Como Zoo, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Como Zoo

1936 Como Zoo Zoological Building
Date opened	1897[1]
Location	Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
Land area	17 acres (6.9 ha)[2]
Coordinates	44°46′07″N 93°11′56″W / 44.76861°N 93.19889°W / 44.76861; -93.19889Coordinates: 44°46′07″N 93°11′56″W / 44.76861°N 93.19889°W / 44.76861; -93.19889
Number of animals	1,700[3]
Number of species	66[4]
Memberships	AZA[5]
Website	comozooconservatory.org

Como Zoo was the first zoo established in Minnesota. Founded in 1897, the zoo is located within Como Park, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Como Zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

History

The early days

Como Zoo was founded in 1897 when the city of Saint Paul received a donation of three deer and provided a simple fenced in pasture for the animals.

In 1902 the animal collection at Como Zoo was expanded to included animals native to Minnesota. Such as elk, moose, foxes, and two cebus cattle. The zoo also received donations of pets, such as a parrot, two Mexican red birds and a monkey.

In 1915, the zoo received a donation of two bison from the Governor Thomas Frankson. Also, in 1915, the Como Park's Marjorie McNeely Conservatory was built. The conservatory was used as a warm winter home for the animals.

In 1926, Como Zoo received the donation of an American Black Bear named Peggy. Her cage was built out of old iron arches already at the zoo.

The 1930s brought exotic animals to the zoo. Monkey Island was built in 1932, followed by the bear grottos, and the Main Zoological building in 1936. Along with these changes came many exotic animals from the Longfellow Gardens zoo, which closed in 1934.

In the 1940s the zoo expanded once again to include paved parking lots, a Kiddie Zoo, and a raccoon pit which later became prairie dog hill.

1950s

The 1950s brought even more changes to the zoo including Rabbitville which later was expanded into a Children's Farm Zoo. In 1955, the city officials recommended the closing of Como Zoo because the zoo and city did not have the funds to support the zoo. Soon after a Citizen Volunteer Committee was formed to help save the zoo. In 1956, through the efforts of a rich Minnesotan business man, Archie's Brand Seal show arrived at the zoo. Along with this many repairs were brought to the zoo, which brought new animals such as ostriches, jaguars, seals, llamas, baboons and monkeys. In 1957, a number of endangered animals joined the zoo including siberian tigers, gorillas, and orangutans. In 1958, Toby, a Galapagos Tortoise comes to live at the zoo. Small children were allowed to ride on Toby's back. Also, in 1958, the first siberian tigers to be raised successfully in captivity were born at Como Zoo. In 1959, Casey the Gorilla arrived at the Como Zoo and the Como Mobile Zoo started visiting local schools.

1960s & 1970s

The 1960s brought what seemed to be the end of Como Zoo. In 1966, the Metropolitan Zoo Report of the Citizen's League decided that Como Zoo could not become a major zoo facility, so planning for the Minnesota Zoo began. With this many people thought that Como Zoo would close, but, in 1969, the zoo built the original primate house where the one now stands and brought in two new lowland gorillas named Don and Donna. In 1969, the zoo was saved once again by citizens who rallied to raise funds for the zoo.

In January 1972, zoo keepers were forced to shoot Whitey, a male polar bear, to save a midnight visitor who fell into the bear grotto. In 1974, the zoo favorite galapagos tortoise, Toby, was moved to the Honolulu Zoo, where he still lives today. In 1976 a new Master Plan was created for the zoo and the State Legislature granted the zoo $8.5 million to redevelop the zoo.

1980s

The 1980s marked the beginning of new buildings at the zoo, which started in 1980 with the opening of the Large Cats exhibit. This building was just the first building built as part of the zoos new redevelopment plan. In 1982, the zoo opened its new aquatic animal building to the public. Along with a new polar bear exhibit, a new show amphitheater for the Sparky the Seal Lion Show, and Monkey Island being converted to Seal Island. Along with this came Casey II, the grandson of the Como's original Casey from Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. In 1985, Como Zoo's new primate house is built and ready to house gorillas, orangutans, lemurs, monkeys, and tamarins. In 1986, the new Land Bird and water fowl exhibit is completed with a large outdoor pool and waterfall. In 1988, the final building of the 1970s master plan was completed. The African Hoof Stock exhibit, it contained giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and two type of antelope.

1990s

In 1994, Don the gorilla died and Casey II jumped out of his exhibit and took a short stroll in the park before jumping back into his enclosure. With this came plans for a new and improved gorilla exhibit which made the walls straight up and down instead of slanted. Casey II was later moved to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.

