Potter Park Zoological Gardens
Encyclopedia
The Potter Park Zoo is a 102 acres (41.3 ha) zoo
located in Lansing, Michigan
, within Lansing's Potter Park. Potter Park Zoo is the oldest public zoo in Michigan and is currently home to over 160 species of animals. The zoo is owned by the City of Lansing, and operated by Ingham County
. The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) Species Survival Plan
(SSP) designed to manage and conserve threatened
or endangered
animals. The Michigan State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
partners with the zoo to provide medical care for its animals. Zoo membership in 2008 was
about 2,800 families, or a total of 10,000 people. Peak single day attendance in July is approximately 13,000 visitors.
to Lansing in 1915. The city's supervisor of parks, H. Lee Bancroft, initially moved the elk to nearby Moores Park. The same year Charles J. Davis transferred deer
to the park, creating the city's first zoo. Moores Park continued to grow, and eventually the elk and deer, along with a bear
, two raccoon
s, and other native animals, were moved to the more spacious Potter Park in 1920. Potter Park was dedicated on July 5, 1915, and added 27 acres (10.9 ha) more land in 1917. With Potter Park Zoo's official opening in 1920, it became Michigan's first public zoo. The next year a pavilion was completed, one of the zoo's first buildings. Lansing resident Sophie Turner donated 17 acres (6.9 ha) to Potter Park Zoo, increasing the park's size to 102 acres (41.3 ha).
The Bird
and Reptile
House was completed in 1929; the following year the Lion
House opened. Monkey
Island, now the bighorn sheep
exhibit, was constructed by the Works Progress Administration
in 1936. The aviary
was constructed in 1941, with renovations completed in 1982. The barnyard
and petting zoo
were added in 1949. The zoo's first African lion, Pete, who lived there for twenty years, died in 1947. The zoo's Bengal tiger
, Bobo, died in 1949. By the 1950s, Potter Park Zoo had 138 mammals and 267 birds. Among these were several monkey
species, including rhesus
, ringtail, spider
, and African green monkeys. One of the most popular animals at the zoo during this time was Herman, a Mexican burro
, whom the zoo acquired from the Shrine Circus
in 1951.
s afterward until the late 1960s when the zoo began a decline from municipal neglect. However, in 1969, Jim Hough, a then-columnist of the Lansing State Journal
, used his column to bring together concerned citizens and local-area residents to raise money to help revitalize the zoo. The same year, the Friends of the Zoo Society was formed. Their fund raising paid off when they earned enough money to purchase the zoo's first elephant
, Bingo, in 1972 for $4,453. In 1974 a railroad was constructed, offering rides for 25¢.
An outdoor magellanic penguin
exhibit, with a canopy, was added to Potter Park Zoo in 1985. In 1986 Potter Park Zoo received American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, at the time one of the smallest zoos in the country to achieve that status. AZA accreditation allows the zoo to house and care for endangered species
. Also that year, the Friends of the Zoo Society became the Potter Park Zoological Society, and incorporated as an organization. The zoo's Lion House was extensively renovated in 1989 and became known as the Feline
and Primate
Building. In 1992 rare triplet Amur (Siberian) tiger cubs were born at the zoo.
's Today Show. Also that year, the River Otter and Arctic Fox exhibits opened.
In April 2006 Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero submitted a request to the Ingham County
Board of Commissioners to put on the ballot in November of that year a proposal to hand over operation and maintenance of Potter Park and Potter Park Zoo to Ingham County. The county board formed a city/council zoo task force, and the result of that was an agreement between the two entities that the City of Lansing would lease the zoo and park to Ingham County under the condition that an attached millage of $3.2 million was passed by county residents. The millage passed on November 2, 2006.
