Assiniboine Park Zoo is a
zoo
A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility where animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes.
The term ''zoological garden'' refers to zoology, ...
facility located in the west end of
Assiniboine Park
Assiniboine Park (formerly known as City Park) is a park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, located along the Assiniboine River.
The Winnipeg Public Parks Board was formed in 1893, and purchased the initial land for the park in 1904. Although in use ...
in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
,
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
, Canada. Established in 1904, Assiniboine Park Zoo is managed by the Assiniboine Park Conservancy. It holds accreditation from the
Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), originally the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA), is an American 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization founded in 1924 and dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aqu ...
.
Covering 80 acres, there are currently over 160 species of animals living in the zoo.
History
Early years
In 1904, the City of
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
Parks Board purchased
native animals, including deer, bison, and elk to establish the zoo. A bear enclosure was built in 1908. In 1909, the zoo housed 116 animals, representing 19 different species.
In 1935, it acquired its first lion; a lioness. Four years later, a wild orphaned polar bear cub named Carmichael was added to the zoo. In February 1940, Carmichael was joined by a female named Clementine.
The 1960s saw significant additions, including a gibbon and monkey house, a snow leopard, and another orphaned polar bear cub. The polar bear enclosure was renovated in 1967, adding an upper story and two more orphaned cubs. In 1968 and 1969, the Tropical House, Native Animal Exhibit, and a new south gate were added.
In the 1980s, the
Zoological Society of Manitoba began to provide money for new signage, exhibits, and infrastructure. The Zoological Society reconstructed the main entrance to include a new gift store and renovated the Carousel Restaurant.
2000s
As late as the 2000s, the zoo was open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, its hours have since been significantly reduced due to the behavioral changes in animals in evening. In July 2015, the zoo extended visiting hours every Wednesday until 8 p.m. due to visitor requests for later closing times to accommodate working schedules.
In 2000, the Zoological Society of
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
and the zoo started work on a new Master Plan Development Proposal for the zoo—the first since 1960. Initial proposals were for a redesign of the existing polar bear enclosure, but this eventually grew into a much larger Master Plan Development project. In 2008, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy was created to develop, govern, and manage
Assiniboine Park
Assiniboine Park (formerly known as City Park) is a park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, located along the Assiniboine River.
The Winnipeg Public Parks Board was formed in 1893, and purchased the initial land for the park in 1904. Although in use ...
, including the zoo. In June 2009, the Conservancy unveiled a comprehensive $200 million, 10-year redevelopment plan.
In 2004, thanks to collaboration with the University of Manitoba Architecture Department, substantial improvements were made to the Education Center.
In 2009, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy announced a redevelopment plan for both the
Assiniboine Park
Assiniboine Park (formerly known as City Park) is a park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, located along the Assiniboine River.
The Winnipeg Public Parks Board was formed in 1893, and purchased the initial land for the park in 1904. Although in use ...
and Zoo, to be completed in several phases. The revitalization of the zoo was involved in the plan's second phase, with its main attraction being the opening of the "Journey to Churchill" exhibit.
In September 2014, the Assiniboine Park Zoo became one of only five Canadian zoos to be accredited by the
Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
Incidents
* In July 2014, the wolves and polar bears were temporarily removed from their display areas after one or more wolves dug their way into the polar bear enclosure. No one was hurt in the incident.
* Concerns about safety protocols increased in September 2014 when one
Amur tiger
The Siberian tiger or Amur tiger is a population of the tiger subspecies '' Panthera tigris tigris'' native to Northeast China, the Russian Far East, and possibly North Korea. It once ranged throughout the Korean Peninsula, but currently inhab ...
gained access to another enclosure and killed another tiger.
* In November 2014, a blind seal died after getting trapped in a drain.
* In January 2019, a five-year-old polar bear named Blizzard died due to fluid in its chest.
Exhibits and facilities
Animals of Asia
The Animals of Asia section of the zoo contains various rare and exotic animal species, including ():
*
Domestic Bactrian camel (''Camelus bactrianus domestic'')
*
Sichuan takin
The Sichuan takin or Tibetan takin (''Budorcas taxicolor tibetana'') is a subspecies of takin (goat-antelope). Listed as a vulnerable species, the Sichuan takin is native to Tibet and the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Xinjiang in the People's R ...
