Seneca Park Zoo — Zoo in Rochester

Seneca Park Zoo and its collection

Seneca Park Zoo, opened in 1894, is a zoo in Rochester, United States.

The zoo lies in a park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, straddling the boundary between the city and Irondequoit beside the Genesee River. It holds over 90 species spanning mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and arachnids. It is run by Monroe County with backing from a zoo society.

History

The surrounding park opened in 1893 and animals went on show from 1894. The Main Zoo Building of 1931 was the first large addition.

Exhibits

Rocky Coasts, dating from 1997, covers species of polar and temperate coasts: snowy owls, Canada lynx, sandhill cranes, a polar bear, California sea lions and African penguins. A Step Into Africa followed in 2012, fitted with a replica Maasai hut, a dig area of cast fossils and interactive equipment. The lions there are seen from a stationary safari bus.

Things to do

Things to do include Guided Walking Tour, Rise & Shine Cart Tours, Holiday Magic Cart Tours, Beginning Bird Watching Tour and Zoo Tram.

Conservation and approach

The zoo runs public education across the region on animal and resource conservation, environmental awareness and recycling. It is much used for school trips, with purpose-built expeditions teaching set lessons on site.

What the venue says

• Trailside Cafe, open April 1–October 31 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, November 1–March 31 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
• The zoo features a large on-site parking lot that is free of charge, with designated wheelchair-accessible parking spaces available. Free street parking can also be found in the surrounding area, and finding a spot is generally considered straightforward.
• The grounds are designed to be wheelchair accessible, featuring an accessible main entrance, accessible restrooms, and wheelchair-accessible seating areas.