Potter Park Zoo's two black rhinos, Spike and Ebony, died in February and April 2008, respectively. The zoo announced preliminary plans for a new, expanded eastern black rhinoceros
exhibit on January 7, 2009. The $1.5 million renovation includes an expanded rhino building, doubling the size of the rhino yard with shade, mud, and water hole areas, and a canopied viewing area for visitors, designed to provide a more natural habitat
for the animals. Zookeeper Jack Hanna
appeared at Potter Park Zoo in April 2009 to support the expansion project. In 2009 the Wings from Down Under aviary
opened, allowing guests to interact with more than 600 Australia
n birds.
a female snow leopard
, believed to be the world first successful procedure without surgery or anesthesia
. The zoo's 11-year-old female, Serena, was matched with Kaz, a male from the Grand Rapids
John Ball Zoo. Potter Park's 28-year-old mandrill
, Gladys, died in April 2010. The primate
first arrived at the zoo in 1989. In July 2010 the zoo's 21-year-old river otter, Shaq, one of the oldest in the United States, was euthanized due to a decline in health. In August 2010 Potter Park Zoo became one of 19 international locations to be accredited with a postdoctoral veterinary
residency program by the American College of Zoological Medicine
. A 1060 ft2 expanded Eurasian Eagle-owl exhibit reopened in September. A mandrill was born at the zoo in November 2010, bringing the zoo's total to four. In December the zoo acquired a second snow leopard, Ramir, a 13-year-old from the Sacramento Zoo, as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Species Survival Plan
. The same month, a 15-year-old Bactrian camel
, Newton, had to be euthanized due to arthritis
. In June 2011 two eastern black rhinoceros arrived at the zoo in preparation for the new 8000 ft2 exhibit's opening in October. Three female amur tiger cubs were born in September, increasing the zoo's tiger population to five.
s, lemur
s, mandrill
s, and endangered tamarin monkeys. The Bird and Reptile House features boas, gila monster
s, emerald tree snakes, macaw
s, owl
s, and endangered Bali mynahs.
Near the entrance to the zoo, next to the Exploration and Discovery Center for Education, is the coral reef exhibit, with exotic fish
, crustacean
s, eel
s, and coral
s. Children can pet and, in some cases, feed the animals at the barnyard and petting zoo. Located there are goat
s, burro
s, reindeer
, yak
s, toy pigs, tortoise
s, and rabbit
s.
Wings from Down Under opened in the spring of 2009. Visitors can feed and interact with over 600 grass parakeets, cockatiel
s, and eastern rosella
s. The exhibit is open seasonally. Camel rides and pony rides are available during warmer months.
There are gardens and a pond with duck
s, geese, swan
s, and pelican
s. Other animals at the zoo include kangaroo
s, penguin
s, river otters, bongo
s, bald eagle
s, eastern timberwolves, red panda
s, arctic fox
es, and porcupine
s.
A gift shop is located near the front of the zoo. An outdoor restaurant is located at the back end of the zoo.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
located in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, within Lansing's Potter Park. Potter Park Zoo is the oldest public zoo in Michigan and is currently home to over 160 species of animals. The zoo is owned by the City of Lansing, and operated by Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
. The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA) Species Survival Plan
Species Survival Plan
The American Species Survival Plan or SSP program was developed in 1981 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild....
(SSP) designed to manage and conserve threatened
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
or endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
animals. The Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
College of Veterinary Medicine
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
The Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine was founded in 1910 and awards about 100 DVM degrees each year. It is the only veterinary college in Michigan. It is composed of the departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Microbiology,...
partners with the zoo to provide medical care for its animals. Zoo membership in 2008 was
about 2,800 families, or a total of 10,000 people. Peak single day attendance in July is approximately 13,000 visitors.
