I’ve enjoyed visiting zoos all of my life, especially on nice warm sunny days. I understand the arguments against keeping animals captive, but I think the education provided by zoos does a lot to help raise public awareness and support of wildlife conservation. Captive animals are generally well fed and cared for, and it’s fun and interesting to watch them. When our kids were young, we had annual passes to the largest zoo near our home, and visited it frequently. Everyone had a good time!
I’ve been to a lot of fine, world-class zoos in my life, the best of them being the San Diego Zoo. My brother and I visited the Milwaukee County Zoo on a lovely September day, and while it’s not up to San Diego Zoo standards, it is a fine zoo.. The zoo is big and popular, covering 190-acres. It draws about 1.3 million visitors annually and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The zoo’s roots go back to 1892, when it started as a small mammal and bird display in a barn in downtown Milwaukee. It grew quickly, reaching 23 acres and 800 animals by 1902. With the need for a larger and more modern facility, the zoo was moved to its current site near the outskirts of the city, opening in 1961. Exhibits are designed to mimic natural environments and there are special daily activities for visitors like animal feedings, animal talks and demonstrations, and seasonal events (such as summertime giraffe feeding).
Currently the zoo houses more than 2,200 animals representing over 340 species. It took us most of the day to leisurely explore the zoo’s many different areas, stopping and observing (and photographing) those things that most interested us. Some of the highlights of our visit are illustrated in these photos, and include:
Big Cat Country — A lot of the big cats were hiding and sleeping, but we did get to see these kitties:
Ape House‘s inhabitants were mostly hiding, but we did see a lovely exhibit of Japanese Macaques, illustrated in the following photos:
African elephants live in a large state-of-the-art habitat designed to keep them comfortable and entertained whatever the season.
Northwestern Mutual Family Farm a petting zoo, with the expected animals like goats and sheep. But the farm setting was nice:
More animal photos for your interest;.
If you Visit:
The zoo is located at 10001 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226. Hours vary by season but generally are from 09:30 am – 5 pm. The zoo is closed on major holidays.
Check the zoo’s website for current admission rates and special announcements.