2000s

In 2008, the zoo's giraffes had a baby. The baby had some problems walking and almost died before it was moved to the University of Minnesota for special treatment. Now the baby giraffe has returned to the zoo and is on exhibit with its parents. Also, the building of the new Polar Bear Odyssey started removing the old bear grottos to make a polar bear exhibit seven times larger than the original.

The opening of the Polar Bear Odyssey marked the start of the 2010 decade. The zoo is also planning to open up a new gorilla exhibit in 2012.

Past Exhibits

Permanent exhibits at the zoo that have been replaced over the years include Prairie Dog Hill, The Racoon Pit, Monkey Island, Rabbitville, Children's Farm Zoo, Kiddie Zoo, Deer Pasture, and the 1936 Zoological Building.

Exhibits

Bird Yard Exhibit

The bird yard is the first thing visitors of the zoo see after they leave the visitor center.^[6] The bird yard contains a large pool, waterfall, and a mill house with a water wheel. The exhibit has large rocks separating the birds from two large galapagos tortoises. Animals in the exhibit include Caribbean flamingos, Chilean flamingos, Galapagos tortoises, mallard ducks, red-breasted geese, ruddy ducks, common shelducks, swan geese, and white-faced whistling ducks.

Seal Island

Monkey Island was re-renovated into Seal Island in 1982, and is home to harbor seals and California sea lions.

Primate House

The first Como Zoo primate house was built in 1969 and was rebuilt in 1985. Animals in this exhibited include, blue-eyed lemurs, De Brazza's monkeys, emperor tamarins, Geoffroy's tamarins, spider monkeys, Western lowland gorillas, sumatran orangutans, white-faced sakis, and two-toed sloths.

Lions at Como Zoo.

Large Cats Exhibit

The large cats exhibit was finished in 1982 and moved the large cats out of the small, original zoological building into larger pastures. Cats in this exhibit include, Siberian tigers, lions, snow leopards, and cougars.

Aquatic Building

The Aquatic building was created in 1985, and is home to black-footed penguins, mudpuppies, tufted puffins, giant archerfish, and African cichlids

African Hoof Stock

The African Hoof Stock exhibit was part of the 1970s zoo master plan and was finished in the mid 1980s. Animals in this exhibit include Grant's zebras, reticulated giraffes, lesser kudu, yellow-billed storks, black crowned cranes, and ostriches.

Old Hoof Stock

The old hoof stock building is one of the oldest exhibits at the zoo, and is home to American bison, Dall's sheep, and reindeer.

Tropical Encounters Exhibit

The Tropical Encounters Exhibit was created in 2005. Animals in this exhibit include Arrau River turtles, bay-headed tanagers, black pacu, turquoise honeycreepers, emerald tree boas, golden-headed manakins, leafcutter ants, matamatas, paradise tanagers, peacock bass, red-capped cardinals, red-tailed catfish, rufous-crowned tanagers, silver-beaked tanagers, stingrays, sunbitterns, swallow tanagers, turquoise tanagers, violaceous euphonia, yellow-rumped cacique, yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles, Green Anaconda, and saffron finches.

Wolf Woods

Wolf Woods is a forested enclosure that is home to two gray wolves.

Polar Bear Odyssey

The Polar Bear Odyssey opened in 2010 and is home to the zoo's polar bears. It replaces the old bear grottoes, and is four times the size of the old polar bear exhibit. An inside viewing area lets visitors view the bears swimming and the bears' indoor facility. The viewing area includes interactive computers that show how the world is changing, including the glacier ice caps in the Arctic.

Other Attractions

Sparky the Sea Lion Show

The Sparky the Sea Lion Show is performed by Sparky, a California Sea Lion, and his trainer. In 2006, the Sparky Show celebrated its 50th year anniversary. In these fifty years there have been five different Sparkies.

Future

The zoo is currently trying to fund a project to create a new primate house with a larger gorilla exhibit. They zoo is hoping to open it by 2012.

See also

• Minnesota Zoo
• Como Zoo and Conservatory
• Zollman Zoo

Notes

1. ^ ARTiFactor (30 June 2008). "Como Park Zoo and Conservatory". comopark.us. Como Park. http://comopark.us/history-of-como-park-zoo. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 
2. ^ Area Calcularot
3. ^ Costantini, Allen (7 July 2010). "St. Paul's Como Zoo is 113-years-old, still evolving". kare11.com. KARE 11. http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=854942. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 
4. ^ "Como Park Zoo and Conservatory". comozooconservatory.org. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. http://www.comozooconservatory.org. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 
5. ^ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. http://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 
6. ^ "Zoo Map". comozooconservatory.org. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. http://www.comozooconservatory.org/downloads/ComoParkZooMap2010.pdf. Retrieved 18 September 2010. 

External links

Official website