Valley Zoo
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| Valley Zoo | |
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| Date opened | 1959 |
| Location | Edmonton, Alberta, CAN |
| Accreditations/ Memberships |
CAZA |
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The Valley Zoo is a zoo located in the heart of Edmonton, Alberta's river valley. The Valley zoo is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton and is open 364 days a year only closing on Christmas. The zoo is currently accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is Northern Alberta's only accredited zoo. The Valley Zoo opened up in 1959 as a replacement for a previous Edmonton Zoo (Borden Park Zoo) which was torn down to expand Northlands Park. The zoo is home to over 300 exotic and native animals of over 30 different species. The zoo features numerous animal enclosures which are arranged according to their needs with warm tropical animals indoors and native and exotic cold weather animals outdoors. The zoo has taken in many injured and orphaned native wildlife and has given them a home. The zoo does not have reliable transit to it, though there is a bus that operates during summer on Sundays only. The zoo is only a half an hour walk from the Health Sciences LRT station.
The Valley Zoo has just undergone the creation of a new master plan that has been approved by city council. The plan calls for the zoo to be organized into geographical areas focusing on a warm heart and a cold exterior. This means that all of the animals that require tropical temperatures will be focused in the center of the zoo and while all animals that do not require tropical temperatures will be focused on the outside. The Valley Zoo Development Society is currently fundraising for the first step of the master plan, as although the council approved the plan they have not provided any funding for it. Highlights of the new master plan include an improved children's zoo (with water play park), an Arctic Shores Exhibit, New entrance and visitors amenities, and a 3.5 acre elephant exhibit with swimming river.
[edit] Exhibits
- Inner Zoo. The Inner Zoo includes all areas constructed in 1959. The Inner Zoo was once known as Storyland Zoo. Animals within this section include: Beau the beaver, Capybara, Emus, Ringtailed Lemurs, Waterfowl, Coatimundi, Spider and Squirrel Monkeys, Cotton Top Tamarins, Alpaca, Callimicos, North American River Otters, Red Pandas, Shetland Sheep, Guinea Pigs, and the Petting Zoo. Only the Sheep, Otters, Alpacas, and Red Pandas are located in Inner Zoo during the winter.
- Carnivore Alley. The Carnivore Alley is home to the zoos major carnivores. Here you can see Swift Foxes, Snow Leopards, Amur Tigers, Wolves and an African Serval Cat.
- Elephant House and Exhibit. The Valley Zoo's Elephant House is home to the zoo's two pachyderms Samantha and Lucy. Both Elephants came to the zoo as orphans. Lucy is an Asian Elephant was orphaned in Sri Lanka in 1976 at the age of two. She was orphaned when she either was separated by her herd or fell into a gem pit. Samantha is an African Elephant and came to the zoo in the eighties from Zimbabwee after her herd was culled due to too many Elephants. Samantha is fairly unique as she is tusk less. Almost all African Elephants have tusks.
- Saito Center. The Saito Center is named after the zoo's former Veterinarian who died shortly before construction of the building. It is home to all of the zoos primate species during winter, the zoos two South American Sea Lions, reptile and nocturnal wing, and many of the zoos many smaller animals.
- African Veldt. The African veldt is home to Addax, Peacocks, Pygmy Zebu Cattle, and Grevy Zebras.
- Back Paddocks. The back paddocks are home to the zoos larger hoof stock and include Bactrian camels, Guanacos, Pony rides, and the only Sichuan Takins in Canada. There are only 43 Sichuan Takins in North America.
- Birds of Prey. The Birds of Prey include the zoos non releasable injured raptors, raptors used for flight shows, and outreach programs. Some highlight species include Bald Eagle, Peregreine Falcon, and Snowy Owls.
[edit] External links
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Conservation biology | List of zoos | List of zoo associations | Zoological Garden | Menagerie | Tourist attraction | Wildlife Conservation | Endangered species |
