Located in the historic Grant Park, the Atlanta Zoo was established in 1889 from the remains of a traveling circus. The zoo has come a long way, since. Rising from its notoriety like a phoenix from the ashes, the Atlanta Zoo has now gone on to earn its fame as housing one of the most impressive collections of wildlife from around the world.
There's a lot to do at the Atlanta zoo once you get there. Upon entering the gates, you are immediately given the schedule of events for the day. You can witness animal feedings and also catch an interactive show called, 'It's a jungle out there' which introduces you to the jungle in your own backyard and also tells you how you can attract and care for the animals that inhabit them. You can also put your wildlife trivia to test with the 'Rainforest Researcher Show' where you can help the resident animal researcher identify various African rainforest animals while also learning the modern ways of wildlife exploration.
The petting zoo is a huge success with children and is open from 10 am to 4:30 pm everyday. The zoo also organizes various family programs like the 'Mommy and me' event which allows a child and his parent to explore the animal kingdom through three classroom sessions. Your little ones can also hop on to the Norfolk Southern Zoo Express for a detailed tour of the zoo. Then, there is also the Animal Tales Storybook reading for children, where they listen to an animal story and then go to see the featured animal, or habitat, in the zoo. The zoo also conducts Safari day camps for children, to offer them an exciting and educational alternative to spend their holidays.
The Atlanta Zoo endeavors to provide the animals that it houses, a habitat that is almost identical to their natural environs. The Ford African rainforest habitat is home to 24 western lowland gorillas, one of the two largest collections of the species in the whole of North America. Besides this, there are many other attractions like a reptile house, aviaries and an Indonesian tropical forest. You can even watch a movie or a video about animals and their habitats in the South Trust Wildlife Theatre. The schedule that is provided to you at the onset will detail the various activities lined up for the day. For further information, you can even look up the website http://www.zooatlanta.org .
The Zoo Atlanta Horticulture Department provides plant material for special event décor while also educating visitors and staff about native plants and landscape design. You can grab a quick bite at any of the three cafés which offer you a variety of sandwiches, hotdogs and salads. The Zoo Atlanta Trading Company offers a vast collection of toys, games, hardcover and paperback books which make for ideal gifts and collectables. The zoo continually strives to support the conservation and protection of the environment. It contributes significantly to this cause by way of technical expertise, financial backing and student training. The zoo hours are from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm on weekdays and from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm on weekends. To know how you can contribute to this noble cause of wildlife preservation, you can call 404.624.5650 or refer to the website.
Atlanta Zoo
800 Cherokee Avenue,
Atlanta, GA 30315.
