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Magnetic Hill Zoo

Magnetic Hill Zoo
Magnetic Hill Zoo (logo).png
Magnetic Hill Zoo's logo, featuring its mascot, Tomar the Siberian tiger.
Bald Eagle Magnetic Hill Zoo.jpg
A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at the Magnetic Hill Zoo.
Date opened 1953
Location 125 Magic Mountain Road
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1G 4V7
Coordinates 46°08′15″N 64°53′05″W / 46.137441°N 64.884825°W / 46.137441; -64.884825Coordinates: 46°08′15″N 64°53′05″W / 46.137441°N 64.884825°W / 46.137441; -64.884825
Land area 16 hectares (40 acres)
No. of animals 400+
No. of species 100+
Annual visitors 132,000 (2009)
Memberships CAZA
Major exhibits Insectarium, Reptile House
Website www.moncton.ca/zoo

The Magnetic Hill Zoo (French: le Zoo de Magnetic Hill, formerly the Magnetic Hill Game Farm) is a 16-hectare (40-acre) zoo located adjacent to Magnetic Hill and the Magic Mountain in the Magnetic Hill Area of Moncton, New Brunswick. The zoo has over 400 animals, making it the largest zoo in Atlantic Canada. In 2008, the zoo was rated fourth on a list of Canada's top ten zoos.

The zoo has been accredited member of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) since 1993.

The Magnetic Hill Zoo began as the Magnetic Hill Game Farm in 1953. Originally, the game farm was home to orphaned and injured indigenous species like owls, bears, and deer. The city of Moncton took over the park in 1979 and began acquiring more exotic species which served as a catalyst for the renaming the farm to Magnetic Hill Zoo.

In 1995, the zoo began a 10-acre (4.0 ha) expansion called the African Oasis. At the same time, the zoo also expanded by adding the Primate Conservation Centre, frog bog, the koi pond, bird garden, the Camel-Zebra exhibit, and a children’s playground.

In 1997-98, the Insectarium exhibit, a new entrance building, and new food facilities were built. The bears were moved to a new exhibit, which permitted them to live in a natural habitat for the first time. The zoo’s education programs received an Achievement Award from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

A new reptile house exhibit, known as the Ecodome, was opened in 2003. The Ecodome was built on the site of the former bear “pit”. The Ecodome was awarded the Environmental Enrichment Award by CAZA. Exhibits for the barbary sheep and bison were also completed.

A new expanded Education Centre with three classrooms, washrooms, an office, kitchen, first aid room, and Discovery Centre were added in 2003.

Between 2003 and 2004 exhibits were expanded or refurbished, including habitats for the otters, wolves, watusi, and eland. A deer contact area was constructed.

In 2005, construction began on the Pridelands exhibit, a habitat for lions and ostrich. The exhibit's grand opening was held in July 2006 and won the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums Environmental Enrichment Award for the exhibit. A new food concession stand was also renovated in 2005 and the zoo was awarded the New-Brunswick Top Attraction Status.


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