(''Budorcas taxicolor tibetana'')
*
Reindeer
The reindeer or caribou (''Rangifer tarandus'') is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, taiga, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. It is the only re ...
(''Rangifer tarandus'')
*
Domestic Yak
The yak (''Bos grunniens''), also known as the Tartary ox, grunting ox, hairy cattle, or domestic yak, is a species of long-haired domesticated cattle found throughout the Himalayan region, the Tibetan Plateau, Tajikistan, the Pamir Mountains ...
(''Bos grunniens'')
*
Turkmenian markhor (''Capra falconeri heptameric'')
*
White-handed (Lar) Gibbon (''Hylobates lar'')
*
Amur Tiger
The Siberian tiger or Amur tiger is a population of the tiger subspecies '' Panthera tigris tigris'' native to Northeast China, the Russian Far East, and possibly North Korea. It once ranged throughout the Korean Peninsula, but currently inhab ...
(''Panthera tigris altaica''): two endangered Amur (Siberian) tigers, one female and one male
*
Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis)
*
Red panda
The red panda (''Ailurus fulgens''), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzz ...
(Ailurus fulgens refulgens)
*
Steller's sea eagle
Steller's sea eagle (''Haliaeetus pelagicus''), also known as the Pacific sea eagle or white-shouldered eagle, is a very large Diurnality, diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It was described first by Peter Simon Pallas in 1811. No ...
(''Haliaeetus pelagicus'')
In June 2010, the Pavilion of Lions exhibit was opened, introducing a pair of
African lions as the exhibit's first residents. In April 2012, the African lions were replaced with
Asian lions in the Pavilion of Lions, making Assiniboine Park Zoo the very first facility in North America to house a pair of Asian lions.
In 2013, a new expansion of the enclosure for the
Siberian tiger
The Siberian tiger or Amur tiger is a population of the tiger subspecies ''Panthera tigris tigris'' native to Northeast China, the Russian Far East, and possibly North Korea. It once ranged throughout the Korea, Korean Peninsula, but currently ...
s was constructed and opened. The new enclosure would assist the breeding program.
Aunt Sally's Farm
The zoo contains a child-friendly learn-and-play area, Aunt Sally's Farm,
which is located next to a playground, and has a wishing well.
Unlike the current exhibit, the old Aunt Sally's Farm used to be a petting zoo that operated between 1959 and 1989. It was replaced by the Kinsman Discovery Center, which opened on March 23, 1990.
The current farm includes the following mammals:
*
American miniature horse (''Equus caballus'')
*
Kiko goat
The Kiko is a breed of meat goat originating from New Zealand. ''Kiko'' comes from the Māori word for meat. The Kiko breed was developed in the 1980s by Garrick and Anne Batten, who cross-bred local feral goats with imported dairy goat
...
(''Capra hircus'')
*
Llama
The llama (; or ) (''Lama glama'') is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a List of meat animals, meat and pack animal by Inca empire, Andean cultures since the pre-Columbian era.
Llamas are social animals and live with ...
(''Lama glama'')
*
Nubian goat (''Capra hircus'')
*
Pygmy goat
The American Pygmy is an American breed of achondroplastic (dwarf) goat. It is small, compact and stockily built. Like the Nigerian Dwarf, it derives from the West African Dwarf group of breeds of West Africa. Between 1930 and 1960, animals ...
(''Capra hircus'')
*
Sardinian miniature donkey (''Equus asinus domesticus'')
*
Vietnamese pot-bellied pig (''Sus scrofa'')
Grasslands and Boreal Forests
The Grasslands & Boreal Forest section features animal species that are native to North America.
After the exhibit Journey to Churchill opened in 2014, an enclosure for an additional species of wolves was added. In June 2018, the Grasslands & Boreal Forest exhibit opened, featuring four male and one female gray wolves.
As of 2024, species contained in the grasslands and boreal forest include:
Mammals
*
American Bison
The American bison (''Bison bison''; : ''bison''), commonly known as the American buffalo, or simply buffalo (not to be confused with Bubalina, true buffalo), is a species of bison that is endemic species, endemic (or native) to North America. ...
