HISTORY OF OAKLAND ZOO

Key Events from the century

1922

Naturalist Henry Snow establishes the Snow Zoo by Lake Merritt after his 1919 – 1922 Snow Expedition to Africa for the Oakland Museum. Henry’s son, Sidney, and other family members assume the care and feeding of the growing zoo.

1925 - 1927

Noise and expansion concerns drive Henry to gift many of the animals to the City of Oakland, which are moved to Sequoia Mountain Park (now Joaquin Miller Park). Sidney continues to care for the remaining animals by Lake Merritt.

1934

Sidney convinces the Bank of Italy to assume the mortgage for Durant Park (current Oakland Zoo property). Sidney moves his animals to the park and opens the Zoo.

1937

After many of the animals die at the City’s Sequoia Mountain Park, Sidney advocates and wins the support of Oakland citizens to return the animals to the Zoo. Sidney forms the Alameda County Botanical and Zoological Society as a support organization.

1950

Sidney advocates that Durant Park become part of the State Park system. Joseph Knowland, then Chairman of the California State Park Commission, supports the effort and secures Knowland Park for the State.

1957 - 1965

Major improvements were made to the Zoo, including a new home for Effie the elephant and the opening of the Baby Zoo in 1965.

1982 - 1984

William Penn Mott, Jr., serving as Director of the Society, led the Zoo into a new era of growth and development. It included a Master Plan for the Zoo, hiring Dr. Joel Parrott, DVM as Assistant Director, establishing a fullyequipped animal hospital, and making numerous renovations on facilities and exhibits.

1985

Dr. Joel Parrott, DVM was appointed Executive Director. An even more aggressive development plan was implemented, and over the next 20 years a complete renovation of the Zoo occurred in 6 phases.

1987

The Oakland Zoo’s Education Department was established to provide school and community groups with on-site classes and a ZooMobile outreach program. Today, this department serves over 50,000 students annually.

1988

Oakland Zoo was accredited by the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA), ranking in the top 27% of Zoo’s nationwide.

1992

In January, the African lion exhibit “Simba Pori” (Swahili for “Lion Country”) opened. A pride of six lions is now residing in a savanna and woodland setting complete with kopje rock structures and a pond. Flamingo Plaza, located at the front entrance to the Zoo, opened, providing a home to 11 lesser flamingos and several African spoonbills.

1998

The African Savanna opened in April. The area features eleven animal exhibits and highlights eighteen animal species of the savanna. The landscaping contains over seventy-five plant species from South and East Africa.

1999

Maddie’s Center for Science and Environmental Education opened. The 17,500 squarefoot Education Center features four classrooms, an auditorium, a library, and a theater, as well as offices for the Education Department and Docents.

2001

The “Karibu Village,” the Zoo’s main entrance pavilion, officially opened. The 20,000 square-foot project included a new gift shop, restaurant, membership office, restrooms and outdoor dining area. The tiger exhibit’s renovation/expansion was completed in July.

2005

The Wayne and Gladys Valley Children’s Zoo was completed. Representing the largest renovation and construction in the Zoo’s history, this three-acre area features tortoise, ring-tailed lemur, otter, Malayan fruit bats, alligator, goats, a sheep barn and petting yard, play structures, and many more.

2006

The Oakland Zoo launched Zoo-toCommunity, with the goal of providing free Zoo admission and transportation to qualified schools, daycare and Head Start programs, early childhood development centers and community organizations.

2007

The clean up and restoration of the Arroyo Viejo creek, which runs through the Zoo, was completed. New additions include 6 outdoor classrooms, instructional signage, shoring up of the creek banks, and removal of non-native species.

2010

Wild Australia opened, accessible via the Outback Express Adventure Train. It’s a journey through an Australian-themed exhibit which features wallaroos and emus.

2012

Grand opening of our 17,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Wayne and Gladys Valley Veterinary Hospital, the largest wild animal veterinary facility in Northern California.

2013

The Steve and Jackie Kane Condor Recovery Center opened, a facility specifically designed to treat sick and injured condors. The Biodiversity Center also opened in 2013, serving as a breeding, research, and education facility devoted to the conservation of endangered and threatened animals, plants, and habitats.

2015

Oakland Zoo broke ground on the “California Trail,” project, doubling in size after adding 56 acres for new California native animal enclosures, a learning center, and on-site conservation activities.

2017

The Landing Café and aerial gondola open as part of the California Trail.

2017

The California Trail, 56acre expansion, opens to the public.

2021

Longtime Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joel Parrott retires; Nik Dehejia succeeds him as CEO after a 15-year tenure at the Zoo.