John Ball Park
Encyclopedia
John Ball Zoological Garden is an urban park
located on the west side of the city of Grand Rapids
, Michigan
, USA. The John Ball Zoo is situated on the ravines and bluffs along the west edge of the park.
The zoo houses a variety of animals from around the world and is a significant regional attraction. With the Zoo School and Wildlife Conservation Fund the zoo gives something back to the community and world as a whole.
The zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA), and was the first zoo in Michigan to receive accreditation.
upon his death in 1884. Shortly after, another 100 acre (0.404686 km²) would be added and this marked the beginning of additional amenities, including ponds, a theater, a band shell, playground
s, ball fields, trail
s and the zoo
. City commission records provide the first mention of animals at the park in 1891, when there was a debate about whether city money should be used to purchase more animals to add to the existing wounded and orphaned animals at the park.
During the Great Depression
, the Zoo fell on hard times. Most of the collection was given away to other zoos. The buffalo
and deer
were butchered to help feed the poor. Only a few aging animals remained.
Island exhibit, the first major exhibit ever built, was started in 1949 with an opening date of June 1, 1950. During the 50-60s John Ball Zoo was built in the hills of the park.
. Kent County continues to operate and maintain the park and zoo.
During the 1990s the zoo
expanded with the building
of Living Shores Aquarium
, which is the only aquarium in the state
of Michigan
, and new cafe eating area outside of it. Also done at the same time was a new Bald Eagle
Aviary
. The Mokomboso Valley Chimpanzee
Exhibit opened in 2001.
From 2000-2003 controversy arose over idea of moving the zoo further in to the flatlands of the park for an Elephant
exhibit. It pitted the Zoo/Zoo Society against the neighbors of the park. The neighbors tried to get city of Grand Rapids to designate the whole Zoo and Park as an historical site as one way to stop the further development of the zoo. In order to stop the arguing Fred Meijer offered to donate land and money if the Zoo would move.
In 2004, a ballot was put forward to voters in Kent County
to relocate the John Ball Zoological Gardens; the referendum was defeated, and the zoo will remain at its current location for the foreseeable future.
In 2005, a new 75 - 100 million dollar master plan for the zoo was made involving all 140 acre (0.5665604 km²) of the zoo and park. Besides the existing Camel
s, African Veldt, Chimp
s, Petting Zoo, and Animal Hospital exhibits, it reworks the whole zoo. The new plan for the zoo features a system of streams named "Grand Rivers of the World" that would connect the zoo to the park surrounding the zoo.
On April 27, 2007 the zoo broke ground on the first phase of the new master plan, starting construction of an 4.1 million dollar 0.3 acres (1,214.1 m²) "BISSELL Lion
s of Lake Manyara
" exhibit. The zoo has not had a lion since "Gilda", their last lion, died of old age in 2005. The exhibit was built for six lions, but only three were placed in the exhibit.
On June 21, 2008 The new green
lion exhibit was open to the public.
Kent County including in the 2008-2009 Capital Improvement Allocation half the cost of renovation
of the Monkey Island Exhibit. The other half of renovation is supposed to come from the Zoo Society. As expected the Spider Monkey
s roamed the new island May 2009. The waist high concrete
wall that surround the Exhibit will be removed. The Cement floor and rocks of the exhibit and moat
will be removed and replaced with grass and more natural looking rocks.
Most animal
s at John Ball Zoo were born in another zoo
. Few of the animals are taken from the wild. Almost all the wild animals are at the zoo because they sustained injuries and can no longer live in their natural habitat.
The zoo added to it animal collection in 2004 a Komodo Dragon
named Precious. He is 7 feet (2.1 m) long, is a fierce carnivore with razor sharp teeth and killer saliva. Precious is on exhibit outside the Treasure of the Tropics building during summer, and inside during the fall, winter, and spring.
During 2005 the zoo created an Australian walk though exhibit that featured Wallabies
and Budgies
. The wallabies, if they want to, can come out in the walk way to be petted.
On May 9, 2007 the Otter
s had a baby boy. It first went out in the exhibit mid July.
In early September the female
Black-footed cat
had two kittens.
The ring-tailed lemur
exhibit was started in March 2009 came out in May
In 2010, the zoo brought in a troop of guinea baboons, the largest alligator
outside of Florida
, moved their flamingos to another pond, and alterd the old tiger exhibit to hold a rock hyrax
and a group of colobus monkeys.
