Just north of the Detroit city limits, tourists can visit the Detroit zoo, which is home to almost 7,000 animals. With over 270 species, including some endangered species, this zoo is one of the largest and most popular in the area. They also work to protect, preserve, and research the animal species represented at this zoo.
The Detroit Zoo was founded in 1883. At this point, it was located on Michigan and Trumbull Avenues, which is across the street from Comerica Park, the Tigers ballpark. In the 1880s, a circus came to Detroit, but while there, it went bankrupt. A Detroit philanthropist purchased the animals and started the zoo. Just a year later, the zoo closed, but in 1911, a society formed to reopen it. That occurred in 1928, when the zoo moved to Royal Oak, and Detroit became the first city in the United States to have a "cageless'' zoo. Some of the earliest exhibits, which still exist today, include Bear Den, Baboon Rock, the Reptile House, the Giraffe Encounter, and the Elk Exhibit.
Today, some of the most popular exhibits are those centered on the zoo's Species Survival Plans or SSPs. American SSPs were first developed in the 1980s, and they are meant to help ensure the survival of species in zoos and aquariums. Some of the endangered species at the Detroit Zoo include trumpeter swans, partula snails, polar bears, and wolverines. However, there are some animals that visitors will not find at the zoo. In 2005, they became the first zoo in the country to voluntarily give animals to another zoo on ethical grounds. They admitted that Michigan winters are too cold for these animals and it wasn't right to keep them indoors confined for months on end. Since then, other northern zoos have also relocated some of their animals.
One of the most popular exhibits at the Detroit Zoo is the Arctic Ring of Life, which first opened in 2001 and is the world's largest polar bear exhibit. The bears have a 300,000-gallon aquarium that has a 70-foot long, 12-foot tall tunnel, which is made of four-inch thick clear acrylic walls. The bears swim over and beside the tunnel, giving visitors a unique view of the animals, especially as they are being fed.
Another popular exhibit is the Australian Outback Adventure, which first opened in 2006. This exhibit covers two acres and has both red kangaroos and wallabies. Visitors walk through the area on a designated path, but there are only small wire fences separating the trails from the habitat, so the animals can hop around freely, even when guests are on the trail.
Along with viewing animals, visitors can ride the park's railroad, participate in animal feeding demonstrations, and go on picnics in any of the designated areas. Guided tours are available for group with an advance reservation, and there are several refreshment stands throughout the area that sell pizza, fries, chicken tenders, hamburgers, ice cream, and drinks. There are also regular events and special exhibits throughout the year, and to learn more, guests can call 248-541-5717.