(''Bison bison'')
*
American Elk (''Cervus canadensis'')
*
Grey Wolf
The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though gr ...
(''Canis lupus'')
*
Cougar
The cougar (''Puma concolor'') (, ''Help:Pronunciation respelling key, KOO-gər''), also called puma, mountain lion, catamount and panther is a large small cat native to the Americas. It inhabits North America, North, Central America, Cent ...
(Puma concolor)
*
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep (Ovid canadensis canadensis)
*
Llama
The llama (; or ) (''Lama glama'') is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a List of meat animals, meat and pack animal by Inca empire, Andean cultures since the pre-Columbian era.
Llamas are social animals and live with ...
(Lama glama)
*
Kiko goat
The Kiko is a breed of meat goat originating from New Zealand. ''Kiko'' comes from the Māori word for meat. The Kiko breed was developed in the 1980s by Garrick and Anne Batten, who cross-bred local feral goats with imported dairy goat
...
(Capra hircus)
*
Snow leopard
The snow leopard (''Panthera uncia'') is a species of large cat in the genus ''Panthera'' of the family Felidae. The species is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because ...
(Panthera uncia)
Birds
*
American white pelican
The American white pelican (''Pelecanus erythrorhynchos'') is a large aquatic soaring bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Costa Rica, in winter.
Taxonomy
The Americ ...
(''Pelecanus erythrorhynchos'')
*
Burrowing owl
The burrowing owl (''Athene cunicularia''), also called the shoco, is a small, long-legged, primarily terrestrial—though not flightless—species of owl native to the open landscapes of North and South America. They are typically found in gra ...
(''Athene cunicularia'')
* Florida
Sandhill crane
The sandhill crane (''Antigone canadensis'') is a species of large Crane (bird), cranes of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird refers to its habitat, such as the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's S ...
(''Grus canadensis pratensis)''
*
Red-tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a bird of prey that breeds throughout most of North America, from the interior of Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies. It is one of the most common members of ...
(Buteo jamaicensis)
Journey to Churchill
Journey to Churchill is an exhibit representing various habitats of
northern Manitoba
Northern Manitoba (also known as NorMan or Nor-Man) is a geographic and cultural region of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Manitoba originally encompassed only a small square around the Red River Colony, but it was extended north to the 60th ...
and is the most comprehensive northern species exhibit of its kind in the world.
The exhibit is named for the town of
Churchill, on
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay, sometimes called Hudson's Bay (usually historically), is a large body of Saline water, saltwater in northeastern Canada with a surface area of . It is located north of Ontario, west of Quebec, northeast of Manitoba, and southeast o ...
in Northern Manitoba, which is home to the largest polar bear denning area in the world. The exhibit features expansive habitats for:
*
Arctic fox
The Arctic fox (''Vulpes lagopus''), also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, is a small species of fox native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and common throughout the Tundra#Arctic tundra, Arctic tundra biome. I ...
es (''Alopex lagopus'')
*
Harbor (Common) Seal (''Phoca vitulina'')
*
Muskox
The muskox (''Ovibos moschatus'') is a hoofed mammal of the family Bovidae. Native to the Arctic, it is noted for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males during the seasonal rut, from which its name derives. This musky odor ha ...
(''Ovibos moschatus'')
*
Polar bear
The polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species can Hybrid (biology), interbreed. The polar bear is the largest extant species of bear ...
(''Ursus maritimus'')
*
Reindeer
The reindeer or caribou (''Rangifer tarandus'') is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, taiga, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. It is the only re ...
(''Rangifer tarandus'')
*
Snowy owl
The snowy owl (''Bubo scandiacus''), also known as the polar owl, the white owl and the Arctic owl, is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mo ...
s (''Nyctea scandiaca'')
The exhibit also features the Gateway to the Arctic, which includes: an underwater viewing tunnel called the Sea Ice Passage that houses polar bears and seals, who are separated by a clear wall; a short-film experience inside the 360-degree Aurora Borealis Theatre; and other interactive and interpretive components.
