Sequoia Park Zoo

The Sequoia Park Zoo is a zoo located in Eureka, California, United States and is operated by the City of Eureka. With over 250 animals representing 75 different species on 7-acre (2.8 ha), the zoo is a favorite of local residents, especially children, and visitors alike. The Zoo is part of a larger park complex including 60-acre (24 ha) of mature second-growth coast redwood forest, Eureka's largest public playground, and a duck pond, in addition to meticulously kept formal and natural gardens. The gardens include many varieties of rhododendron bushes, which grow easily in the mild climate and can be seen throughout the region growing wild and in the gardens of homes. The zoo's mission is "to inspire wonder, understanding and respect for the natural world by providing fun, rewarding, educational experiences that encourage meaningful connections between animals, humans, and our environment".^[3] The zoo is open to the public from 10am-5pm daily. During the winter the zoo closes on Mondays.

History

Sequoia Park Zoo was founded in 1907 and is the oldest zoo in California. Over the course of its relatively long history, the zoo has housed an array of animals including baboons, African lions, camels, chimpanzees, tigers, polar bears, bison and other large hoofstock, exotic birds, and small mammals. The zoo achieved accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 1995. Since accreditation the zoo has prioritized conservation, including Species Survival Plan breeding programs and education programs. After 100 years of free entry, the zoo started charging admission in the summer of 2008.

Animals and Exhibits

Primates

The zoo exhibits cotton-top tamarins, brown-headed spider monkeys, and white handed gibbons. The zoo used to exhibit chimpanzees, the most famous of which was Bill. He was "rescued" from the circus in the 1950s as a result of a penny fundraising campaign on the part of local school children. A fifty year resident of the Zoo, Bill died on June 26, 2007 at the age of 62. He was the oldest male chimpanzee ever recorded.^[4][5]

Barnyard

The zoo has an educational exhibit about where food comes from called the Barnyard. In the Barnyard children can interact with goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, llamas, alpacas, donkeys, and a cat. Also in the Barnyard are exhibits featuring mice, opossum a beehive and spiders. There is a spider web climbing play structure for children.

Aviary

The zoo has a walk in free flight aviary with a pond and waterfall. Birds in the aviary include the sacred ibis, scarlet ibis, red-crested turaco, European roller, green heron, Guira cuckoo, blue-gray tanager, cedar waxwing, California quail, and golden pheasant.

Secrets of the Forest

The zoo offers educational programs for school-age children. There is an educational building located in the front of the zoo called "Secrets of the Forest", which educates children about the animals and organisms in the redwood forest. There are a number of insects, reptiles and amphibians species exhibited in the Secrets of the Forest building.

Other animal residents

Residents of the main zoo include: red pandas, yaks, Patagonian cavies, Chacoan peccaries, rheas, crested screamers and flamingos.

Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation

The Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the zoo's mission through fundraising and public outreach programs. The Foundation operates a gift shop, cafe and zoo facility for rentals.

Notes

External links

• Official website