Little Rock Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Little Rock Zoo was founded in 1926 and is located in Little Rock, Arkansas
, United States
.
It is presently home to more than 725 animals representing over 200 species
, and covers an area of 33 acres (13.4 ha). The Zoo is split into four zones, North, South, East, and West.
The Arkansas Zoological Foundation is a private 501 c (3) organization that raises funds for Zoo development.
The Little Rock Zoo is a department of the city of Little Rock. It is the largest zoo in Arkansas, and the only Arkansas zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA).
The first buildings at the zoo were made of local stone and built by the Works Progress Administration
(WPA). These buildings were built in the 1930's and were home to primates, reptiles, birds, and big cats. They are still in use, and the cat house was renovated into a restaurant with the feel of an African style lodge.
The current big cat exhibit was built in the 1980s along with other exhibits for great apes, crocodiles, alligators, sloth bears, and river otters. Lemur island opened in the 1990s, and an African Lion Exhibit was also added at this time, as well as the Civitan Pavilion for special events and the Civitan Amphitheater for educational programming.
The Zoo acquired a Children’s Farm with an interactive contact yard and train station and in 2001 the Board of director's approved a new Zoo Master Plan, which will included a new African Veldt Exhibit.
The newly restored Over the Jumps carousel
, a fully restored antique carousel, made its home at the Little Rock Zoo in the October of 2007.
An African penguin exhibit opened on March 5, 2011.
The Zoo lost Mary the elephant to abdominal cancer on May 5, 2011.
The Zoo acquired two elephants, Jewell and Zina, from the Ringling Brothers Center for Elephant Conservation on June 8, 2011, to be companions to Ellen, an elephant living at the Little Rock Zoo since 1954.
The Zoo lost Ellen the elephant to a heart attack on July 5, 2011.
This list includes some of the major exhibits at the Little Rock Zoo.
(SSP), and has contributed to the survival of many threatened and endangered species.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It is presently home to more than 725 animals representing over 200 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, and covers an area of 33 acres (13.4 ha). The Zoo is split into four zones, North, South, East, and West.
The Arkansas Zoological Foundation is a private 501 c (3) organization that raises funds for Zoo development.
The Little Rock Zoo is a department of the city of Little Rock. It is the largest zoo in Arkansas, and the only Arkansas zoo 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).
History
The Little Rock Zoo was started in 1926 with just two animals: an abandoned timber wolf and a circus-trained bear. Over the years it has grown to include 725 animals representing more than 200 species.The first buildings at the zoo were made of local stone and built by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
(WPA). These buildings were built in the 1930's and were home to primates, reptiles, birds, and big cats. They are still in use, and the cat house was renovated into a restaurant with the feel of an African style lodge.
The current big cat exhibit was built in the 1980s along with other exhibits for great apes, crocodiles, alligators, sloth bears, and river otters. Lemur island opened in the 1990s, and an African Lion Exhibit was also added at this time, as well as the Civitan Pavilion for special events and the Civitan Amphitheater for educational programming.
The Zoo acquired a Children’s Farm with an interactive contact yard and train station and in 2001 the Board of director's approved a new Zoo Master Plan, which will included a new African Veldt Exhibit.
The newly restored Over the Jumps carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, a fully restored antique carousel, made its home at the Little Rock Zoo in the October of 2007.
An African penguin exhibit opened on March 5, 2011.
The Zoo lost Mary the elephant to abdominal cancer on May 5, 2011.
The Zoo acquired two elephants, Jewell and Zina, from the Ringling Brothers Center for Elephant Conservation on June 8, 2011, to be companions to Ellen, an elephant living at the Little Rock Zoo since 1954.
The Zoo lost Ellen the elephant to a heart attack on July 5, 2011.
Exhibits
The Zoo is home to many animals and most of them are spread out throughout the zoo into different areas according to their environment, species, or diet. These exhibits are made to fit the animal's needs and mimic their surrounding environment as effectively as possible to ensure that the animal is comfortable and not stressed in its new home.This list includes some of the major exhibits at the Little Rock Zoo.