Inside the Journey to Churchill exhibit is also the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre (IPBCC), an interpretive center sponsored by
Calm Air
Calm Air International LP. is a full service airline, offering passenger, charter and freight services in northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. It is owned by Exchange Income Corporation with its main base in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
...
that offers information regarding polar bears, the Arctic ecosystem, research in action, climate change, etc.
Also located inside the Journey to Churchill exhibit is the Tundra Grill is a 150-seat restaurant, with views of the largest of three polar bear habitats in the exhibit.
The International Polar Bear Conservation Center was opened in January 2012, followed by the Journey to Churchill Northern Species exhibit in July 2014 as a permanent area.
Kinsmen Discovery Center
The Kinsmen Discovery Center contains six galleries about different life forms—water, grasslands, air, underground, and two forest galleries—and is the zoo's second-biggest indoor exhibit with fish, snakes, reptiles, etc.
Announced in November 1986 and originally planned to open in the fall of 1987, the center broke ground in June 1988. Costing $1.75 million, the
Kinsman Discovery Center opened on March 23, 1990, two-and-a-half years late and $550,000 over budget. It replaced the old Aunt Sally's Farm, which operated between 1959 and 1989.
A statue honoring
Winnipeg the Bear
Winnipeg (1914 – 12 May 1934), or Winnie, was the name given to a female American black bear, black bear that lived at London Zoo from 1915 until her death in 1934. Rescued by cavalry veterinarian Harry Colebourn, Winnie is best-remembered for ...
—the bear that was made famous as
Winnie-the-Pooh
Winnie-the-Pooh (also known as Edward Bear, Pooh Bear or simply Pooh) is a fictional Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepard. Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by ...
—was unveiled in 1992 and has since been relocated to the Nature Playground in the general Park area.
, species contained at the Kinsmen Discovery Center include:
Crustaceans and Insects
* Anemones
**
Bubble-tip anemone
Bubble-tip anemone (''Entacmaea quadricolor'') is a species of sea anemone in the Family (biology), family Actiniidae. Like several anemone species, ''E. quadricolor'' can support several Amphiprioninae, anemonefish species, and displays two ...
(''Entacmaea quadricolor'')
**
Pink-tipped anemone (''Condylactis'')
*
Central American giant cave cockroach (''Blaberus giganteus'')
* Crabs
**
Emerald crab (''Mithraculus sculptures'')
**
Red Reef hermit crab (''Paguristes cadenati'')
**
Thinstripe hermit crab (''Clibanarius vittatus'')
**
Tricolor hermit crab (''Clibanarius tricolor'')
*
Emerald false (shaggy mushroom) coral (''Ricordea Florida'')
* Shrimp
**
Banded coral shrimp (''Stenopus hispidus'')
**
Peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni)
* Snails
**
Antillean tooth snail (''Nerita'')
**
Channeled turban snail (''Turbo'')
**
Crowned astrea snail (''Astraea'')
**
Middle-spined cerith snail (''Cerithium'')
**
Nassarius snail (''Nassarius'')
**
Turban snail (''Turbo fluctuosus'')
**
Zebra nerite snail (''Neritina natalensis'')
Fish
*
Banded archerfish (''Toxotes jaculatrix'')
*
Bristlenose pleco (''Ancistrus'')
* Catfish
**
Blotched upside-down catfish (''Synodontis nigriventris'')
**
Featherfin squeaker catfish (''Synodontis uterus)''
*Dottybacks
**
Dottyback (''Pseudochromidae'')
**
Orchid dottyback (''Pseudochromis fridmani'')
*
Gilled African lungfish (''Protopterus amphibius'')
*
Leopard bush fish (''Ctenopoma acutirostre'')
*
Mexican blind cave fish (''Astyanax jordani'')
*
Saddled bichir (''Polypterus endlicheri'')
*
Tomini surgeon (''Ctenochaetus tominiensis'')
* Tangs
**
Blue regal (hippo) tang (''Paracanthurus hepatus'')
**
Purple (Yellow-tailed) tang (''Zebrasoma xanthurum'')
**
Yellow tang
The yellow tang (''Zebrasoma flavescens''), also known as the lemon sailfin, yellow sailfin tang or somber surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfish ...
