Utica Zoo facts for kids

Utica Zoo is a regional zoo in Utica, New York, situated in a section of Roscoe Conkling Park. The zoo has over 200 animals, including several endangered species, African lions, zebras, Mexican gray wolves, Bactrian camels, bald eagles, Chinese alligators, white handed gibbons, spider monkeys, California sea lions, Burmese pythons, a children's petting zoo, and more.

Utica Zoo welcome sign

History

The Utica Zoo was founded in 1914 with an initial collection of three fallow deer. The City of Utica owns the 80 acres (32 ha) of zoo property, of which 40 is currently developed. The first permanent building was erected in 1920. The City of Utica Parks Department managed the zoo until 1964, when responsibility was transferred to a dedicated organization, currently known as the Utica Zoological Society. This organization was later chartered by the State of New York as an educational institution. The first professional zoo director was hired in 1966. The City of Utica, despite owning the land, does not financially support the zoo. It is instead primarily funded by the Oneida County government, the New York State Natural Heritage Program, and fundraising by the zoo and private donors. In 2004, amid financial issues, the zoo was forced to defer maintenance on its facilities, and consequently lost accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. However, after several years of planning and restructuring, the Utica Zoo was re-accredited by AZA in 2018.

In 2000, a 15.5-foot-tall (4.7 m) metal sculpture of a watering can was obtained by the zoo. This sculpture is listed by Guinness World Records as the world's largest watering can.

In 2011, the Utica Zoo announced they were debt-free and started adding more animals and exhibits. In November 2015, the Utica Zoo started their We Don't Like it Either campaign to raise money for reconstruction of the primate building, originally built in 1927. In August 2018, the Utica Zoo unveiled their The Excitement is Building! campaign, aimed at continuing construction to the Primate Building and the addition of two outdoor, 25-foot tall primate exhibits for the white handed gibbons and spider monkeys. The entire project is expected to cost approximately $3 million and will be the first time since 1988 that the exhibit space will be open to the public. In November 2018, the first outdoor portion of the primate project was unveiled, named the Outdoor Living Rainforest.

Exhibits

As part of conservation programs, the Utica Zoo has housed Mexican wolves, red pandas, white-naped cranes, white-handed gibbons, Mexican spider monkeys, golden lion tamarins, golden-headed lion tamarins, California sea lions, prehensile-tailed skinks, collard peccaries and snowy owls. The Utica Zoo's current collection includes:

Three toed box turtle, African bullfrog, African crested porcupines, African hedgehog, African lions, African milipede, alpacas, American bald eagles, Arctic fox, Argentine black and white tegu, Bactrian camels, ball pythons, barn owls, bearded dragons, Bennett's wallaby, black crowned night heron, black swan, hyacinth macaw, blue tongued skink, Brazilian flying cockroaches, Burmese pythons, California sea lions, Canadian lynx, carpet python, chickens, Chilean rose haired tarantula, chinchillas, Chinese alligators, corn snake, cotton top tamarins, degu, eastern box turtles, emu, European glass lizard, ferrets, Flemish giant rabbits, gray-banded kingsnake, giant spiny stick insect, Hartmann's mountain zebra, Henkel's leaf tailed gecko, hermit crab, hissing cockroaches, Indian peafowl, Indian runner duck, Jacob sheep, Kenyan sand boa, kinkajou, leopard gecko, leopard tortoise, merlin, Mexican beaded lizards, Mexican gray wolves, Mexican spider monkeys, milk snake, Nigerian dwarf goats, North American beavers, North American porcupine, Virginia opossum, ostriches, Patagonian cavy, pine snake, prehensile tailed skink, rabbits, rainbow boa, red eared slider, red fox, red pandas, red tailed hawk, Reeves's muntjac, ring-tailed lemurs, rhinoceros iguanas, salmon crested cockatoo, soft shelled turtle, spotted turtle, snapping turtle, star tortoise, striped hyenas, sulcata tortoises, Sumatran chicken, Trans-Caspian urial, uromastyx, Vietnamese pot bellied pig, western hognose snake, white-handed gibbon, white naped crane, whip scorpion, wood turtle, and zebu.

In 2011, the zoo took in African lions Bakari and Monni. Prior to their arrival, it had been 30 years since the zoo had lions. The zoo now has a family of three lions that were born in Utica. The three are siblings from two litters.

Animal encounters

The zoo offers up-close-and-personal encounters with African lions, sea lions, red pandas, camels and dwarf goats. The red panda encounter is their most popular, and popularity increased when two cubs were born in 2015 and after the encounter was mentioned on the national game show Jeopardy! in 2016.

Events

The zoo hosts a handful of events each year that range from family events to adult events. These events are a big portion of the money the zoo earns to fund the exhibits. Eggstravaganza takes place in April, Wine in the Wilderness takes place in June, Brewfest takes place in August, Spooktacular Harvest Festival takes place in October, Holiday Hoot and Noon Year's Eve both take place in December.