Early 1900s
Lansing's zoo originated in 1912 with the donation of 58 acres (23.5 ha) of land to the city by J. W. and Sarah Potter, a prominent Lansing couple, for Potter Park. The James M. Turner estate donated a herd of elkElk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
to Lansing in 1915. The city's supervisor of parks, H. Lee Bancroft, initially moved the elk to nearby Moores Park. The same year Charles J. Davis transferred deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
to the park, creating the city's first zoo. Moores Park continued to grow, and eventually the elk and deer, along with a bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
, two raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
s, and other native animals, were moved to the more spacious Potter Park in 1920. Potter Park was dedicated on July 5, 1915, and added 27 acres (10.9 ha) more land in 1917. With Potter Park Zoo's official opening in 1920, it became Michigan's first public zoo. The next year a pavilion was completed, one of the zoo's first buildings. Lansing resident Sophie Turner donated 17 acres (6.9 ha) to Potter Park Zoo, increasing the park's size to 102 acres (41.3 ha).
The Bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
and Reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
House was completed in 1929; the following year the Lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
House opened. Monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
Island, now the bighorn sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
exhibit, was constructed by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
in 1936. The aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
was constructed in 1941, with renovations completed in 1982. The barnyard
Barnyard
A barnyard or farmyard is a yard adjoined to a barn . As a combination of architecture and landscape design, the barnyard is less common now than in former times, especially since the tractor and truck have replaced the horse and wagon.A barnyard of the 19th century was fenced-in an area of or...
and petting zoo
Petting zoo
A petting zoo features a combination of domestic animals and some wild species that are docile enough to touch and feed. In addition to independent petting zoos, also called children's farms or petting farms, many general zoos contain a petting zoo...
were added in 1949. The zoo's first African lion, Pete, who lived there for twenty years, died in 1947. The zoo's Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
, Bobo, died in 1949. By the 1950s, Potter Park Zoo had 138 mammals and 267 birds. Among these were several monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
species, including rhesus
Rhesus Macaque
The Rhesus macaque , also called the Rhesus monkey, is one of the best-known species of Old World monkeys. It is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and its tolerance of a broad range of habitats...
, ringtail, spider
Spider monkey
Spider monkeys of the genus Ateles are New World monkeys in the subfamily Atelinae, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil...
, and African green monkeys. One of the most popular animals at the zoo during this time was Herman, a Mexican burro
Burro
The burro is a small donkey used primarily as a pack animal. In addition, significant numbers of feral burros live in the Southwestern United States, where they are protected by law, and in Mexico...
, whom the zoo acquired from the Shrine Circus
Shrine Circus
The Shrine Circus is a circus founded in the United States in 1906. It travels to roughly 120 cities per year in the United States and a separate unit travels to about 40 in Canada. It is affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a.k.a. Shriners.-History:The first...
in 1951.
1960s-1990s
The zoo grew for the decadeDecade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
s afterward until the late 1960s when the zoo began a decline from municipal neglect. However, in 1969, Jim Hough, a then-columnist of the Lansing State Journal
Lansing State Journal
The Lansing State Journal is a daily newspaper published in Lansing, Michigan owned by Gannett.-Overview:The Lansing State Journal is the sole daily newspaper published in metropolitan Lansing...
, used his column to bring together concerned citizens and local-area residents to raise money to help revitalize the zoo. The same year, the Friends of the Zoo Society was formed. Their fund raising paid off when they earned enough money to purchase the zoo's first elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
, Bingo, in 1972 for $4,453. In 1974 a railroad was constructed, offering rides for 25¢.
An outdoor magellanic penguin
Magellanic Penguin
The Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, is a South American penguin, breeding in coastal Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands, with some migrating to Brazil where they are occasionally seen as far north as Rio de Janeiro. It is the most numerous of the Spheniscus penguins. Its nearest...
exhibit, with a canopy, was added to Potter Park Zoo in 1985. In 1986 Potter Park Zoo received American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, at the time one of the smallest zoos in the country to achieve that status. AZA accreditation allows the zoo to house and care for endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
. Also that year, the Friends of the Zoo Society became the Potter Park Zoological Society, and incorporated as an organization. The zoo's Lion House was extensively renovated in 1989 and became known as the Feline
Felidae
Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
and Primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
Building. In 1992 rare triplet Amur (Siberian) tiger cubs were born at the zoo.