(''Zebrasoma flavescens'')
Reptiles and Amphibians
*
Geyr's spiny-tailed lizard (''Uromastyx geyri'')
*
New Caledonia Bumpy (Gargoyle) Gecko (''Rhacodactylus auriculatus'')
*
Indian star tortoise
The Indian star tortoise (''Geochelone elegans'') is a threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where it inhabits dry areas and scrub forest. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2016, as the pop ...
(''Geochelone elegans'')
*
White's Tree (Dunny) Frog (''Pelodryas caerulea'')
Birds
* Doves
**
Black-naped fruit dove (''Ptilinopus melanospilus'')
**
Common emerald dove (''Chalcophaps indica'')
*
Tawny frogmouth
The tawny frogmouth (''Podargus strigoides'') is a species of frogmouth native to the Australian mainland and Tasmania and found throughout. It is a big-headed, stocky bird often mistaken for an owl due to its nocturnal habits and similar colouri ...
(''Podargus strigoides'')
*
Snowy-headed robin-chat (''Cossypha niveicapilla'')
*
Speckled mousebird (''Colius striatus'')
*
Violet-backed (amethyst) starling (''Cinnyricinclus leucogaster'')
* Weavers
**
Village weaver
The village weaver (''Ploceus cucullatus''), also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver (the latter leading to easy confusion with ''Ploceus melanocephalus, P. melanocephalus''), is a bird species in the family Ploceidae ...
(''Ploceus cucullatus'')
**
Taveta golden weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps)
Mammals
*
Greater spear-nosed bat
The greater spear-nosed bat (''Phyllostomus hastatus'') is a bat species of the family Phyllostomidae from South and Central America. It is one of the larger bats of this region and is omnivorous.
Habitat
''Phyllostomus hastatus'' lives in t ...
(''Phyllostomus hastatus'')
*
Prevost's squirrel
Prevost's squirrel or Asian tri-coloured squirrel (''Callosciurus prevostii'') is a colourful species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in forests in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and nearby smaller islands, with an int ...
(''Callosciurus prevostii'')
*
Slender-tailed meerkat (''Suricata suricatta'')
Open Range
The Open Range section is located at the center of the Zoo and features various animals from around the world, including:
Mammals
*
Alpine ibex (''Capra ibex'')
*
Llama
The llama (; or ) (''Lama glama'') is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a List of meat animals, meat and pack animal by Inca empire, Andean cultures since the pre-Columbian era.
Llamas are social animals and live with ...
(''Lama glama'')
*
Pronghorn
The pronghorn (, ) (''Antilocapra americana'') is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed, hoofed) mammal indigenous to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is known colloquially in North America as the American ante ...
(''Antilocapra americana'')
*
Red kangaroo
The red kangaroo (''Osphranter rufus'') is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest terrestrial mammal native to Australia, and the Largest mammals#Marsupials (Marsupialia), largest extant marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, exce ...
(''Macropus rufus'')
*
Turkmenian markhor (''Capra falconeri heptneri'')
Birds
*
Common peafowl (''Pavo cristatus'') — free roaming
*
Demoiselle crane
The demoiselle crane (''Grus virgo'') is a species of crane found in central Eurosiberia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and Northeast China. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. These cranes are migratory birds. Birds f ...
(''Anthropoides virgo'')
*
Wild turkey
The wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') is an upland game bird native to North America, one of two extant species of Turkey (bird), turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey (''M. g. dom ...
(''Meleagris gallopavo'') — free roaming
Toucan Ridge
Toucan Ridge, originally known as the Tropical House, is an exhibit featuring animal, bird, and plant life of the new-world tropics of Central and South America.
Constructed in 1971 for $500,000, the original Tropical House building first opened to the public in November 1972 and almost doubled the Zoo's total species.
Temperatures inside the Tropical House would be maintained at a constant .
In 2009, the zoo contracted with demolition company Klassen Concrete to demolish the early 1970s Tropical House. Instead of demolishing the structure, plans were implemented to repurpose the existing building while re-configuring its displays. The project took five months to complete, with infrastructure renewal costing $900,000 and exhibit renewal costing $2.1 million.