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Fish
for the Grand Rapids Public Schools
. Each year sixty students are selected for the School. The school teaches the normal school subjects but with a specialization using the zoo as a lab. John Ball Zoo school has extra curricular studies and the students get in based mostly on their MEAP scores. The students have to be very smart and capable of doing large projects, including studying current events and environmental issues. Zoo school students learn mostly by hands-on experiences; they get to go up to the zoo, go inside the animals cages, and other participate in other activities regular students don't get to do at a normal school.
John Ball Zoo School is the second best middle school in Michigan, and Blandford Environmental Education Program is third best middle school in the state.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
located on the west side of the city of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, USA. The John Ball Zoo is situated on the ravines and bluffs along the west edge of the park.
The zoo houses a variety of animals from around the world and is a significant regional attraction. With the Zoo School and Wildlife Conservation Fund the zoo gives something back to the community and world as a whole.
The zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA), and was the first zoo in Michigan to receive accreditation.
Early History
The original 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of the park was donated to the city by noted pioneer and explorer John BallJohn Ball (pioneer)
John Ball was born at Tenny Hill, Hebron, Grafton County, New Hampshire. He had a common school education and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1820. He studied law two years at Lansingburgh, New York and then went to Darien, Georgia where he was shipwrecked and taught school for the winter...
upon his death in 1884. Shortly after, another 100 acre (0.404686 km²) would be added and this marked the beginning of additional amenities, including ponds, a theater, a band shell, playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
s, ball fields, trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s and the zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
. City commission records provide the first mention of animals at the park in 1891, when there was a debate about whether city money should be used to purchase more animals to add to the existing wounded and orphaned animals at the park.
During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the Zoo fell on hard times. Most of the collection was given away to other zoos. The buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
and deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
were butchered to help feed the poor. Only a few aging animals remained.
Rebirth of the Zoo
During 1949, Katherine Whinery approached the mayor of Grand Rapids about resurrecting the zoo by forming a Zoo Society. A deal was formed that if a zoo society could be formed, the city would hire a Zoo Director to run the zoo. Fred Meyer was hired as the first director of the zoo. Construction of the MonkeyMonkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
Island exhibit, the first major exhibit ever built, was started in 1949 with an opening date of June 1, 1950. During the 50-60s John Ball Zoo was built in the hills of the park.
Recent History
The John Ball Park and Zoo were operated by the City of Grand Rapids until 1989, when the park, known as a regional asset because of the zoo, was sold to Kent CountyKent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
. Kent County continues to operate and maintain the park and zoo.
During the 1990s the zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
expanded with the building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
of Living Shores Aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, which is the only aquarium in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and new cafe eating area outside of it. Also done at the same time was a new Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
Aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
. The Mokomboso Valley Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
Exhibit opened in 2001.
From 2000-2003 controversy arose over idea of moving the zoo further in to the flatlands of the park for an Elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
exhibit. It pitted the Zoo/Zoo Society against the neighbors of the park. The neighbors tried to get city of Grand Rapids to designate the whole Zoo and Park as an historical site as one way to stop the further development of the zoo. In order to stop the arguing Fred Meijer offered to donate land and money if the Zoo would move.
In 2004, a ballot was put forward to voters in Kent County
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
to relocate the John Ball Zoological Gardens; the referendum was defeated, and the zoo will remain at its current location for the foreseeable future.
Camel
A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...
s, African Veldt, Chimp
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s, Petting Zoo, and Animal Hospital exhibits, it reworks the whole zoo. The new plan for the zoo features a system of streams named "Grand Rivers of the World" that would connect the zoo to the park surrounding the zoo.
On April 27, 2007 the zoo broke ground on the first phase of the new master plan, starting construction of an 4.1 million dollar 0.3 acres (1,214.1 m²) "BISSELL Lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s of Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is a shallow lake in the Natron-Manyara-Balangida branch of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania. Said by Ernest Hemingway to be the "loveliest [lake] .....
" exhibit. The zoo has not had a lion since "Gilda", their last lion, died of old age in 2005. The exhibit was built for six lions, but only three were placed in the exhibit.
On June 21, 2008 The new green
Green building
Green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition...
lion exhibit was open to the public.
