The Sacramento Zoo

Mission:

The mission of the Sacramento Zoological Society is to inspire appreciation, understanding and respect for all living things through stimulating education, wholesome recreation and innovative species management.

History:

Eighty years ago “the little zoo in the park” was born. The William Land Park Zoo opened on June 2, 1927 as the City of Sacramento brought together an assortment of animals from area parks. At that time, the 4.2 acre zoo was home to a diverse collection of 40 animals that included monkeys, raccoons, birds, deer and various other small animals.

A male giraffe arrived from Africa to be with "Lady" during the fall of 1954. The Sacramento Zoological Society formed in 1956 to support and raise funds for the city zoo, and would later take over day-to-day management of zoo operations in July 1997 under an alliance agreement with the city.

In the early 1960s, the zoo was enlarged to its current 14.3 acres and new habitats were built in nearly every area of the zoo. "Bruno" the grizzly bear and two orangutans arrived in 1965 and the Zoo began charging admission - 25 cents.

In 1970, the Sacramento City Council adopted the name Sacramento Zoo, completed the Reptile House and SZS approved the creation of a Docent Program to help educate zoo visitors and school groups.

During the 1980s, zoos began to provide a new experience for visitors by replacing the iron bars and concrete walls of cages with protective moats, bigger animal enclosures and more natural habitats. At this time the Sacramento Zoo went through a period of exciting growth and added new habitats for the chimpanzees and orangutans, renovated the lion and tiger grottos, and adopted a long-range master plan for continued improvements and additions to the zoo.

In the ‘90s, the zoo added the Rare Feline Center, golden-headed lion tamarin and snow leopard exhibits; climbing trees for the orangutans; and the Lake Victoria complex with its collection of flamingos and other waterfowl. "Winky" the elephant moved to the Detroit Zoo and Zoo memberships reached 10,000.