On April 20, 2011, the first new exhibit as part of the Assiniboine Park Zoo's redevelopment plans, Toucan Ridge, was opened.
As of 2021, species contained at the Toucan Ridge include:
Mammals
*
Common squirrel monkey
Common squirrel monkey is the traditional common name for several small squirrel monkey species native to the tropical areas of South America. The term common squirrel monkey had been used as the common name for ''Saimiri sciureus'' before gene ...
(''Saimiri sciureus'')
*
Cotton-top tamarin
The cotton-top tamarin (''Saguinus oedipus'') is a small New World monkey weighing less than . This New World monkey can live up to 24 years, but most of them die by 13 years. One of the smallest primates, the cotton-top tamarin is easily reco ...
(''Saguinus oedipus'')
*
Goeldi's monkey
Goeldi's marmoset, or Goeldi's monkey (''Callimico goeldii''), is a small New World monkey found on the South American continent, mainly in the upper Amazon basin of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Perú. It is the only species classified in the m ...
(''Callimico goeldii'')
*
Ocelot
The ocelot (''Leopardus pardalis'') is a medium-sized spotted Felidae, wild cat that reaches at the shoulders and weighs between on average. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, Central and South America, ...
(''Leopardus pardalis'')
*
Patagonian mara
The Patagonian mara (''Dolichotis patagonum'') is a relatively large rodent in the mara genus ''Dolichotis''. It is also known as the Patagonian cavy or Patagonian hare. This herbivorous, somewhat rabbit-like animal is found in open and semiopen ...
(''Dolichotis patagonum'')
*
Red panda
The red panda (''Ailurus fulgens''), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzz ...
(''Ailurus fulgens refulgens'')
*
Seba's short-tailed bat (''Carollia perspicillata'')
Birds
*
Blue-throated piping guan (''Pipile cumanensis'')
*
Cinnamon teal
The cinnamon teal (''Spatula cyanoptera'') is a species of duck found in western North and South America. It is a small dabbling duck, with bright reddish plumage on the male and duller brown plumage on the female. It lives in marshes and ponds, ...
(''Spatula cyanoptera'')
*
Golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of pr ...
(''Aquila chrysaetos'')
*
Monk parakeet
The monk parakeet (''Myiopsitta monachus''), also known as the monk parrot or Quaker parrot, is a species of true parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is a small, bright-green parrot with a greyish breast and greenish-yellow abdomen. Its averag ...
(''Myiopsitta monachus'')
*
Peruvian thick-knee (''Burhinus superciliaris'')
*
Red-crested wood partridge (''Rollulus rouloul'')
*
Red-winged parrot (''Aprosmictus erythropterus'')
*
Ringed teal (''Callonetta leucophrys'')
*
Roseate spoonbill
The roseate spoonbill (''Platalea ajaja'') is a social wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is a resident breeder in both South and North America. The roseate spoonbill's pink color is diet-derived, consisting of ...
(Platalea ajaja)
*
Scarlet ibis
The scarlet ibis, sometimes called red ibis (''Eudocimus ruber''), is a species of ibis in the bird family Threskiornithidae. It inhabits tropical South America and part of the Caribbean. In form, it resembles most of the other twenty-seven ex ...
(''Eudocimus ruber'')
*
Sulphur-crested cockatoo
The sulphur-crested cockatoo (''Cacatua galerita'') is a relatively large white cockatoo found in wooded habitats in Australia, New Guinea, and some of the islands of Indonesia. They can be locally very numerous, leading to them sometimes being ...
(''Cacatua galerita'')
*
Sun Conure
The sun conure (''Aratinga solstitialis''), also known as the sun parakeet, is a medium-sized, vibrantly colored parrot native to northeastern South America. The adult male and female are similar in appearance, with black beaks, predominantly gol ...
(''Aratinga solstitialis'')
*
Sunbittern
The sunbittern (''Eurypyga helias'') is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus ''Eurypyga''. It is found in Central and South America, an ...
(''Eurypyga helias'')
*
Toco toucan
The toco toucan (''Ramphastos toco'') is a species of bird in the toucan Family (biology), family Ramphastidae. It is the largest species of toucan and has a distinctive appearance, with a black body, a white throat, chest and uppertail-Covert ( ...
