Minnesota Zoo
| Date opened | May 22, 1978 |
|---|---|
| Location | Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA |
| Coordinates | 44°46′07″N 93°11′56″W / 44.76861°N 93.19889°WCoordinates: 44°46′07″N 93°11′56″W / 44.76861°N 93.19889°W |
| Land area | 485 acres (196 ha) |
| No. of animals | 2,351 |
| No. of species | 447 (2012) |
| Total volume of tanks | 1,100,000 US gallons (4,200,000 l) |
| Memberships | AZA,WAZA |
| Website | www |
The Minnesota Zoo (formerly the The New Zoo), is an AZA-accredited zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. When it opened on May 22, 1978 it was fairly revolutionary in its exhibit design. The zoo, built in a suburbanizing rural area, had more space to house exhibits and was one of the first zoos to organize its animals by their living environment as opposed to their species. Exhibits are arrayed in six themed areas, including three themed walking trails ranging from one to two miles in length:
The Minnesota Zoo is a state agency. This differs from other zoos in Minnesota and most others in the United States, which are run by municipalities or private organizations. The Minnesota Zoo charges admission and sells annual memberships.
It is also home to a high school, the School of Environmental Studies.
The Medtronic Minnesota Trail features animals native to Minnesota. The trail, which had been nearly the same since it opened in 1978, was reopened in 2007 after a year-long renovation. The trail now features a "north woods" look and includes exhibits for raccoons, coyotes, and gray wolves together with long-time residents like beaver, otter, puma, and lynx. Smaller Minnesota animals, like turtles, frogs and salamanders are featured in the exhibit’s “trailhead,” which is styled after a lodge. The quarter-mile trail takes guests through more than fifteen wildlife exhibits where they experience a variety of Minnesota landscapes, ranging from views into a beaver pond, a walk alongside a northern forest glade and a bird-watching perch in the treetops. The Minnesota Zoo received the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA) 2008 Significant Achievement Award for this trail. Animals in this area include:
The 3/4 mile Northern Trail lets visitors to animals found north of the 45th parallel. The Northern trail could also be seen from the zoo's monorail which was run year round, but permanently closed on Sept 2, 2013 as the trains were outdated and hard to find new parts for. Animals in this area include:
Part of the Northern Trail is planned to be replaced by a future exhibit called Asian Highlands. The exhibit will be divided into two: Edge of the Himalayas and Mongolian Steppe. Edge Of the Himalayas will feature snow leopards, musk deer, tragopans, markhors, and red pandas. Food carts, sheltered seating areas and restrooms will be strewn throughout the area.
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