Sacramento Zoo
3930 W Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA 95822, United States
Sacramento Zoo is a zoo located in William Land Park, Sacramento, California. It opened on 2 June 1927, with 40 animals. It was 4.2 acres (1.7 ha) at that time, which remained the case until the early 1960s when the zoo expanded to its current 14.3 acres (5.8 ha). As of December 2012, there were just over 500 animals in the zoo.
The Zoo opened as the “William Land Park Zoo” of 4.2 acres (1.7 ha) on June 2, 1927, bringing together 40 animals from various local parks, including monkeys, raccoons, birds and deer.
In 1948, the Sacramento Union Newspaper sponsored a drive to raise money to buy a zoo and an elephant. In the fall of 1949, SUE (“Sacramento Union Elephant”), named after the local teenage sisters Jacklyn and Carolyn Bolton through a competition sponsored by the Union, arrived at the zoo to the delight of the area visitors. The zoo bought “Winky,” Sue’s companion, in 1955.
The Sacramento Zoological Society was formed in 1958 to support and raise funds for the zoo as city funding began to decline. The year 1958 also marked the start of the zoo’s educational program, and at that time, one of only nine zoos in the United States had such a program. In 1997 , the company took over the day-to-day operation of the zoo.
The zoo was extended to 14.3 acres in the early 1960s, with new habitats being built in most areas of the zoo. The zoo received its first grizzly bear and two orangutans in 1965 and began charging 25 cents for admission. The current name was adopted in 1970, together with the completion of the reptile house and the creation of a teaching program.
An exhibition featuring six penguins opened to the public on 6 April 2007. The day before, Mayor Heather Fargo and other guests were dressed in black and white to greet the new arrivals who had been on loan for the “one year bash”.
In 2009, the zoo began the construction of a new barn and garden for their giraffes. The old wooden barn was demolished and replaced by a much more spacious, heated barn. The new barn includes a breeding facility with a number of large stalls for current giraffes and their calves. The Tall Wonders giraffe habitat has a pavilion where visitors can see giraffes eye to eye. The new facility was opened on 12 February 2010.
Almost 500 native, rare and endangered animals represent more than 125 unique species in the Sacramento Zoo. Staff strive daily not only to provide uncompromising care for animals, but also to conserve species and habitats around the world. Our staff are active leaders in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), an organization that sets standards for the welfare of zoo animals. They ‘re also making sure to listen to you and be active in addressing your questions. They hope that the information on this page will do just that.
As a 501(c)(3 ) non-profit organization, the Sacramento Zoo relies on ticket sales, membership fees, program fees and donations to operate. While dedicated animal care and veterinary teams continue to provide excellent care for our animals, closure is and will continue to have a significant impact on our overall operating budget.