Kent County including in the 2008-2009 Capital Improvement Allocation half the cost of renovation
Renovation
Renovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes...
of the Monkey Island Exhibit. The other half of renovation is supposed to come from the Zoo Society. As expected the Spider Monkey
Spider monkey
Spider monkeys of the genus Ateles are New World monkeys in the subfamily Atelinae, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil...
s roamed the new island May 2009. The waist high concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
wall that surround the Exhibit will be removed. The Cement floor and rocks of the exhibit and moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
will be removed and replaced with grass and more natural looking rocks.
Animal Collection
| Species | Individuals |
|---|---|
| 44 mammal Mammal Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young... s |
150 |
| 58 bird Bird Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from... s |
219 |
| 42 reptile Reptile Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors... s |
80 |
| 11 amphibian Amphibian Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods... s |
26 |
| 35 fish Fish Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups... |
318 |
| 48 invertebrate Invertebrate An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group... s |
391 |
| 238 total species | 1184 total animals |
Most animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s at John Ball Zoo were born in another zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
. Few of the animals are taken from the wild. Almost all the wild animals are at the zoo because they sustained injuries and can no longer live in their natural habitat.
The zoo added to it animal collection in 2004 a Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon , also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of in rare cases...
named Precious. He is 7 feet (2.1 m) long, is a fierce carnivore with razor sharp teeth and killer saliva. Precious is on exhibit outside the Treasure of the Tropics building during summer, and inside during the fall, winter, and spring.
During 2005 the zoo created an Australian walk though exhibit that featured Wallabies
Wallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
and Budgies
Budgerigar
The Budgerigar , also known as Common Pet Parakeet or Shell Parakeet informally nicknamed the budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot, and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus...
. The wallabies, if they want to, can come out in the walk way to be petted.
On May 9, 2007 the Otter
Northern River Otter
The North American river otter , also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent, found in and along its waterways and coasts. An adult river otter can weigh between 5 and 14 kg...
s had a baby boy. It first went out in the exhibit mid July.
In early September the female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
Black-footed cat
Black-footed Cat
The black-footed cat is the smallest African cat, and is endemic in the south west arid zone of the southern African subregion. It is one of the lesser studied African carnivores, and has been listed as Vulnerable by IUCN since 2002....
had two kittens.
The ring-tailed lemur
Ring-tailed Lemur
The ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
exhibit was started in March 2009 came out in May
In 2010, the zoo brought in a troop of guinea baboons, the largest alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
outside of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, moved their flamingos to another pond, and alterd the old tiger exhibit to hold a rock hyrax
Hyrax
A hyrax is any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. The rock hyrax Procavia capensis, the yellow-spotted rock hyrax Heterohyrax brucei, the western tree hyrax Dendrohyrax dorsalis, and the southern tree hyrax, Dendrohyrax arboreus live in Africa...
and a group of colobus monkeys.
Mammals
- African Lion
- Black-footed CatBlack-footed CatThe black-footed cat is the smallest African cat, and is endemic in the south west arid zone of the southern African subregion. It is one of the lesser studied African carnivores, and has been listed as Vulnerable by IUCN since 2002....
- Eastern BongoBongo (antelope)The western or lowland bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus, is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate and among the largest of the African forest antelope species....
- CapybaraCapybaraThe capybara , also known as capivara in Portuguese, and capibara, chigüire in Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador ronsoco in Peru, chigüiro, and carpincho in Spanish, is the largest living rodent in the world. Its closest relatives are agouti, chinchillas, coyphillas, and guinea pigs...
- ChimpanzeeChimpanzeeChimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
- Colobus Monkey
- Cottontop TamarinCottontop TamarinThe cotton-top tamarin , also known as the Pinché tamarin, is a small New World monkey weighing less than 1 lb...
- Cougar
- DuikerDuikerA duiker is any of about 21 small to medium-sized antelope species from the subfamily Cephalophinae native to Sub-Saharan Africa.Duikers are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover; most are forest dwellers and even the species living in more open areas are quick to disappear...
- Goeldi's Monkey
- Grizzly BearGrizzly BearThe grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
- Guinea BaboonGuinea BaboonThe Guinea baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family. Some classifications list only two species in the genus Papio, this one and the Hamadryas baboon. In those classifications, all other Papio species are considered subspecies of P...
- Howler MonkeyHowler monkeyHowler monkeys are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Fifteen species are currently recognised. Previously classified in the family Cebidae, they are now placed in the family Atelidae. These monkeys are native to South and Central American forests...
