew of the Christiansons' love for animals began dropping off strays and injured animals, knowing that they would be well taken care of. As the number of animals increased, word got out and more and more people came to see them.[4]
After some publicity from a local TV station, petitions were signed by 780 people supporting the idea of a community zoo in Bismarck. Marc Christianson took these to the Bismarck Park Board to present the concept of a self-supporting community zoo. In 1958, the Park Board made 88 acres (36ha) of Park District land in Sertoma Park available to the zoo.[4]
The majority of construction was initially done by Marc and his crew with donated materials. The zoo opened on June 3, 1961, with 75 mammals, 23 birds, and about 15 acres (61,000m2) of developed land. In the first year, 40,000 people paid ten cents each to visit the zoo. By 2007, there were about 3,400 zoo members, and more than 100,000 visitors per year to view 125 species of animals and birds.[1] By 2020, the zoo had grown to over 90 acres in size and averaged over 150,000 annual visitors.[5]
The Dakota Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1991.[1] It is unlike many nationwide zoos in that it is self-supportive and operates solely on funds raised through admissions, concession sales, adopt an animal programs, memberships, and donations. The zoo is supported by its visitors and community sponsors and is not tax supported.[6]
The Bismarck Tribune Discovery Center is inside the zoo from the entrance gate, and contains reptiles, small mammals, fish, a honeybee colony, and educational areas for children.[8] The zoo also features a gift shop, concession stand, ice cream parlor, two playgrounds, and a petting zoo. Two trains are used to provide tours of the zoo.[9]
In 2013, the Dakota Zoo created a Conservation Fund, with 50¢ from each admission and $5 from each membership being added to the fund. The Fund has contributed over $250,000 to various conservation efforts, including 16 Species Survival Plans, 9 Population Management Plans, and the AZA Conservation Grants Fund.[6]
The Zoo operates a Raptor Rehabilitation program, assisting an average of 40 to 60 injured and orphaned birds of prey each year.[6]
Clyde the Bear
The Dakota Zoo was home to Clyde, the largest captive Kodiak brown bear ever recorded.[11] Clyde was believed to have been born in January 1965. The Federal government originally studied Clyde as a research animal to determine the effect of the radioactive isotope Strontium-90 on wildlife.[12] He was 180 pounds (81 kilograms), still a cub, when brought to Bismarck later that year. He grew to weigh in excess of 2,130 pounds (960 kilograms), stood over 9 feet tall (2.7 meters), and lived until 1987.[11][13]
The Bismarck Tribune Discovery Center features a 1:1 scale wood carving of Clyde, created by artist Dave Ely.[13]
The future
In 1987, the Bismarck Tribune challenged the zoo to develop a master plan to outline the future course of the zoo. The zoo board developed a plan which is reviewed and updated regularly, with the last review having been in 2005. There have been three major capital campaigns since the master plan was initiated, to raise money for the zoo.[1]
The "Beyond the Bear Necessities" capital campaign started in 1988 and raised money for exhibits such as the bear habitat, river otter exhibit, canine, and small animal exhibits. The second campaign, called "Discovery 2000 - Turning Dollars Into Senses," raised $1.5 million for exhibits including moose, mountain goat, mountain lion, bobcat, lynx and the Discovery Zoo. in 2002, "Make the Big Cats Roar" was launched to raise $1.9 million. This goal was reached in late 2005, and an extended goal of $2.3 million was added.[1]
The Houston Zoo is a 55-acre (22 ha) zoological park located within Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, United States. The zoo houses over 6,000 animals from more than 600 species. It receives 2.1 million visitors each year and is the second most visited zoo in the United States, surpassed only by the San Diego Zoo. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a zoological park located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. At an elevation of 6,714 feet (2,046 m) above sea level, it is the highest zoo in the country. The zoo covers 140 acres (57 ha), 40 of which are in use. The zoo houses more than 750 animals, representing nearly 150 different species, with more than 30 endangered species. The zoo was ranked the #4 best zoo in North America in 2018 by USA Today. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Seneca Park Zoo is a 20-acre zoo located in the city of Rochester, New York. The zoo is home to over 90 species including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, and arachnids. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The zoo is operated by Monroe County, with support from the Seneca Park Zoo Society. The zoo opened in 1894 in Seneca Park.
The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a 170-acre (69 ha) zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden located along the Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. A small portion of the zoo extends into the nearby city of West Columbia. It is operated by the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District, a partnership of the city of Columbia and Richland and Lexington counties. It is overseen by the Riverbanks Park Commission, comprising two members each from the three governments and one at-large member.
The Tulsa Zoo is an 84-acre (34 ha) non-profit zoo located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. The Tulsa Zoo is owned by the City of Tulsa, but since 2010, has been privately managed by Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. The zoo is located in Mohawk Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.