2000s
The zoo's Exploration and Discovery Center for Education opened in 2000. The facility includes classrooms, an educational exhibit room for wildlife presentations, the Safari Room for meetings, and offices for the Potter Park Zoo Society and its volunteers. In 2003 Ivan, the zoo's 20-year-old Amur tiger, died. He was the oldest living Amur tiger in North America. In 2005 endangered tiger cubs were born at Potter Park Zoo; later, they were featured on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Today Show. Also that year, the River Otter and Arctic Fox exhibits opened.
In April 2006 Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero submitted a request to the Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
Board of Commissioners to put on the ballot in November of that year a proposal to hand over operation and maintenance of Potter Park and Potter Park Zoo to Ingham County. The county board formed a city/council zoo task force, and the result of that was an agreement between the two entities that the City of Lansing would lease the zoo and park to Ingham County under the condition that an attached millage of $3.2 million was passed by county residents. The millage passed on November 2, 2006.
Potter Park Zoo's two black rhinos, Spike and Ebony, died in February and April 2008, respectively. The zoo announced preliminary plans for a new, expanded eastern black rhinoceros
Eastern Black Rhinoceros
The Eastern Black Rhinoceros is also known as the East African Black Rhinoceros. It is a subspecies of the Black Rhino...
exhibit on January 7, 2009. The $1.5 million renovation includes an expanded rhino building, doubling the size of the rhino yard with shade, mud, and water hole areas, and a canopied viewing area for visitors, designed to provide a more natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
for the animals. Zookeeper Jack Hanna
Jack Hanna
John Bushnell "Jack" Hanna is an American zookeeper who is the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He was Director of the zoo from 1978 to 1993, and is viewed as largely responsible for elevating its quality and reputation. His media appearances have made him one of the most...
appeared at Potter Park Zoo in April 2009 to support the expansion project. In 2009 the Wings from Down Under aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
opened, allowing guests to interact with more than 600 Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n birds.
2010s
In March 2010 Potter Park Zoo artificially inseminatedArtificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
a female snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
, believed to be the world first successful procedure without surgery or anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
. The zoo's 11-year-old female, Serena, was matched with Kaz, a male from the Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
John Ball Zoo. Potter Park's 28-year-old mandrill
Mandrill
The mandrill is a primate of the Old World monkey family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the drill. Both the mandrill and the drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus...
, Gladys, died in April 2010. The primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
first arrived at the zoo in 1989. In July 2010 the zoo's 21-year-old river otter, Shaq, one of the oldest in the United States, was euthanized due to a decline in health. In August 2010 Potter Park Zoo became one of 19 international locations to be accredited with a postdoctoral veterinary
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
residency program by the American College of Zoological Medicine
American College of Zoological Medicine
American College of Zoological Medicine was established in 1983 as an international specialty organization of veterinarians with special expertise in zoological medicine.The ACZM was established to encourage medical research that benefits wild animals...
. A 1060 ft2 expanded Eurasian Eagle-owl exhibit reopened in September. A mandrill was born at the zoo in November 2010, bringing the zoo's total to four. In December the zoo acquired a second snow leopard, Ramir, a 13-year-old from the Sacramento Zoo, as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
Species Survival Plan
Species Survival Plan
The American Species Survival Plan or SSP program was developed in 1981 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild....
. The same month, a 15-year-old Bactrian camel
Bactrian camel
The Bactrian camel is a large, even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of central Asia. It is presently restricted in the wild to remote regions of the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts of Mongolia and Xinjiang. A small number of wild Bactrian camels still roam the Mangystau Province of southwest...
, Newton, had to be euthanized due to arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
. In June 2011 two eastern black rhinoceros arrived at the zoo in preparation for the new 8000 ft2 exhibit's opening in October. Three female amur tiger cubs were born in September, increasing the zoo's tiger population to five.