North Zone
- African Veldt - This exhibit includes many animals that are native to the continent of Africa. Grey Crowned CraneGrey Crowned CraneThe Grey Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats. This animal does not migrate....
and the Greater KuduGreater KuduThe Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting....
can be found in a portion of the exhibit that mimics the African savannah, Kirk's Dik-dikKirk's Dik-dikKirk's Dik-dik is a small antelope found in eastern and southwestern Africa. It grows to in length and weighs up to when full grown. It has a reddish-brown head and a tail that is long....
and Damara ZebraBurchell's ZebraBurchell's Zebra is a southern subspecies of the Plains Zebra.-Range:Formerly Burchell's zebra ranged north of the Vaal/Orange river system, extending northwest via southern Botswana to Etosha and the Kaokoveld, southeast to Swaziland and Kwazulu-Natal...
can be viewed on either side of a wooden walkway, and Black RhinocerosBlack RhinocerosThe Black Rhinoceros or Hook-lipped Rhinoceros , is a species of rhinoceros, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola...
and White RhinocerosWhite RhinocerosThe White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
are seen in their own enclosure. During the summer the Stanley Crane can be found in the Dik Dik yard.
- Big Cats - This exhibit opened on June 23, 1982 and includes some of the largest predatory felines in the world. The African Lion enclosure has a viewing window to see the lions up close. The Malayan TigerMalayan TigerThe Malayan tiger is a tiger subspecies that inhabits the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula and has been classified as endangered by IUCN in 2008 as the population was estimated at 493 to 1,480 adult individuals in 2003; none of the three subpopulations likely harbors more than 250...
enclosure has a water pool that the tigers swim in and the JaguarJaguarThe jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
enclosure has optimal arial viewing of the jaguars.
- Conservation Outpost - This building is home to the Naked Mole RatNaked Mole RatThe naked mole rat , also known as the sand puppy or desert mole rat, is a burrowing rodent native to parts of East Africa and the only species currently classified in the genus Heterocephalus...
. It has a viewing window for the Green Tree PythonGreen Tree PythonMorelia viridis, the green tree python, is a species of python found in New Guinea, islands in Indonesia, and Cape York Peninsula in Australia.-Description:Adults average in length, with a maximum length of about 7 feet...
, Eastern indigo snake, Louisiana Pine SnakeLouisiana Pine SnakeThe Louisiana Pine Snake is a large, nonvenomous constrictor of the Colubridae family. This powerful snake is notable because if its large eggs and small clutch sizes. The Louisiana Pine Snake is indigenous to west-central Louisiana and eastern Texas, where it relies strongly on the Baird's...
, Mole snakeMole snakeThe mole snake is a species of snake in the family Pseudaspididae. It is native to much of southern Africa, and is the only member of the genus Pseudaspis. A study showed that P. cana are caught and consumed by the honey badger, among other species...
, Madagascar giant day geckoMadagascar giant day geckoPhelsuma madagascariensis grandis Gray, 1870, is a diurnal arboreal subspecies of the day geckos . These geckos are part of the Phelsuma group, which consists of 70 species and subspecies. One common name is Madagascar giant day gecko, being large and is found in areas of tropical and subtropical...
, African fat-tailed geckoAfrican fat-tailed geckoHemitheconyx caudicinctus, commonly known as the African Fat-tailed Gecko, is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling gecko.The Fat-tailed gecko is from the subfamily Eublepharinae. Members of this subfamily include the leopard gecko of Iran. This subfamily has clearly different characteristics from other...
, African cichlid, and Crocodile monitor and an outdoor viewing porch for the Red River HogRed River HogThe red river hog , also known as the bush pig , is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests...
.
South Zone
- Elephant Barn - The Elephant Barn is home to Jewell and Zina the zoo's Asian Elephants. The Elephant Barn is extremely large in order to house these gigantic animals. The elephants also have a large stretch of yard to walk around in outside. There is a large viewing window for the visitors in the front and large banners on the sides that have famous quotes from historic figures citing the majesty and importance of elephants.
- Children's Farm - This exhibit features the Kidville Station train as well as a chicken yard for the AraucanaAraucanaThe Araucana, also known in the USA as a South American Rumpless, is a breed of chicken originating in Chile. The Araucana is often confused with other fowl, especially the Ameraucana and Easter Egger chickens, but has several unusual characteristics which distinguish it. They lay blue eggs, have...
, Barred Rock, SilkieSilkieThe Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as dark blue flesh and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot...
, Polish Crested ChickenPolish (chicken)The Polish is a European breed of chicken known for its crest of feathers. The English language name of these birds is a misnomer, as they do not originate in the country of Poland. Instead, the oldest accounts of crested chickens comes from the Netherlands...
, Salmon Faverolles ChickenFaverolles (chicken)The Faverolles is a French breed of chicken. The breed was developed in the 1860s in north-central France, in the vicinity of the villages of Houdan and Faverolles...
