San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo and its collection

San Diego Zoo, opened in 1916, is a zoo in San Diego, United States.

The zoo occupies 100 acres leased from the city and was an early adopter of cageless, open-air habitat displays.

History

Animals stranded after the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 formed the beginning of the collection, and on 2 October 1916 Wegeforth convened the meeting that established the Zoological Society of San Diego, which he then headed as president until 1941. In its early years practice was modelled on what the Bronx Zoo, under the New York Zoological Society, was doing. Open-air habitats without cages were adopted here sooner than in most places, across 100 acres held on lease from the city.

Animals and collection

Animals on show include Giant Pandas, Koala, Red Panda and Baboon.

Exhibits

Three aviaries divide the bird collection by region: Owens Aviary holds roughly 200 tropical birds of about 45 species, Scripps Aviary dates from 1923 and holds African birds, and Parker Aviary shows South American birds alongside golden lion tamarins. Urban Jungle holds five Masai giraffes, one of them a calf born on 4 July 2025. A male Indian rhino called Maza lives there as well.

Things to do

Things to do include Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Aerial Tram.

Conservation and approach

Its Institute for Conservation Research, once the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, rears California condors among other species. Breeding work extends to a further 145 endangered species.

What the venue says

• Small snacks and personal water bottles are welcome, though large coolers and alcohol are not permitted inside.
• Highlights include _Albert’s Restaurant_ (located in the Lost Forest) for full-service chef-inspired dishes and a craft cocktail bar, and _Sabertooth Mexican Grill_ for fresh tacos, burritos, and house-made margaritas.
• Parking is $16 per vehicle, per day, for automobiles and motorcycles. Oversized vehicles are $44 per vehicle per day.
• The Zoo provides dedicated parking, restrooms, and access to experiences, tour buses, and habitat areas for guests with disabilities.
• Our ADA shuttle service is available on an on-call basis for our guests with mobility-related disabilities