Current and future development
Potter Park Zoo's most recent master plan was released in January 2010. In the master plan, goals for the zoo include:- an emphasis on the natural habit of the nearby Red Cedar River
- a focus on ecologyEcologyEcology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
and wildlifeWildlifeWildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
of Michigan and other areas of the world with similar ecosystems - an improved visitor experience through better signage and a sense of immersion in the animals' natural habitats
Annual events
- Trees are planted at Potter Park Zoo during its annual Arbor DayArbor DayArbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.Many...
celebration. Elementary students from across mid-MichiganCentral MichiganCentral Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and...
attend the event.
- On Mother's Day the zoo offers children's projects, animal enrichment programs, live animal presentations, and free carnations for mothers. Mothers, fathers, and grandparents receive free admission to the zoo on their respective holidays.
- In mid-July L&L Zoo Days offers reduced admission and shuttle service to the zoo, food sampling, and face painting.
- Boo at the Zoo is an annual HalloweenHalloweenHallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
celebration at the zoo. The weekend-long event is geared for children.
- The Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo runs from late November to late December. The event features Holiday carolers, musical performances, and ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
light displays. In early December, children can have Breakfast with SantaSanta ClausSanta Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
and Mrs. Claus at the zoo.
Animals and exhibits
The Potter Park Zoo's Feline and Primate Building houses two Amur (Siberian) tigers, African lions, snow leopardSnow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
s, lemur
Lemur
Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
s, mandrill
Mandrill
The mandrill is a primate of the Old World monkey family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the drill. Both the mandrill and the drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus...
s, and endangered tamarin monkeys. The Bird and Reptile House features boas, gila monster
Gila monster
The Gila monster is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora...
s, emerald tree snakes, macaw
Macaw
Macaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca...
s, owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
s, and endangered Bali mynahs.
Near the entrance to the zoo, next to the Exploration and Discovery Center for Education, is the coral reef exhibit, with exotic fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s, eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
s, and coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
s. Children can pet and, in some cases, feed the animals at the barnyard and petting zoo. Located there are goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s, burro
Burro
The burro is a small donkey used primarily as a pack animal. In addition, significant numbers of feral burros live in the Southwestern United States, where they are protected by law, and in Mexico...
s, reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
, yak
Yak
The yak, Bos grunniens or Bos mutus, is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. In addition to a large domestic population, there is a small, vulnerable wild yak population...
s, toy pigs, tortoise
Tortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
s, and rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s.
Wings from Down Under opened in the spring of 2009. Visitors can feed and interact with over 600 grass parakeets, cockatiel
Cockatiel
The Cockatiel , also known as the Quarrion and the Weiro, is the smallest cockatoo endemic to Australia. They are prized as a household pet and companion parrot throughout the world and are relatively easy to breed...
s, and eastern rosella
Eastern Rosella
The Eastern Rosella is a rosella native to southeast of the Australian continent and to Tasmania. It has been introduced to New Zealand where feral populations are found in the North Island and in the hills around Dunedin in the South Island.-Taxonomy:The Eastern Rosella was named by...
s. The exhibit is open seasonally. Camel rides and pony rides are available during warmer months.
There are gardens and a pond with duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s, geese, swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
s, and pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s. Other animals at the zoo include kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
s, penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
s, river otters, bongo
Bongo (antelope)
The western or lowland bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus, is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate and among the largest of the African forest antelope species....
s, bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s, eastern timberwolves, red panda
Red Panda
The red panda , is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs...
s, arctic fox
Arctic fox
The arctic fox , also known as the white fox, polar fox or snow fox, is a small fox native to Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. The Greek word alopex, means a fox and Vulpes is the Latin version...
es, and porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
s.
A gift shop is located near the front of the zoo. An outdoor restaurant is located at the back end of the zoo.
See also
- List of Zoos in the United States
- Lansing, Michigan Culture