Oakland Zoo
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Categories: Landmarks in California | Oakland, California | Zoos in California | San Francisco Bay Area amusement parks
For the University of Pittsburgh basketball cheering section with the same name, see Oakland Zoo (cheering section) Oakland Zoo, in the past known as the Knowland Zoo, is a zoo located in southeastern Oakland, California, United States. Oakland Zoo is relatively small for a city of its size, but it contains modern exhibits. Many of its animals are kept in relatively "natural" habitats, and expanded natural habitats are planned. The newly completed Valley Children's Zoo is a good example of where the zoo is headed, with interactive exhibits, state of the art animal housing facilities and children's play areas. The Zoo is nationally known for its excellent elephant exhibit and has been praised for allowing their elephants to roam freely.
The Beginning of the ZooNaturalist Henry A. Snow established the Oakland Zoo in 1922 on 19th St and Harrison St in downtown Oakland. Snow Park now occupies the site of the Zoo's first home. Over the years the zoo relocated several times: to Sequoia Park, Joaquin Miller Park and finally in 1939 to Durant Park. Under Joseph R. Knowland, Chairman of the California State Park Commission, California purchased the land and in 1950 renamed the park to Joseph Knowland State Arboretum and Park.[2] The East Bay Zoological Society (EBZS), founded in 1936 by Henry Snow's son, Sidney, has had a long relationship with the Oakland Zoo. At the time of its founding, EBZS was known as the Alameda County Botanical and Zoological Society. Growing a ZooAlthough EBZS has always been involved with zoo projects and operations to some extent, it was not until after major development of the zoo from 1958-1965 that the EBZS's role increased dramatically. Through their efforts, money was raised to develop the African Veldt (1965), the Australian Outback (1975) and the original tiger exhibit (1980). In 1977, the EBZS purchased the food, rides and Children's Zoo concessions. In 1982 the EBZS entered into an agreement with the City of Oakland to manage the zoo and develop it under non-profit status. The zoo has flourished since that time. In 1985, Joel Parrott, DVM, was hired as Executive Director of the Oakland Zoo. Many new exhibits have been created, including those for the Hamadryas Baboons and the Chimpanzees. A new, spacious elephant exhibit was built in 1987. The current sun bear exhibit was finished in 1995 and was featured on Animal Planet “Ultimate Zoos.” The White-Handed Gibbons now live on a lush island in the heart of the Rainforest. The African Savanna, with giraffes, camels, lions, elephants, meerkats, hyenas and more was completed in 1998. The Education Center opened its new doors in 1999 with the new main entrance following soon after in summer 2001 (see picture). In autumn of 2001, a new Squirrel Monkey exhibit opened along with a larger, newly renovated Tiger exhibit. In the spring of 2007, the four dromedary camels were moved to a larger, fenced enclosure uphill from their old enclosure. The Valley Children’s ZooSummer 2005 the three-acre Valley Children's Zoo opened with spacious new animal exhibits along with plenty of interactive play-structures for children. The Ring-Tailed Lemurs, century old Aldabra Tortoises, the interactive Goat and Sheep Contact yard along with the River Otters can be found in the Children’s Zoo. The popular American Alligators, the Bats, the Pot-Bellied Pigs, the Old-World Rabbits along with the Bug Room, and the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Room are also in the Children’s Zoo. One of the most interesting and popular features with the smaller children are the brass insects embedded in the concrete walkways, which were installed as a form of public art. The Zoo TodayToday the zoo is home to over 440 native and exotic animals and is a member of the AZA. The following animals are on exhibit to the public: Image:OaklandZooElephant.jpg
Elephant
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Ring-Tailed Lemurs
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Bat shadow on wing
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Giraffe drinking
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Crowned Crane
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Flamingos at the main entrance of the Oakland Zoo
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Up close and personal with an American Alligator
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Emerald Tree Boa
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Feeding time for the Spurred Tortoise
Mammals Baboon, Hamadryas Sun Bear Bison* Bobcat Camel, Arabian Chimpanzee Deer, Sika* Eland Elephant Elk, Tule* Flying Fox, Island Flying Fox, Malayan Gazelle Gibbon, White Handed Giraffe Goat, Pygmy Goat, Alpine Goat, La Mancha Goat, Nubian Hyena Lemur, Ring-tailed Lion Meerkat Monkey, Squirrel Muntjac Otter, River Pig, Asian Miniature Potbelly Rabbit, Old World Sheep Siamang Tiger Cotton-topped Tamarin Vervet (Green Monkey) Warthog Yak Zebra Birds Bishop, Orange Corella, Long-Billed Crane, African Crowned Crane, Lilford Crow, Pied Dove, Tambourine Duck, White-faced Whistling Egret, Cattle Fishers Lovebird Flamingo Goose, Egyptian Guinea Fowl, Helmeted Hammerkop Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Red-Billed Hottentot, Teal Ibis, Hadada Ibis, Sacred Kookaburra Lapwing Plover Lilac-Breasted Roller Macaw, Blue & Yellow Parrot, Princess Pigeon, Speckled Roller, Blue-Bellied African Spoonbill Toucan, Chestnut Mandibled Vulture, Griffon Weaver, Taveta Golden Reptiles and Amphibians Anaconda, Yellow Alligator, American Boa, Emerald Tree Boa, Columbian Red-Tailed Boa Chameleon, Nosy Be Frog, Panamanian Golden Frog, Golden Mantella Gecko, Giant Leaf-Tailed Lizard, African Plated Lizard, Black Tree Monitor Lizard, Common Chuckwalla Lizard, Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard, Gila Monster Lizard, Great Plated Lizard, White-throated Monitor Snake, Brown House Snake, Taiwan Beauty Tortoise, Aldabra Tortoise, Spurred Turtle, Florida Red-Bellied Turtle, Spotted Arthropods Ants, Honey Pot Ants, Leaf-Cutter Beetle, Dermestid Cockroach, Madagascar-Hissing Lubber, Florida Eastern Millipede, African Giant Scorpion, Desert Hairy Spider, Black Widow Spider, Golden Silk Tarantula, Chilean Rose Vinegaroon, Giant Walking Stick, Indian Walking Stick, Giant Thorny
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