Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a special place for animals and people, found near the town of Powell in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, just north of the city of Columbus. It sits close to a big lake called the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir on the Scioto River. The zoo became very famous thanks to the work of a man named Jack Hanna, who used to be the director there. In 2009, a travel guide chose it as the very best zoo in the United States, and in 2012, voters also picked it as the top zoo.

This amazing zoo is home to more than 7,000 animals from over 800 different kinds of species. Every year, more than 2 million people visit to see these wonderful creatures. The zoo is organized into eight different areas that show animals from various parts of the world. Besides the animal exhibits, the zoo also has its own golf course called the Safari Golf Club and a fun place called Zoombezi Bay. Altogether, the zoo owns a huge area of land—about 580 acres—and about 406 acres of that is used for the zoo itself.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium does more than just show animals; it also helps protect them. The zoo has its own program to help save animals and has given money to help projects in more than 30 countries. It works closely with another animal center called the Wilds, which is a big conservation area in southeast Ohio. The zoo and the Wilds are also shown on a television show called Secrets of the Zoo on the Nat Geo Wild channel, where viewers can see many interesting things the zoo does with its animals.

History

The first zoo in Columbus opened in 1905 but closed just five months later. The current Columbus Zoo began in 1927 as Riverside Park. It was started by Harry P. Wolfe, who owned the Columbus Dispatch, after he visited a zoo in St. Louis.

Jack Hanna became the zoo's director in 1978. Under his leadership, the zoo grew very popular. He helped improve the zoo's buildings and habitats, making them more natural for the animals. His lively personality and TV shows brought many more visitors to the zoo.

In 2004, plans were made to expand the zoo, adding new exhibits like Polar Frontier and Heart of Africa. A new entrance was built in 2008. Unfortunately, in 2021, the zoo lost its accreditation due to some problems, but it was able to regain it in 2023.

Exhibits

The Columbus Zoo is divided into eight regions, each with animals from a different part of the world. Each region has its own theme to match the animals it houses, with newer areas having more detailed themes than older ones. You can find food and souvenir shops throughout the zoo, each designed to fit the region they are in.

There are three ways to get around the zoo besides walking. You can ride a train that goes around the North America Trek, a tram that takes you to Polar Frontier, or a boat ride around the Islands of Southeast Asia region.

Adventure Cove

Adventure Cove opened in July 2020. This area has a pool for California sea lions and harbor seals, Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounter Village with many special animals, and Stingray Bay, which opened earlier in June 2012.

North America Trek

The North America Trek, the second-largest and oldest region, opened in Spring 1985. It covers about 14 acres and has many big exhibits, including a very large aviary for songbirds. The train ride circles around this region. The first part of North America Trek was recently renovated and reopened in June 2025.

Polar Frontier

The Polar Frontier opened in May 2010 and has animals from cold climates, like Arctic foxes and brown bears. Polar bears returned to the zoo here, with a big pool and an underwater viewing area. In 2015, a polar bear named Aurora had a cub named Nora, the first polar bear born and raised at the zoo since Polar Frontier opened. Nora now lives at the Hogle Zoo in Utah.

Heart of Africa

The Heart of Africa region opened in May 2014 and covers 43 acres. It has many African animals, like lions, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, and vervet monkeys. The main feature is the Watering Hole, where many different animals can be seen around a large pond.

Asia Quest

Asia Quest opened in two phases in 2006. This area tries to make visitors feel like they are really in Asia by combining exhibits with natural scenery. Visitors pass waterfalls, go through caves, and walk through forests to see animals. Asia Quest also asks visitors to help support animal conservation.

Shores & Aquarium

The Shores and Aquarium region is famous for its fish and manatee aquariums, called Discovery Reef and Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Discovery Reef, opened in 1993, is a big saltwater aquarium with many kinds of fish, seahorses, sharks, and garden eels. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, opened in 1999, cares for endangered Florida manatees in a very large indoor habitat. The Reptile Habitat, opened in 1968, houses many snakes, lizards, and tortoises.

Australia and the Islands

The Australia region opened in November 2003 and has nocturnal animals, kangaroos, koalas, and lorikeets. Visitors can walk through the kangaroo habitat and even feed the lorikeets. The Islands of Southeast Asia region opened in 2003 and tries to make visitors feel like they are walking through a continuous exhibit with lots of scenery and vegetation, including a waterway for the boat ride.

Congo Expedition

The Congo Expedition, opened in 2000, shows animals from the Central African rainforest, including primates, hooved mammals, large cats, and birds. The highlight is the primate area with western lowland gorillas, including descendants of Colo, the first gorilla born in captivity. The zoo also has a growing group of bonobos, which are very closely related to humans.

Notable animals

On December 22, 1956, Colo, a western lowland gorilla, became the world's first gorilla born in captivity at the Columbus Zoo. She lived until January 2017 and was 60 years old, the oldest gorilla ever cared for by humans. Colo had a big family, including one child, ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren in zoos across the country. Today, the Columbus Zoo has fifteen gorillas, and six of them are related to Colo. Since 1956, 31 gorillas have been born at the zoo as part of their special breeding program. Colo was named after Columbus, the city where she was born.

In March 2007, Fluffy, a very long reticulated python who held a Guinness World Records for being the longest snake in captivity at 24 feet (7.3 m), was put on display at the zoo. The zoo bought Fluffy from her owner in September 2007, and she stayed there permanently. Sadly, Fluffy passed away on October 26, 2010, at the age of 18 and weighing 300 pounds (140 kg). The zoo later got her daughter named Hanna.

Other attractions

Mangels-Illions Carousel

In the spring of 2000, the zoo added a special carousel from 1914. This carousel was first built for Olentangy Park in Clintonville. When that park closed, the carousel moved to Wyandot Lake, where it operated for many years. In 1999, it was taken apart for a big cleanup and then brought to the zoo. This carousel has 52 hand-carved horses, two small carriages, and a musical band organ. It became very popular, with 42,000 rides in its first month alone.

Zoombezi Bay

Main article: Zoombezi Bay

In 2006, the zoo bought Wyandot Lake and turned it into a water park called Zoombezi Bay. It opened in May 2008 and has 17 fun slides and water attractions.

Rides At Adventure Cove

Main article: Rides At Adventure Cove

When the zoo bought Wyandot Lake, they split the park into two parts. One part became Zoombezi Bay, and the other became a ride area first called Jungle Jack's Landing. In 2020, this ride area was renamed Rides At Adventure Cove to match the nearby Adventure Cove section of the zoo, which also opened that year. It includes 14 rides and attractions, such as the historic Sea Dragon roller coaster.

Conservation

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium helps protect animals through special projects around the world. In 2010, it gave more than $2 million to help animals in need. This money comes from people who visit the zoo and from special events. Some of the groups the zoo supports are the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the International Elephant Foundation, and the Ohio Wildlife Center.

The zoo also teaches visitors about animals that are in danger of disappearing. It has special places where people can learn more about these animals and even give money to help them. One part of the zoo, called Manatee Coast, helps injured manatees get better. It also teaches people about how to protect manatees.

The zoo also helps Mexican wolves. These wolves almost disappeared completely, but the zoo started a program in 1992 to help them grow in number. Since then, 29 baby wolves have been born at the zoo.