Lehigh Valley Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Lehigh Valley Zoo is a 29 acres (11.7 ha) zoo located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania
, United States
, inside the 1100 acres (445 ha) Trexler Nature Preserve. The zoo is open year round.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) since March 2006.
started purchasing farms in the Lowhill and North Whitehal townships of Pennsylvania to create a preserve to help protect bison, elk, and white-tailed deer. In all, he purchased 36 farms totaling 1108 acres (448 ha) before he died, and then bequeathed the land to Lehigh County. In 1935, the area officially became the Trexler-Lehigh County Game Preserve.
Construction on the children's zoo within the park began in 1974. When it opened, the zoo included petting and feeding exhibits as well as exotic animals from Africa, Asia and Australia.
In 2004, since the original purpose of saving native species had been accomplished, the county opened the entire preserve to the public. At the same time, the Lehigh Valley Zoological Society took over management of the zoo within the park.
s (SSP): African penguin
, mongoose lemur
, and scimitar-horned oryx
.
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania
Schnecksville is a census-designated place in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Schnecksville is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, inside the 1100 acres (445 ha) Trexler Nature Preserve. The zoo is open year round.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo has been accredited by 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) since March 2006.
History
In 1906, Harry Clay TrexlerHarry Clay Trexler
Henry Clay Trexler was an American industrialist who built a business empire in Allentown, Pennsylvania.- Early life :...
started purchasing farms in the Lowhill and North Whitehal townships of Pennsylvania to create a preserve to help protect bison, elk, and white-tailed deer. In all, he purchased 36 farms totaling 1108 acres (448 ha) before he died, and then bequeathed the land to Lehigh County. In 1935, the area officially became the Trexler-Lehigh County Game Preserve.
Construction on the children's zoo within the park began in 1974. When it opened, the zoo included petting and feeding exhibits as well as exotic animals from Africa, Asia and Australia.
In 2004, since the original purpose of saving native species had been accomplished, the county opened the entire preserve to the public. At the same time, the Lehigh Valley Zoological Society took over management of the zoo within the park.
Conservation
In 2009, the zoo was participating in three Species Survival PlanSpecies Survival Plan
The American Species Survival Plan or SSP program was developed in 1981 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild....
s (SSP): African penguin
African Penguin
The African Penguin , also known as the Black-footed Penguin is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters. It is known as Brilpikkewyn in Afrikaans, Inguza or Unombombiya in Xhosa, Manchot Du Cap in French and Pingüino Del Cabo in Spanish...
, mongoose lemur
Mongoose Lemur
The mongoose lemur is a lemur ranging from 12 to 18 inches long plus a tail of 16 to 25 inches. The mongoose lemur lives in dry deciduous forests on the island of Madagascar as well as in the humid forests on the islands of the Comoros...
, and scimitar-horned oryx
Scimitar Oryx
The Scimitar Oryx, or Scimitar-Horned Oryx, is a species of oryx which formerly inhabited the whole of North Africa. It has been classified as extinct in the wild by the IUCN.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
.