San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo
Entrance to the zoo with sculpture Rex's Roar, after the lion that inspired the zoo
32°44′10″N 117°09′05″W / 32.73611°N 117.15139°W / 32.73611; -117.15139
Date opened1916 (Precursor Panama–California Exposition in previous year)
LocationBalboa Park, San Diego, California, U.S.
Land area99 acres (40 ha)[1]
No. of animals3,700+[1]
No. of species650+ (incl. subspecies)[1]
Annual visitors4 million (2018)[2]
MembershipsAZA,[3] AAM,[4] WAZA[5]
Major exhibitsAbsolutely Apes, Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, Elephant Odyssey, Panda Ridge, Lost Forest, Monkey Trails, Polar Bear Plunge, Africa Rocks
Public transit accessSan Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Bus Route 7; Rapid Bus 215
Websitezoo.sandiegozoo.org

The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in San Diego, California, United States, located in Balboa Park. It began with a collection of animals left over from the 1915 Panama–California Exposition that were brought together by its founder, Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth. The zoo was a pioneer in the concept of open-air, cage-less exhibits that recreate natural animal habitats.[6]

The zoo sits on 100 acres (40 ha) of land leased from the City of San Diego.[7][8] It houses over 12,000 animals of more than 680 species and subspecies. It is the most visited zoo in the United States; travelers have cited it as one of the best zoos in the world.[9][10][11][12]

Its parent organization, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, is a private nonprofit conservation organization and has one of the largest zoological membership associations in the world. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance also operates the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference zoo_about was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "San Diego Zoo attendance breaks record with more than 4 million visitors". San Diego Tribune. January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference aza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference aam_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference waza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "10 great places to go wild over zoo animals". USA Today. July 17, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  7. ^ "San Diego Zoo Press Kit". San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "About Us". San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "The Houston Zoo Is the Second Most-Visited Zoo in the Nation, All Thanks to You". Houstionamag.com. February 20, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "America's most-visited zoos". Today.com. July 24, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  11. ^ "Travelers Rank San Diego Zoo Among World's Best". August 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "San Diego Zoo named best in the world". July 15, 2015.
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