Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo Main Entrance
Map
33°27′09″N 111°56′57″W / 33.452485°N 111.949258°W / 33.452485; -111.949258
Date opened21 November 1962
LocationPapago Park, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Land area125 acres (51 ha)[1]
No. of animals3,000[2]
Annual visitors1+ million[3]
MembershipsAZA[4] WAZA[5]
Major exhibitsMonkey Village, Harmony Farm, Desert Lives, Stingray Bay, Forest of Uco, Orang-Hutan: "People of the Forest", Isle of the Tiger
Websitewww.phoenixzoo.org

The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962 and is the largest privately owned nonprofit zoo in the United States.[6] Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the zoo was founded by Robert Maytag,[7] a member of the Maytag family, and operates on 125 acres (51 ha) of land in the Papago Park area of Phoenix.[1] It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.[6]

The zoo has over 1,400 animals on display[2] and contains 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of walking trails.[1] It is divided into four main themed areas or trails: The Arizona Trail (American Southwest flora and fauna), the Africa Trail (animals from Africa), the Tropics Trail (residents of the rain forests), and the Children's Trail, which includes a petting zoo.[6]

The zoo has been conservation minded from its inception. Soon after it opened, it hosted what was thought to be the last few Arabian oryx, which formed the basis of the world herd created for Operation Oryx and eventually allowed the reintroduction of the species into the wild.[8] It now includes a sanctuary to care for animals that are endangered or unwanted.[9]

  1. ^ a b c "FAQs". phoenixzoo.org. Phoenix Zoo. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b "PhxZoo: Animals". phoenixzoo.org. Phoenix Zoo. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  3. ^ Mittan, Kyle. "Phoenix Zoo strives to beat the summer heat". azcentral.com. The Republic.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference aza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ United States. "The Phoenix Zoo". World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Phoenix Points of Pride". Archived from the original on 1 October 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2006.
  7. ^ "PhxZoo: History of the Zoo". phoenixzoo.org. Phoenix Zoo. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference tudge was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "PhxZoo: Sanctuary". phoenixzoo.org. Phoenix Zoo. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.