(''Ramphastos toco'')
*
Yellow-green grosbeak (''Caryothraustes canadensis'')
Reptiles and Amphibians
*
Axolotl
The axolotl (; from ) (''Ambystoma mexicanum'') is a neoteny, paedomorphic salamander, one that Sexual maturity, matures without undergoing metamorphosis into the terrestrial adult form; adults remain Aquatic animal, fully aquatic with obvio ...
(''Ambystoma mexicanum'')
*
Cuvier's dwarf caiman
Cuvier's dwarf caiman (''Paleosuchus palpebrosus'') is a small crocodilian in the alligator family from northern and central South America. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trini ...
(''Paleosuchus palpebrosus'')
*
Green-and-black poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus)
*
Panther chameleon (''Furcifer pardalis'')
*
Yellow-and-blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)
*
Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (''Podocnemis unifilis'')
*
Common Boa Constrictor
Fish
*
Convict cichlid
The convict cichlid (''Amatitlania nigrofasciata'') is a fish species from the family (biology), family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid. Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subje ...
(''Archocentrus nigrofasciata'')
Others
Dinosaurs Uncovered is an interactive dinosaur exhibit that opens during the summer. Outdoors, it features 17 life-size animatronic dinosaurs along a forested trail; indoors, it features dinosaur skeletons, fossils, and artifacts. It consists of species from the
Triassic
The Triassic ( ; sometimes symbolized 🝈) is a geologic period and system which spans 50.5 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.902 million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.4 Mya. The Triassic is t ...
,
Jurassic
The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 143.1 Mya. ...
, and
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...
periods, including the
Tyrannosaurus Rex
''Tyrannosaurus'' () is a genus of large theropoda, theropod dinosaur. The type species ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' ( meaning 'king' in Latin), often shortened to ''T. rex'' or colloquially t-rex, is one of the best represented theropods. It live ...
and the feathered
Dakotaraptor
''Dakotaraptor'' (meaning “thief from Dakota”) is a possible chimaeric genus of maniraptoriform theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous period. The remains have been found in the Maastrichtian-aged ...
.
The McFeetors Heavy Horse Center is a year-round exhibit that is currently home to two breeds of horses (''
Equus caballus'')—
the Percheron draft horse and the
Clydesdale draft horse—and includes a barn, pastures, paddocks, and a carriage shed. The center was announced in September 2014 and officially opened on August 28, 2015.
The Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden, located next to the Toucan Ridge exhibit, is a permanent seasonal exhibit of various butterfly species and is open from late spring to early fall. It was opened in June 2009 and covers .
Events
Major community events take place annually in both the Zoo and Park. , events held at the Zoo include the following:
* Brew at the Zoo is an event showcasing Manitoba's local craft beer, wine, and spirits industry.
* Wildest Dreams is a zoo experience offered to families facing health and/or socio-economic barriers.
* The Zoo Lights Festival is the holiday light show that takes place between the late fall and early winter months and has been held since 2019.
Former exhibits and events
* A special Australian exhibit featuring koalas from the
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in San Diego, California, United States, located in Balboa Park (San Diego), Balboa Park. It began with a collection of animals left over from the 1915 Panama–California Exposition that were brought together by its ...
was created in 1993 and was open to the public between May 12 and September 19 in the former Aunt Sally's Farm space. After the koalas left, this enclosure was used for
Matschie's tree kangaroos.
* Boo at the Zoo was started in 1996 as a Halloween event. In the first year, 40,000 people attended over ten days. By its 10th anniversary in 2006, when the Pumpkin Patch Maze, Area 54, and Boo Alley were added to the attractions, the event was attended by 57,400 visitors.
* Lights of the Wild, featuring animal light sculptures presented by the Zoo and the Society, was first opened in 1996 for 3 weeks in the winter. It was discontinued in 2000, and the lights were all sold to Portage Island of Lights.
* Stingray Beach was a rotating exhibit that debuted in 2019 on the
May long weekend. However, after a month-and-a-half, three male specimens died from undetermined causes.
