Milwaukee County Zoological Garden

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OPEN NOW - Closes at 3:00pm

Milwaukee County Zoo is a serene home to more than 2, 200 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles with more than 320 species represented. However, the Zoo has become more than that to visitors. It is a site for workshops, holiday celebrations, summer concerts and food festivals. Recognized as one of the country's finest zoological attractions, Milwaukee County Zoo serves as a resource to educate, entertain and inspire. The wildness began in 1892 when Milwaukee County Zoo was a simple miniature mammal and bird display in Milwaukee's downtown Washington Park. By 1902, the Zoo expanded to 23 acres and had acquired a roaring 800 animals. Thirty-two years later, the Zoo became an entity of Milwaukee County Park Commission. The arrangement gave the Zoo the resources it needed to grow and prosper. The chance to grow surfaced in 1958 when the Zoo moved to its present location on 200 acres of beautiful parkland where currently over 320 species of animals are on exhibit. The first decade at the Zoo's new location saw several developments: the Primate Building, Monkey Island and Winter Quarters construction. In the early 1960s, Grizzly, Polar and Brown Bear dens were completed, as were the Feline, Pachyderm, Giraffe, Bird, Small Mammals, Aquarium/Reptile, and Australian Buildings. In the 1970s, the Zoo continued to grow: the Children's Zoo, Train Shed, Zoo Hospital were constructed. Today, Milwaukee County Zoo is among the top zoos in the nation. It is an accredited institution of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA ). In recent years, the Zoo has become increasingly involved in the propagation and conservation of endangered species. The Zoo is currently engaged in several significant breeding programs, including the endangered Humboldt penguin. Our Zoo also is home to a troop of 15 bonobos. Each new birth of a bonobo marks a definite sign of the Zoo's commitment to conservational programs such as the Species Survival Plan (SSP ) in which the Zoo participates. A 125-member staff provides the necessary support to maintain a high quality park, while continually developing innovative ways to help the Zoo reach and maintain its attendance and revenue goals. In order to remain current in its operations, and adhere to the growing needs of the animals, the Zoo initiated an expansion and renovation master plan in 1985. This plan saw the completion of the Wolf Woods, the Polar Bear and Sea Lion Exhibits, the Dairy Complex and the Peck Welcome Center. More additions and renovations have taken place at Milwaukee County Zoo. The $10.7 million primate facility is one such plan. Apes of Africa opened in May, 1992 and houses Western lowland gorillas and bonobos. The complex was designed to closely represent the West African rain forest. It provides the gorillas and bonobos with surroundings that are similar to their natural environment. In 1993, the 25-year-old Aquarium and Reptile Building closed for renovations. The new Aquatic & Reptile Center (ARC ) officially opened to the public in 1995. The $3.3 million project, equally funded by the Zoo and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County, features a 28, 000-gallon Pacific Coast Marine Aquarium, housing a variety of sharks and fish. Other highlights of the ARC include Lake Wisconsin, our centerpiece exhibit that displays 30 species of Wisconsin fish. In 2002, the Zoo unveiled a renovated Macaque Island outdoor exhibit for our Japanese macaques. Waterfalls, shrubs and vines complete this inviting habitat. The year 2003 marked the start of the Feline Building renovation. The $7.2 million project provides larger and more natural looking exhibit spaces for these magnificent animals and enhances their quality of life. The new Florence Mila Borchert Big Cat Country was unveiled to thousands of anxious visitors in the summer of 2005, and showcased new residents such as jaguars and young African lions.