The Little Rock Zoo was founded in 1926 and is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. It is home to more than 725 animals representing over 200 species, and covers an area of 33 acres (13 ha). The Arkansas Zoological Foundation is a private 501 c (3) organization that raises funds for zoo development. The Little Rock Zoo is a department of the city of Little Rock. It is the largest zoo in Arkansas, and the only Arkansas zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Chahinkapa Zoo is an 29-acre (12 ha) zoo in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Opened in 1933 on land that had been purchased in 1903, it is the first zoo built in North Dakota. It is open May through October and by appointment during the winter. It features over 200 animals ranging from gibbon apes to Bengal tigers and White rhinos.
The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park is a 13-acre (5.3 ha) zoological park located in Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The zoo was established in 1937 by the City of Chattanooga with the construction of two 4 by 6 feet cages for rhesus monkeys. The zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1998.
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is an AZA zoo in Syracuse, New York. It is owned and operated by Onondaga County Parks with support from the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The zoo is home to more than 900 animals representing 216 species on 43 acres (17 ha). Some of the more popular animals include Asian elephants, Humboldt penguins, Amur tigers, a Komodo dragon and the only Giant Pacific octopus exhibit in Central New York. The zoo opened a new Animal Health Center in 2022 that is the largest zoological medical center in New York state outside of the Bronx Zoo.
The Potawatomi Zoo is a 23-acre (9.3 ha) zoological park located in South Bend, Indiana, United States. The zoo is nestled in Potawatomi Park between the St. Joseph River and the Grand Trunk railroad in the east side neighborhood of River Park. Founded in 1921, it is Indiana's second-oldest zoo. It features over 400 animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo has over 200,000 visitors each year.
Elmwood Park Zoo is a zoo located in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Exmoor Zoo is a conservation centre in Exmoor, North Devon, England. The zoo developed from Exmoor Bird Gardens, opened on the site of a farm in 1982. The current owners took over in 1993, and have enlarged and developed the zoo, now specialising in the conservation of smaller animals. The zoo has been a member of BIAZA, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, since 1995 and recently became a member of EAZA in 2018.
Assiniboine Park Zoo is an 80-acre (32 ha) zoo at the west end of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It has been best known for decades for its polar bear exhibit, of which the old enclosure was replaced in 2013 with Journey to Churchill.
The San Antonio Zoo is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoo in Midtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. It is located in the city's Brackenridge Park. San Antonio Zoo is a 50+ acre zoo home to over 750 species, some of which are endangered or extinct in the wild, and an annual attendance of more than 1 million. It also runs non-animal attractions, such as the 2 ft narrow gauge San Antonio Zoo Eagle train ride, which first opened in 1956.
The Baton Rouge Zoo is located 15 minutes north of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The zoo is owned and operated by the Recreation and Park Commission of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (BREC), and is home to over 800 animals from around the world. The zoo was first accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 1977 — the first zoo in Louisiana to be accredited. However, the zoo lost its accreditation in March 2018 due to infrastructure issues and animal escapes.
Brandywine Zoo is a small 4.7-acre (1.9 ha) zoo that opened in 1905 in Brandywine Park in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. It is located on the banks of the Brandywine River. The zoo is managed by the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation and supported by the Delaware Zoological Society. It is usually open daily, 10AM – 4PM, weather permitting.
Banham Zoological Gardens is a 50-acre (20 ha) zoo in Banham, Norfolk, England. The zoo itself, which today is home to more than 2,000 animals, opened to the public in 1968, became a charity in 2013, and has since been often awarded the prize of Norfolk's Top Attraction, by numerous different organisations, with an annual visitor attendance of in excess of 200,000 people. It is part of the Zoological Society of East Anglia, a registered charity which also owns Africa Alive Zoological Reserve near Lowestoft, Suffolk.
Bramble Park Zoo is located in Watertown, South Dakota. Open since 1912, the zoo comprises 15 acres (6.1 ha) with approximately 500 animals representing 130 different species.
The Alexandria Zoological Park is a 33-acre (13 ha) zoo located in Alexandria, Louisiana, United States. First opened to the public in 1926, it is owned by the City of Alexandria and operated by the Division of Public Works. It is home to about 500 animals.
The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History is a 45-acre (18 ha) zoo and former museum located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. Prior to its closure, the Delbridge Museum of Natural History displayed 150 mounted animals, including 38 "vanishing species". The Great Plains Zoo is owned and operated through a partnership between the City of Sioux Falls and the Zoological Society. The City of Sioux Falls owns the infrastructure, land, and all assets associated with the Zoo and Museum and maintains the grounds. The Zoological Society of Sioux Falls, a non-profit, operates the facility, manages the animal collection, and maintains the grounds within the exhibit. The mid-sized Great Plains Zoo was awarded the "Quarter Century Award" by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 2016, marking 25 years of continuous accreditation.
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