Ellington

Twenty-five years after the founding of Friends of the Zoo, the results of the organization speak for themselves. What started out as a small grassroots volunteer effort in 1985 has since yielded over $10 million in zoo improvements. Much of this growth is the result of the tremendous generosity and support of the private sector. Below is an overview of the major developments that transformed the zoo into the beloved cultural institution that it is today.

1996 | Jaguar Exhibit

This $200,000 development was the first natural habitat constructed at the zoo and was home to the zoo’s popular resident jaguars, Sasha and Pasha. In 2009, the Jaguar Exhibit was completely renovated to include a new indoor viewing area and interpretive center, as well as improved exhibit space for the zoo’s two new male jaguars, Phil and Gene.

1998 | Spider Monkey Exhibit

The Spider Monkey Exhibit expanded on the jaguar development by continuing the Latin American theme in this portion of the zoo. With prominent Mayan temple ruin architecture and lush landscaping, this exhibit transports zoo visitors into the spider monkeys’ rainforest home.

2001 | Gombe Forest Exhibit

Hank the Chimpanzee, the zoo’s most well-known and beloved resident, first arrived at the zoo in 1976. His first home at the zoo was a small concrete and barred cage not unlike a jail cell. In 2001, a $2.1 million state-of-the-art chimp exhibit was built for Hank and five new chimps. The year Gombe Forest opened, annual zoo attendance skyrocketed to over 100,000 visitors for the first time in zoo history.

2004 | Himalayan Passage Exhibit

Building upon the resounding success of the Gombe Forest development, the zoo opened Himalayan Passage in summer 2004. This Asian-themed pavilion features the largest indoor red panda habitat in North America, and is also home to snow leopards and hanuman langurs.

2008 | Front Entrance Complex

In summer 2008, the zoo unveiled its new $4.5 million front entrance complex and expansion. This project, the largest and most expensive zoo development to date, completely transformed how visitors experience the zoo with new facilities for parking, admissions, retail, and food service. The project also saw the development of a much more visible and accessible zoo entrance from Holtzclaw Avenue.