Zoo Atlanta

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Zoo Atlanta

Date opened 1889
Location Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Land area 40 acres (0.16 km²)
Coordinates 33°43′56.928″N, 84°22′10.812″W
Number of Animals 1,000
Number of Species 250
Accreditations/
Memberships
AZA
Website

Among the Zoo's most notable holdings are three giant pandas, Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and Mei Lan, on loan from China's Chengdu Zoo until 2009. Lun Lun had been the focus of a captive-breeding program for seven years before finally giving birth to Mei Lan on September 6, 2006.

The $4.5 million Ford African Rain Forest habitat is home to 24 western lowland gorillas, one of the two largest collections of the species in North America. The Zoo was also home to the popular Willie B., a gorilla named for former Mayor of Atlanta William B. Hartsfield (as was the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport). Recently, one of Willie. B.'s former mates gave birth to twins, a very rare occurrence among gorillas in general, and extremely rare in captive ones.

Zoo Atlanta is a participant in the AZA's Species Survival Program with efforts for the red panda, and the Sumatran tiger — one of the most endangered animals in the world. Other significant animal exhibits include Sumatran orangutans, black rhinos, African elephants and a Komodo dragon. A petting zoo allows visitors to interact with several species of goats, pigs and sheep.

Contents

[edit] History

The Zoo was founded in 1889 when local lumber merchant George Gress bought a traveling zoo that had gone bankrupt (the manager had absconded with all the money) and was stranded in the city.[1] Gress also bought the Cyclorama painting, "The Battle of Atlanta," which he located next to the Zoo as the Atlanta Cyclorama. In the 1930s, the Zoo expanded with the addition of a private menagerie owned by Asa Candler, Jr., son of the founder of The Coca-Cola Company.

The Gress Zoo, later known as the Atlanta Zoological Park, gradually fell into disrepair and in 1984 was named one of the ten worst zoos in the country. In 1984 the zoo lost its accreditation with The American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, based on reports of mysterious animal deaths, sales of animals to circuses, untrained workers, and dirty, unsafe conditions.[2] In response, Atlanta hired a new administrator, Dr. Terry L. Maple of Georgia Tech, to revitalize the zoo.[citation needed] Zoo Atlanta once again gained accreditation in 1987.[3]

Maple pressed to change the name to Zoo Atlanta and brought in corporate sponsors to raise needed money. Under his administration, the zoo built and opened the aforementioned Ford African Rain Forest.

In 2007, the zoo opened the a new warthog and meerkat exhibit. They also added three new female ostriches in the Savanna exhibit. The zoo also began a master planning process to address expansion needs at the zoo's property which is currently surrounded by streets on three sides and Grant Park to the north.

[edit] Breeding Achievements

One of three Giant Pandas at the Zoo Atlanta.
One of three Giant Pandas at the Zoo Atlanta.

At 4:51 EST on September 6, 2006, the zoo's female giant panda, Lun Lun gave birth to her first cub.[4][5][6] She was artificially inseminated in March,[4][6] for the third year. During the summer, she had exhibited signs of a pregnancy or pseudo-pregnancy, but the zoo was unable to confirm the existence of a fetus. After monitoring her hormone levels and behaviors all summer, the staff was rewarded with a baby panda. The birth of this cub is the fifth panda birth in U.S. zoos in the last six years. The cub is expected to be introduced to Zoo members and guests in early 2007. Following Chinese tradition, Zoo Atlanta officials named the cub, in cooperation with the country of China, when it was 100 days old. The female cub was named Mei Lan (美兰 "Atlanta Beauty") during a naming ceremony held on December 15, 2006.[7] The final ten names were:[8][9][10]

  1. Xiao Tao — "Little Peach"
  2. Mei Tao — "Beautiful Peach"
  3. Mei Lan — "Atlanta Beauty"
  4. Mei Li (may-lee). “Beautiful.”
  5. Ming Xing — "Bright Star"
  6. Ping Bao — "Peacefulness and Precious Treasure"
  7. Cheng Ya — "Pretty Atlanta Girl From Chengdu"
  8. Ming Yue — "Bright Moon"
  9. Tai Ji — "Tai-Chi, philosophical foundation of Taoism"
  10. Chang Jiang — "Yangtze River"

[edit] Gallery

[edit] References

  1. ^ Zoo Atlanta. Roadside Georgia. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
  2. ^ "Zoo Atlanta Rebounds After Death of Animals." New York Times, 5 October 1987
  3. ^ "Zoo Atlanta Accepted." New York Times, 29 October 1987
  4. ^ a b http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14706405/ retrieved December 15, 2006
  5. ^ http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/180561.htm retrieved December 15, 2006
  6. ^ a b http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/06/panda.birth/ retrieved December 15, 2006
  7. ^ http://www.atlantamagazine.com/this_week/index.php?id=36 retrieved December 15, 2006
  8. ^ http://www.ajc.com/living/content/shared-blogs/ajc/pandas/entries/2006/11/30/name_that_panda_zoo_announces.html retrieved December 15, 2006
  9. ^ http://www.zooatlanta.org/zoo_news_panda_cub_naming.htm retrieved December 15, 2006
  10. ^ http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/191279.htm retrieved December 15, 2006

[edit] External links


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