by Jan Lazor

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: August 13, 2009

A world of adventure awaits guests and visitors who step through the gates at the Birmingham, Alabama Zoo. The zoological park is located on 122 acres at 2630 Cahaba Road, near the Botanical Gardens.

Whether you begin your adventure at the lorikeet aviary or start your day with a camel ride, weather permitting, there is always something happening at Alabama's number one tourist attraction. More than 500,000 people visit the zoo each year.

Visitors can stroll through the aviary where birds roam free in a natural habitat. With a little encouragement and a cup of nectar, colorful lorikeet parrots will perch on the arms of patrons and sip nectar from a hand held cup. Guests can visit the predatory animal exhibit and marvel at a white Bengal tiger and a variety of hunter felines as they sharpen their claws and wait for lunch.

Today's majestic zoo has come a long way from its humble beginnings when the animal collection was housed in a neighborhood firehouse. Today more than 750 animals call the Birmingham Zoo home. The collection includes about 200 different species of mammals, fowl and reptiles.

The idea of establishing a zoo in Birmingham began in 1946 when the Junior Chamber of Commerce presented the concept to the city council. The zoo didn't happen overnight. Government leaders appointed a committee to study the possibility and selected Elton B. Stephens to chair the panel.

Planning for the animal park continued until 1949 when city officials agreed to set-up the zoo on 50 acres of land and budgeted $250,000 dollars for the project. Locally the zoo became known as the Jimmy Morgan Zoo in honor of then Mayor James Morgan, a staunch supporter of the animal park.

Thus, the Birmingham Zoo was born.

The zoo's first exhibit, Monkey Island opened in April of 1955. That was also the year the zoo's first elephants, Mona and Susie, arrived in Birmingham. The zoo continued to rely on city funding to keep its animals housed and fed. But more and more demands were being placed on the city coffers. The Zoological Society formed in 1955 to help raise supplemental money to meet the growing needs at the park.

Birmingham continued to fund the zoo until 1999, when it established itself as a non-profit organization. Today zoo officials have developed creative ways to fund the park's needs through community campaigns, art auctions, membership drives and various programs.

Currently contributions are needed to enlarge and enhance the zoo's Trails of Africa exhibit. Zoo officials are striving to make their elephant facility a premier conservation and care facility for the massive mammals.

Today the zoo is one of 218 animal maintenance facilities which have earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The designation places Birmingham's Zoo in the top 10 percent of animal management facilities.

Admission to the animal park is $7 for children ages 2-12. Adult admission is $12 and senior citizens can visit the animals for $7. Hours are 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. During the summer months extended hours are also offered three days a week. If you are looking for a bargain, admission is half price on Tuesdays.

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