- Chahinkapa Zoo
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Chahinkapa Zoo Date opened 1933[1] Location Wahpeton, North Dakota Coordinates 46°16′29″N 96°35′53″W / 46.2747°N 96.598°WCoordinates: 46°16′29″N 96°35′53″W / 46.2747°N 96.598°W Number of animals 200+[2] Number of species 70[2] Memberships AZA[3] Website www.chahinkapazoo.org Chahinkapa Zoo is an 18-acre (7.3 ha) zoo in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Opened in 1933 on land that had been purchased in 1903, it is the first zoo built in North Dakota. It is open May through October and by appointment during the winter. It features over 200 animals ranging from Gibbon apes to Bengal Tigers.
Chahinkapa Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1995.
Contents
History
Wahpeton purchased the land for Chahinkapa Park from the federal government in 1903. In 1933 the town established a Park Board with R.J. Hughes as director, and started the zoo with just a few animals.[1]
In the 1960s the zoo was moved to its current location, occupying 18 acres (7.3 ha) at the North end of Chahinkapa Park. The Chahinkapa Zoo Association was formed in 1974 to help plan and raise money for the zoo, and by 1984 a master plan had been developed.[1]
In 1989 the Rodger Ehnstrom Nature Center was opened as the center of educational activity in the zoo. The zoo hired its first director in 1994, and was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 1995.[1]
In April 1997 the zoo was flooded, but all animals were safely evacuated and the zoo reopened at the end of May. Subsequently a levee was constructed to protect the North side of Walpeton (including the zoo) from 500 year flood levels. The zoo was renovated at this time with new exhibits, paths, and a petting zoo.[1]
Animals
The zoo is home to more than 200 animals representing about 70 species.[4]
Primates at the zoo include orangutan, white-handed gibbon, black-handed spider monkey, black-and-white ruffed lemur, ringtailed lemur, crowned lemur, and cottontop tamarin. Grazing mammals include Bactrian camels, plains zebras, llama, alpaca, bison, Dall sheep, and elk. Other mammals include Bengal tiger, snow leopards, fossa, grizzly bear, cougar, bobcat, river otters, and red kangaroos.[4]
Birds at the zoo include bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, turkey vulture, black vulture, great horned owl, Eastern screech owl, pheasants, ducks, and Australian black swans.[4]
Reptiles at the zoo include American alligator, red-tailed boa, Burmese tortoise, Sulcata tortoise, and Eastern leopard tortoise.[4]
Carousel
The Prairie Rose Carousel is a restored 1926 wood carousel built by Spillman Engineering for Lee Funland in upstate New York. It has 20 jumping horses arranged in two rows, and two chariots. Music is provided by band organ #125 from the Johnson Organ Co. The carousel is now housed in a climate controlled pavilion.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e "A Brief Hisotry of Chahinkapa Zoo". chahinkapazoo.org. Chahinkapa Zoo. http://www.chahinkapazoo.org/about.html. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Chahinkapa Zoo". chahinkapazoo.org. Chahinkapa Zoo. http://www.chahinkapazoo.org. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ "List of Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. http://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list/. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Animals". chahinkapazoo.org. Chahinkapa Zoo. http://www.chahinkapazoo.org/Animals.html. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ "Prairie Rose Carousel". nationalcarousel.org. National Carousel Association. http://nationalcarousel.org/cgi-bin/census/census.pl?NCANo=300. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
External links
Zoos of North Dakota - Chahinkapa Zoo
- Dakota Zoo
- Red River Zoo
- Roosevelt Park Zoo
Zoos, aquariums, and aviaries Types of zoos Conservation Lists Animals Other topics - Animals in captivity
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Categories:- Zoos in North Dakota
- Nature centers in North Dakota
- Buildings and structures in Richland County, North Dakota
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