, Toulouse GooseToulouse gooseThe Toulouse is a breed of domesticated goose originating near Toulouse, France. It is a large bird, with a weight of up to 9 kg, and is known for its ponderous appearance and large dewlaps. The original grey coloured breed is a very old one and the name has been recorded back as far as 1555...
, and the Sebastopol GooseSebastopol GooseThe Sebastopol is a breed of domestic goose, descended from the European Graylag. They were also referred to as Danubian geese; a name first used for the breed in Ireland in 1863. 'Danubian' was used as a synonym in the 19th century; and only given precedence by Edward Brown after the turn of the...
. The Farm's barn houses the mammals of this exhibit. The ZebuZebuZebu , sometimes known as humped cattle, indicus cattle, Cebu or Brahmin cattle are a type of domestic cattle originating in South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent. They are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap...
, DonkeyDonkeyThe donkey or ass, Equus africanus asinus, is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African Wild Ass, E...
, and Miniature horseMiniature horseMiniature horses are found in many nations, particularly in Europe and the Americas. The designation of miniature horse is determined by the height of the animal, which, depending on the particular breed registry involved, is usually less than as measured at the last hairs of the mane, which are...
are located on the left side of the barn and the Pygmy goatPygmy goatA pygmy goat is a small breed of domestic goat. Although they produce a very large amount of milk for their size, and can be eaten, pygmy goats are not typically used for milk or meat, unlike larger dairy and meat goat breeds. Pygmy goats tend to be more robust and breed more continually throughout...
and Baby doll sheepSouthdown (sheep)The Southdown is a small, dual purpose British sheep but is raised primarily for meat. The Southdown breed was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde, near Lewes, East Sussex about 200 years ago. His work was continued by Jonas Webb of Babraham in Cambridgeshire who developed the larger animal...
are located on the right. This exhibit also has a Black-tailed prairie dogBlack-tailed Prairie DogThe black-tailed prairie dog , is a rodent of the family Sciuridae found in the Great Plains of North America from about the USA-Canada border to the USA-Mexico border. Unlike some other prairie dogs, these animals do not truly hibernate. The black-tailed prairie dog can be seen aboveground in...
habitat and a Butterfly Garden.
- Discovery Building - The Discovery Building was built in 1936 and features many exotic animals from around the world, including ones from the primate, reptile, and bird families.
- Primate House - Callimico, DouroucouliGray-handed Night MonkeyThe gray-handed night monkey is a species of night monkey formerly considered a subspecies of Gray-bellied night monkey of the family Aotidae. Its range consists of parts of Colombia and Venezuela. The exact classification of the gray-handed night monkey is uncertain. While some authors consider...
, Geoffrey's Marmoset, Geoffroy's TamarinGeoffroy's TamarinGeoffroy's tamarin , also known as the Panamanian, red-crested or rufous-naped tamarin, is a tamarin, a type of small monkey, found in Panama and Colombia. It is predominantly black and white, with a reddish nape. Diurnal, Geoffroy's tamarin spends most of its time in trees, but does come down to...
, Wied's MarmosetWied's MarmosetWied's marmoset , also known as Wied's black-tufted-ear marmoset, is a New World monkey that lives in tropical and subtropical forests of southeastern Brazil. Unlike other marmosets, Wied's marmoset lives in groups consisting of 4 or 5 females and 2 or 3 males . They are matriarchal, and only the...
, Lesser Spot-nosed Guenon, Pygmy Slow LorisPygmy Slow LorisThe pygmy slow loris is a rare species of loris found in the tropical dry forests of Vietnam, Laos, southern China, and east of the Mekong River in Cambodia....
, Red-capped Mangabey, Angolan TalapoinAngolan TalapoinThe Angolan talapoin , also known as the southern talapoin, is a species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family. It is found in riparian habitats in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Unlike the related Gabon talapoin, the Angolan Talapoin has blackish ears and facial skin down to...
, Southern Three-banded ArmadilloSouthern Three-banded ArmadilloThe Southern Three-banded Armadillo , also called the La Plata Three-Banded Armadillo, is an armadillo species from South America...
, Tufted CapuchinTufted CapuchinThe tufted capuchin , also known as brown capuchin or black-capped capuchin is a New World primate from South America...
, Two-toed slothTwo-toed slothCholoepus is a genus of mammals of Central and South America, within the family Megalonychidae consisting of two-toed sloths. There are only two species of Choloepus : Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth and Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth...
