Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

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Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden


Date opened	1875
Location	Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
# of Species	700
Accreditations/ Memberships	AZA
Website
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The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is the second-oldest zoo in the United States and is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It opened in 1875: just 14 months after the Philadelphia Zoo on July 1, 1874. The Reptile House is the oldest zoo building in America, dating from 1875.

The Cincinnati Zoo, which has been rated (on numerous occasions) as one of the top zoos in the country, resides in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Avondale. It was founded on 65 acres (260,000 m²) in the middle of the city, and since then it has acquired some of the surrounding blocks and several reserves in Cincinnati's outer suburbs. Cincinnati Zoo's urban setting differentiates it from other American zoos which are in suburban areas. Nicknamed "The Sexiest Zoo in America" it is world renowned for its breeding programs, especially for cheetahs. A bonobo born at the zoo in December 2003 raises the U.S. zoo population of our rapidly-disappearing closest cousin to 60, of which seven are in Cincinnati. A less happy claim to fame is that the Cincinnati Zoo was the home of Martha, the last living passenger pigeon, which died there in 1914. It also was home to the last living Carolina parakeet in 1918.

Major exhibits include Manatee Springs, an indoor exhibit featuring Florida marine life; Vanishing Giants, an outdoor space for elephants and giraffes given by former Reds owner Marge Schott; Kroger Lords of the Arctic (polar bears); World of the Insect; Jungle Trails; Wings of the World; and the Sumatran Rhinoceros. There currently are 700 species being maintained at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The Zoo is noted for its educational work; its education director Barry Wakeman created programs that were models for other zoos. It also is famous for successfully breeding its current resident female Sumatran rhinoceros, Emi, twice.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera sometimes held open-air concerts at the zoo, often to the accompaniment of the lions' roars. While the Symphony and Opera no longer perform there regularly, there is a pavilion where concerts still are held three or four times a year.