* A temporary exhibit, Extreme Bugs, was featured at the Zoo during the summer of 2018.
Operations
The Zoo hosts summertime day camps for children of all ages,
as well as guided school and group tours.
Conservation and research
Located inside the Journey to Churchill exhibit, the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Center (IPBCC), named after Doug and Louise Leatherdale and sponsored by
Calm Air
Calm Air International LP. is a full service airline, offering passenger, charter and freight services in northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. It is owned by Exchange Income Corporation with its main base in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
...
, is the Zoo's central hub for research projects and conservation, as well as an interpretive center providing wildlife education.
Opened in 2012, it was established with funding from the
Government of Manitoba
The powers and structure of the provincial Government of Manitoba () are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867.
In modern Canadian use, the term "government" refers broadly to the cabinet of the day (formally the Executive Council of Manitoba, ...
as part of the provincial ''Polar Bear Protection Amendment Act'' and houses the Conservation and Research Department of Assiniboine Park Conservancy. IPBCC is overseen by an advisory board, currently chaired by Dr. Stephen Petersen, who is also the Zoo's Director of Conservation and Research.
The Zoo's
conservation efforts are focused on three areas:
arctic
The Arctic (; . ) is the polar regions of Earth, polar region of Earth that surrounds the North Pole, lying within the Arctic Circle. The Arctic region, from the IERS Reference Meridian travelling east, consists of parts of northern Norway ( ...
and
subarctic
The subarctic zone is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic, north of hemiboreal regions and covering much of Alaska, Canada, Iceland, the north of Fennoscandia, Northwestern Russia, Siberia, and the Cair ...
species conservation; Manitoba species conservation; and conservation of international species that are at risk.
As of 2021, current projects relating to arctic and subarctic species conservation include a study mapping out denning areas of polar bears; the study of polar-bear biology through non-invasive techniques; a collaborative project with researchers at the University of Manitoba into the technologies that enable the identification of individual polar bears; a project collecting and classifying underwater images of
beluga whales in the
Churchill River, in partnership with
Polar Bears International,
Zooniverse
Zooniverse is a citizen science web portal owned and operated by the Citizen Science Alliance. It is home to some of the Internet's largest, most popular and most successful Citizen science, citizen science projects. The organization grew from ...
, and
Explore.org, and support by the
RBC Foundation; and a project (sponsored by
Calm Air
Calm Air International LP. is a full service airline, offering passenger, charter and freight services in northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. It is owned by Exchange Income Corporation with its main base in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
...
) monitoring the response of
ringed and
harbor seal
The harbor (or harbour) seal (''Phoca vitulina''), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared sea ...
in the
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay, sometimes called Hudson's Bay (usually historically), is a large body of Saline water, saltwater in northeastern Canada with a surface area of . It is located north of Ontario, west of Quebec, northeast of Manitoba, and southeast o ...
to changes in sea ice.
As of 2021, current projects relating to Manitoba species conservation include:
* A
head-starting program, initiated in 2017, for
Poweshiek Skipperling
* A project involving the recovery of
burrowing owl
The burrowing owl (''Athene cunicularia''), also called the shoco, is a small, long-legged, primarily terrestrial—though not flightless—species of owl native to the open landscapes of North and South America. They are typically found in gra ...
s
* The Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) project, is currently involved in saving the
monarch butterfly
The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (''Danaus plexippus'') is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. I ...
and North American songbirds.
Admission fees
At its inception, the Zoo was made free to the public. Various attempts at raising funds (beyond taxpayer funds) had been made, including coin boxes inside the Zoo and a gift shop. By 1993, it was decided to start charging an admission fee for zoo maintenance upgrading and expansion of exhibit spaces.
In 2015, the Zoo had offered discounts on Tuesdays at the cost of $10 for adults. However that year the admission fee was raised to $12 per adult.
The Zoo has offered free children's admission during the days of the Christmas break in years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
The Zoo also offers annual membership options; an annual membership grants unlimited free admission to the zoo, as well as discounts on guest passes, food, retail, and birthday parties.
References
External links
*
*
{{authority control
Zoos in Canada
Tourist attractions in Winnipeg
Tuxedo, Winnipeg