History
History of the Little Rock Zoological Gardens
The Little Rock Zoo brought wildlife to the citizens of Arkansas in 1924. Today, the Little Rock Zoo has over 400 animals representing over 100 different species including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and invertebrates.. For years, we have created engaging experiences that inspire people to value and conserve our natural world. Below is a timeline of some of the ways we’ve moved forward in our mission of conservation learning.
- 1926 City of Little Rock creates the Little Rock Zoo
- 1927 Buffalo exhibit built at Fair Park Zoo
- 1932 Zoo renamed Fair Park Zoological Garden
- 1934 Big Cat Building (Lion House) completed
- 1936 New monkey house WPA project completed
- 1937 New cat house WPA project completed
- Zoo acquires Ruth the elephant
- 1939 Zoo renamed Fair Park Zoo
- 1940 First chimpanzees “Dagwood and Blondie” arrived
- 1948 City renames Fair Park War Memorial Park
- 1952 National Parks and Zoological Convention credits Little Rock with having one of the most outstanding zoos in the country for cities with less than 250,000 residents
- “Big Arkie,” the largest alligator found in the United States, measuring 13 feet and weighing 459 pounds, was captured by Zoo staff and St. Louis Zoo Director, Marlin Perkins
- 1954 Zoo acquires Ellen the elephant
- 1956 Little Rock Civitan Club dedicates new Kiddie Zoo
- 1959 Zoo remodels the monkey house
- 1960 Zoo makes accommodations for a new steam locomotive No. 101 placed in front of the Lion House
- 1962 Interstate I-630 Expressway ramp built and cuts off zoo from southward expansion and eliminates portions of the Civitan Kiddie Zoo, duck pond and other small animal exhibits
- 1965 Zoo constructs bear and other small animal exhibits
- 1967 Zoo constructs fox and wolf dens
- 1970 Big Arkie passes away
- 1971 Zoo completes three large projects: monkey island, chimpanzee island and exotic bird house enclosure
- 1972 Zoo holds first Zoo Days event
- 1974 Association of Zoos and Aquariums begins accreditation program
- 1975 Zoo Docent education volunteer program established
- 1968 New entry complex constructed featuring new turnstiles to count visitors and two enclosed office buildings
- 1973 New Zoo nursery opens, funded by the Little Rock Civitan Club
- 1980 Big cat exhibit opened, housing tigers and jaguars
- 1981 Zoo implements the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program
- Zoo charges first admission fees
- 1988 Zoo opens new Great Ape habitat held Spectacular EscAPE event with Jack Hanna to celebrate
- 1991 Zoo renews accreditation with AZA
- Snortin’ Norton the sloth bear born
- 1992 Zoo hosts first Boo at the Zoo event
- 1993 Zoo acquires Fossey the gorilla from the Columbus Zoo
- Zoo acquires two female grizzly bears from Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness area
- 1997 Zoo opens new Lemur Island exhibiting Ring Tail, Black and Red-Ruffed Lemurs
- 1998 Zoo opens third exhibit in the Big Cat Display to hold African Lions.
- Opening of Civitan Ampitheater
- Great ape exhibit opens, exhibiting gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees
- 1999 Zoo hires new Director, Michael E. Blakely and is changed from a division of Parks and Recreation to an individual City department. An advisory board of nine members appointed by the Mayor called the Zoo Board of Governors is formed.
- Zoo assumes operations of the gift shop, café, membership program and education programs.
- Children’s farm opens complete with a new train station and 22 new farm animals.
- 2000 Elephant exhibit modifications completed, allowing for the addition of a second elephant
- Guest Services Division was created
- 2001 Little Rock Zoo regains accreditation from the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
- 2002 Completed renovations to giraffe exhibit and built viewing deck
- 2003 The City of Little Rock passed a bond election giving the Little Rock Zoo $4.6 million in funding. Projects include new front entry plaza, gift shop and offices, Lorikeet Landing, and 29 other improvements throughout the Zoo.
- Zoo expands elephant habitat
- Arkansas Zoological Foundation Established
- 2004 Two new female gorillas arrive from the Toronto Zoo
- Thor and Tasha the sloth bears born at the Little Rock Zoo
- 2005 Opened “Naked Mole Rat” Exhibit
- 2006 Grizzly bear habitat remodeled
- Zoo Foundation launches Wild Wines of the World event
- Zoo’s first baby Gorilla, Mosi, born
- 2007 Completed $4.6 million in bond projects
- Opened New Café Africa renovation of old cat house
- “Over the Jumps” The Arkansas Carousel donated to Zoo by Friends of the Carousel and opened to the public
- Opened new Lorikeet exhibit
- 2009 Zoo hosts first Hiland Dairy Dollar Day
- Opened the African Savannah exhibit
- 2010 Time capsule installed in Over-the-Jumps Carousel
- Opened the remodeled and expanded Elephant exhibit to hold up to four elephants
- 2011 Laura P. Nichols Penguin Pointe Exhibit opened
- Zoo Foundation hosts first Zoo Brew event
- 2012 Laura P. Nichols Cheetah Outpost
- Hired first full-time Veterinarian
- Second baby gorilla, Adelina, born
- Zoo’s accreditation with AZA renewed
- 2013 Birth of Four Malayan Tigers at Zoo
- 2014 Opened new “Diamond Express” Train purchased by the Arkansas Zoological Foundation
- New Green House constructed
- Birth of two Maned Wolves
- 2015 Remodeled the Reticulate python exhibit
- Baby chimpanzee, Jumoke, born
- 2016 Arkansas Heritage Farm Opened to the Public
- Susan Altrui becomes Director of the Little Rock Zoo, the first female director of the Zoo and the youngest female director of an AZA accredited zoo
- 2017 Little Rock Zoo is reaccredited again by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- 2018 Third baby gorilla, Bukavu, born at Little Rock Zoo
- Zoo breaks ground on a new Colobus Monkey and Serval Cat habitat
- 2019 Trudy the gorilla dies at the age of 63 and holds the record as the oldest gorilla living in human care in the world
A Legacy of Conservation and Education at Little Rock Zoo
As we celebrate the Zoo's journey from its founding to the present day, we're reminded that the story is far from over. With ongoing efforts to conserve species, educate the public, and advocate for a sustainable future, the Little Rock Zoo's legacy is one of hope, transformation, and a shared responsibility to care for the planet and its inhabitants.
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1 Zoo Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-661-7200
Hours of Operation
9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Last admission 3:30 p.m.
Zoo grounds close at 4:00 pm
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