- KinkajouKinkajouThe kinkajou , also known as the honey bear , is a rainforest mammal of the family Procyonidae related to olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. It is the only member of the genus Potos. Kinkajous may be mistaken for ferrets or monkeys, but are not closely related...
- Maned WolfManed WolfThe maned wolf is the largest canid of South America, resembling a large fox with reddish fur.This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, in south, central-west and south-eastern Brazil The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the...
- North American River Otter
- Ring-Tailed LemurRing-tailed LemurThe ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
- SlothSlothSloths are the six species of medium-sized mammals belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae , part of the order Pilosa and therefore related to armadillos and anteaters, which sport a similar set of specialized claws.They are arboreal residents of the jungles of Central and South...
- Snow LeopardSnow LeopardThe snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
- TapirTapirA Tapir is a large browsing mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile snout. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia. There are four species of Tapirs: the Brazilian Tapir, the Malayan Tapir, Baird's Tapir and the Mountain...
- WarthogWarthogThe Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
- WolverineWolverineThe wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
Birds
- African Gray Parrot
- Bald EagleBald EagleThe Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
- Barn OwlBarn OwlThe Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
- BudgieBudgerigarThe Budgerigar , also known as Common Pet Parakeet or Shell Parakeet informally nicknamed the budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot, and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus...
- Chilean FlamingoChilean FlamingoThe Chilean Flamingo is a large species closely related to Caribbean Flamingo and Greater Flamingo, with which it was sometimes considered conspecific...
- Great Horned OwlGreat Horned OwlThe Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...
- HornbillHornbillHornbills are a family of bird found in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia. They are characterized by a long, down-curved bill which is frequently brightly-colored and sometimes has a casque on the upper mandible. Both the common English and the scientific name of the family...
- Magellanic PenguinMagellanic PenguinThe Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, is a South American penguin, breeding in coastal Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands, with some migrating to Brazil where they are occasionally seen as far north as Rio de Janeiro. It is the most numerous of the Spheniscus penguins. Its nearest...
Reptiles
- American AlligatorAmerican AlligatorThe American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
- AnacondaAnacondaAn anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical South America. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.Anaconda...
- CaimanCaimanCaimans are alligatorid crocodylians within the subfamily Caimaninae. The group is one of two subfamilies of the family Alligatoridae, the other being alligators. Caimans inhabit Central and South America. They are relatively small crocodilians, with most species reaching lengths of only a few...
- Komodo DragonKomodo dragonThe Komodo dragon , also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of in rare cases...
Fish
- Cownose RayCownose rayThe cownose ray is a species of eagle ray found throughout a large part of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from New England, USA to southern Brazil. Cownose rays grow rapidly, and male rays often reach about in width and weigh . Females typically reach in width and weigh .-Gestation:The...
- KoiKoior more specifically , are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens....
- Leopard SharkLeopard sharkThe leopard shark is a species of houndshark, family Triakidae, found along the Pacific coast of North America from the U.S. state of Oregon to Mazatlán in Mexico...
- Nurse SharkNurse sharkThe nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, sometimes referred to as the Nur Shark is a shark in the nurse sharks family, the only member of its genus Ginglymostoma...
- Wolf EelWolf eelThe wolf eel is a member of the family Anarhichadidae together with the wolffishes of the genus Anarhichas. The wolf eel is monotypic within the genus Anarrhichthys. This superficially eel-like fish feeds on crustaceans, sea urchins, mussels, clams and some fishes, crushing them with its strong jaws...
Education
John Ball Zoo School is a sixth grade only Magnet SchoolMagnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
for the Grand Rapids Public Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools
The Grand Rapids Public Schools is a public education school system covering most of Grand Rapids, Michigan.-High schools:High schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools include the following:*Central High School*City High-Middle School...
. Each year sixty students are selected for the School. The school teaches the normal school subjects but with a specialization using the zoo as a lab. John Ball Zoo school has extra curricular studies and the students get in based mostly on their MEAP scores. The students have to be very smart and capable of doing large projects, including studying current events and environmental issues. Zoo school students learn mostly by hands-on experiences; they get to go up to the zoo, go inside the animals cages, and other participate in other activities regular students don't get to do at a normal school.
John Ball Zoo School is the second best middle school in Michigan, and Blandford Environmental Education Program is third best middle school in the state.