Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
The Maryland Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the United States, and was founded in 1876. The 160 acre park is owned entirely by the city of Baltimore, and is home to more than 2000 animals of over 200 different species. The zoo originally started when citizens began donating various animals to the Druid Hill Park, a natural wooded park similar to Central Park. One of the original buildings at this park, an historic mansion, now serves as the main administration building of the zoo.
As an older zoo, the Maryland Zoo has faced the challenges of updating its exhibits to better serve its animal inhabitants, and has made many modern changes to its enclosures over the years. One of the most notable improvements has been to the home of the zoos five African Elephants, which was expanded in 1985. Anna, Dolly, Tuffy, Felix and Felix’s son, Samson, who was born at the zoo in 2008, call the zoo their home. With a focus on the highest standards of elephant care, the exhibit was expanded, and new barn were built in 2007. The structure and yard are designed to handle breeding situations as well. The zoo is continuing its focus on improving captive life of its elephants with a plan for a walking path through the wooded hillsides outside the exhibit, and a new larger barn in the future.
In 2003, the zoo opened Polar Bear Watch, an exhibit with three of the world’s largest carnivores. Magnet, who recently celebrated his 22nd birthday, Alaska, and Anoki are the zoos polar bears, and guests can view them from underwater or from the seats of an actual Tundra Buggy, a huge all-terrain vehicle used in to view the animals in the wild. The Maryland Zoo is actively involved in the conservation of these great bears, working closely with Polar Bear International to help educate the public and raise awareness for the dangers facing populations of polar bears throughout the world. Close to the polar bear area, there are other beautiful arctic creatures to view as well, including Snowy Owls, and arctic foxes.
Touring the African Journey of the zoo, guests can visit white rhinos, plains zebra, dama gazelle and saddle-billed storks. There are also leopards, cheetahs, lions, and chimpanzees. The zoos three reticulated giraffes are in an enclosure that has an area that allows guests to occasionally feed treats to the tallest animals on the planet. Children are especially thrilled to get this close to such an enormous animal, and brave ones may also enjoy taking a ride on one of the zoos camels.
Other adventures are offered for kids at the Children’s Zoo, where kids can climb into giant “nests” and hide in caves, as well as visit other creatures. There are ponds full of various ducks, a bog for the endangered Bog turtles, and a Giant Tree Slide. There playful otters to visit in this portion of the zoo, and the enclosure is designed to they can be viewed from directly underneath! And at Base Camp Discover, there are all types of education activities and zoo educators are on hand to give talks, answer questions and do hands on animal presentations. Some of the animals kids may get to meet close up are Boa Constrictors, Egyptian Tortoises, Gold Macaws, and Indian Runner Ducks.
The Maryland Zoo is involved with many conservation efforts, including the Mountain Gorilla Veterinarian Program, and Project Golden Frog. It is responsible for the greatest success of breeding the African black-footed penguin, a highly endangered animal native only to the shores off the coast of South Africa. Since the turn of the century, the population of these water birds is down 95% due to commercial fishing, population, and climate change impacts. The zoo also handles rehabilitation and release of some local wildlife, including American Bald Eagles.
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