The Phoenix Zoo celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2003, is one of the younger major zoos in the country. Not only is it a successful zoo, but it is a privately owned nonprofit zoo. That means that it operates strictly without any government funding. The Phoenix Zoo is totally supported by donors and private organizations.
The Phoenix Zoo has more than 1,000 animals on exhibit. Because the Zoo makes a special effort to provide the animals with appropriate habitats, some of them may be a challenge to see. Keep looking!
Gone are the days when it is enough for a zoo to showcase cute animals. Recognizing the important role that zoos must play, the Phoenix Zoo has been very active in wildlife conservation programs. According the the Phoenix Zoo web site, "The Zoo participates in numerous local and international efforts on behalf of endangered species, including the Mexican wolf, thick-billed parrot, black-footed ferret, Bornean orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Asian elephant, and many more."
Phoenix Zoo Tip: If you want to see everything at the Phoenix Zoo, it will take several hours and quite a bit of walking. The Phoenix Zoo has about 2-1/2 miles of walking trails.
