Montgomery Zoo Summer Camp

Join us for Montgomery Zoo Summer Camp, Safari Camp beginning June 3 - June 28 and July 8 - July 26. Campers will enjoy learning about the various animals at the Zoo and around the globe, while participating in live animal presentations, scavenger hunts, arts and craft time, animal encounters, games and much more.

Camps are geared for boys and girls, ages 5-12 years old. Montgomery Zoo members may register for Zoo Summer Camp beginning Feb 1. Non-members may register beginning April 15.

Learn more about the different animals who call the Montgomery Zoo home. You will discover new facts on some animals that may be your favorite. People can enjoy observing the animals having a good time with their treats.Penetrate deep into the jungles of South America. Travel the savannahs of Africa or the hilltops of Asia. Venture the tall grasses of the North American plains. See the Zebras graze on the plains while tigers roam nearby. Or just visit your Montgomery Zoo and see it all. Join us for a fun-packed and educational adventure. Our residents include over 500 animals from five different continents, all housed in natural, barrier-free habitats. The Zoo spans over 40 beautifully landscaped acres, offering you a magnificent view of exotic wildlife and endangered species. By leisurely stroll, or with a ride on the miniature train, the Montgomery Zoo is a sight to see! Located minutes from historic downtown Montgomery.What began in a small downtown park in Montgomery, Alabama has now grown, expanded and become a premiere American zoological facility. The Montgomery Zoo started with humble beginnings as a small children's zoo as a part of a local community park in the 1920s. While at Oak Park, the zoo housed alligators, monkeys, bears and assorted other animals. There was a small train and carousel for the children.

As the years passed and dreams grew, in 1972 the Montgomery Zoo relocated to the quickly expanding north section of town, and still its current location. The Zoo began with six acres, a small petting zoo for the children, assorted monkeys, a flight cage designed after the 1906 St. Louis World's Fair and chimpanzee named Benji.

In 1976, the Montgomery Zoo hosted its first fundraising event entitled Zoo Day. This initial event grew to become an annual event and even take on a new name: Zoo Weekend. Today, an average Zoo Weekend will play host to over 18,000 guests. In 1989, ground-breaking took place expanding the Zoo to 40 acres. After two years of hard labor, the community welcomed a new Zoo in 1991. Barrier-free and multi-species exhibits highlighted the expansion, as well as, the Zoo being divided into five continental realms: Africa, Australia, Asia, North America and South America.

Since then the Zoo has continued to grow and expand. In 1992, the cougar and lynx exhibit was opened in North American realm, the Reptile House, jaguar, and ocelot exhibit were completed in South America, as well as, the new chimpanzee and siamang exhibits opened in the Africa realm. In 1993, the bengal tiger exhibit opened in the Asian realm with one white and one orange tiger. In 1995, the bald eagle exhibit opened in North American realm and Monkey Island was completely renovated in South America.

In 1996 , the new American black bear exhibit opened and our first baby cheetah was born. A few years later in 1998, the maned wolf and Indian rhino exhibit opened. In 2003, the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum was completed and opened on Zoo property. In 2004, probably our largest undertaking began: the building of our African elephant exhibit. After a year of hard work and sweat, the exhibit opened housing three female elephants. And almost two years to the date of opening the exhibit, our first African elephant was born. This is the first African elephant born in the State of Alabama. In the same year (2007), we also experienced the first Indian rhino to be born at the Montgomery Zoo: a male calf. In March of 2008, the North American River Otter exhibit opened featuring two river otters and an addition habitat for a North American Alligator Snapping Turtle.

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