Highlights

 

 

 

Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering the concept of immersing visitors in naturalistic exhibits, setting a standard for zoos all over the world. Before the zoo's revolutionary Long-Range plan was drafted in the mid-1970s, animals were grouped by species - bears, cats, monkeys - and displayed out of context to afford visitors the best postage stamp views. In contrast, our cutting-edge approach plunges visitors into realistic landscapes that approximate the habitats of animals.

 

Woodland Park Zoo opened the first naturalistic gorilla exhibit in the world, establishing a prototype. In 1979, the zoo launched its sophisticated design concept with a 14,000-square-foot habitat for gorillas. Primatologists Jane Goodall and the late Dian Fossey of "Gorillas in the Mist" served on the team of consultants. Despite skepticism and dire predictions that the gorillas would destroy live plants and trees, the exhibit continues to flourish and is still regarded as the best by many zoo experts and primatologists.

 

The resulting naturalistic exhibits gradually elevated the role of zoo animals from mere spectacles to ambassadors of their wild counterparts. From sterile, cramped cages Woodland Park Zoo's direction in the evolution of zoos led to exhibits that are mentally and physically healthier for the animals; that punctuate the critical relationship between animals and their habitat; and that give visitors a more accurate snapshot of their lives in the wild.

 

A top award-winning zoo. Woodland Park Zoo has received best exhibit honors from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Not many zoos can lay claim to creating "A-grade" exhibits and investing Woodland Park Zoo's degree of thoughtfulness and detail. In fact, six of the zoo's major naturalistic exhibits have won awards from AZA, its governing organization. Only the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society boasts more exhibit awards.