Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium

Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium and its collection

Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, opened in 1898, is a zoo in Pittsburgh, United States.

The site occupies 77 acres of parkland and holds over 4,000 animals of 475 species, twenty of them threatened or endangered. It began in 1898 under the name Highland Park Zoo and shifted over time from a menagerie towards a conservation body. Growth in the late 1930s came from Works Progress Administration labour and foundation gifts, and produced what was then the second largest aquarium in the country.

Exhibits

The aquarium was built in 1967 as AquaZoo, refitted in 2000, and now runs to 45,000 square feet over two floors. A half-acre indoor rainforest opened in 1991, the children's area dates from 1949 under its original name, and African Savanna came out of a master plan drawn up in 1980. Three bear enclosures built by the WPA in 1937 are the oldest structures on the site.

Conservation and approach

An elephant named Moja bore a female calf, Victoria, on 12 September 1999. The calf was the first African elephant to survive birth in North America since 1982, and the first born to a captive-born mother.

What the venue says

• animal training demonstrations
• seasonal events like ZooBoo
• Multiple concession stands, cafes, and snack kiosks are situated throughout the park grounds, offering everything from light snacks and beverages to full meals.
• Parking is completely free in the main lot located at the primary entrance.
• The grounds feature paved pathways suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, and accessibility accommodations comply with standard guidelines to ensure guests with mobility needs can navigate the terrain.