, and the White-faced SakiWhite-faced SakiThe white-faced saki , also known as the Guianan saki and the golden-faced saki, is a species of saki monkey, a type of New World monkey, found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, and Timbuktu...
. - Reptile House
- Snakes - Black pine snake, Louisiana Pine SnakeLouisiana Pine SnakeThe Louisiana Pine Snake is a large, nonvenomous constrictor of the Colubridae family. This powerful snake is notable because if its large eggs and small clutch sizes. The Louisiana Pine Snake is indigenous to west-central Louisiana and eastern Texas, where it relies strongly on the Baird's...
, Northern pine snake, Eastern Hognose SnakeEastern Hognose SnakeThe Eastern Hognose Snake is a harmless colubrid species found in North America. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Geographic range:...
, Western Hognose Snake, Southern copperhead, Western pigmy rattlesnake, Canebrake rattlesnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Western cottonmouth, Sonoran Gopher Snake, Corn SnakeCorn SnakeThe Corn Snake , or Red Rat Snake, is a North American species of Rat Snake that subdues its small prey by constriction. The name "Corn Snake" is a holdover from the days when southern farmers stored harvested ears of corn in a wood frame or log building called a crib...
, Mole SnakeMole snakeThe mole snake is a species of snake in the family Pseudaspididae. It is native to much of southern Africa, and is the only member of the genus Pseudaspis. A study showed that P. cana are caught and consumed by the honey badger, among other species...
, green tree pythonGreen Tree PythonMorelia viridis, the green tree python, is a species of python found in New Guinea, islands in Indonesia, and Cape York Peninsula in Australia.-Description:Adults average in length, with a maximum length of about 7 feet...
, Savu python, Burmese pythonBurmese PythonThe Burmese Python is the largest subspecies of the Indian Python and one of the 6 largest snakes in the world, native to a large variation of tropic and subtropic areas of Southern- and Southeast Asia. They are often found near water and are sometimes semi-aquatic, but can also be found in trees...
, Mexican burrowing python, Eastern Indigo Snake, Sinaloan milk snake, Eastern Coachwhip, West African gaboon viper, Rhinoceros Viper, Eyelash Viper, Malayan pit viper, Grey-Banded KingsnakeGrey-Banded KingsnakeThe grey-banded kingsnake, , or more commonly just referred to as the alterna, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake. Some sources list two distinct subspecies of alterna, as L. a. alterna and L. a...
, Red Spitting CobraRed Spitting CobraThe Red Spitting Cobra , is a species of spitting cobra native to Africa. This species is one of several spittings cobra in Africa. Spitting cobras do not spit their venom...
, Cape CobraCape CobraThe Cape Cobra or yellow cobra is a moderately sized, highly venomous cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across Southern Africa...
, and Mexican cantil. - Other Reptiles - White line gecko, African fat-tailed geckoAfrican fat-tailed geckoHemitheconyx caudicinctus, commonly known as the African Fat-tailed Gecko, is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling gecko.The Fat-tailed gecko is from the subfamily Eublepharinae. Members of this subfamily include the leopard gecko of Iran. This subfamily has clearly different characteristics from other...
, Leopard GeckoLeopard geckoThe leopard gecko is a nocturnal ground-dwelling lizard naturally found in the deserts of southern Central Asia, and throughout Pakistan, to the northwestern parts of India. Unlike most geckos, leopard geckos possess movable eyelids...
, Standing's Day GeckoStanding's day geckoThe Standing's day gecko is an arboreal and diurnal species of gecko, native to southwest Madagascar. It is among the largest living species of day geckos. Standing's day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.-Etymology:...
, Madagascar giant day geckoMadagascar giant day geckoPhelsuma madagascariensis grandis Gray, 1870, is a diurnal arboreal subspecies of the day geckos . These geckos are part of the Phelsuma group, which consists of 70 species and subspecies. One common name is Madagascar giant day gecko, being large and is found in areas of tropical and subtropical...
, Tokay GeckoTokay geckoThe Tokay Gecko is a nocturnal arboreal gecko, ranging from northeast India and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia, Philippines to Indonesia and western New Guinea. Its native habitat is rainforest trees and cliffs, and it also frequently adapts to rural human habitations, roaming walls and...
, Nile MonitorNile monitorThe Nile Monitor, Water Leguaan, or River Leguaan is a large member of the monitor lizard family ....
, Crocodile Monitor, Gila MonsterGila monsterThe Gila monster is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora...
, Eastern glass lizard, Frilled Lizard, Sudan plated lizardSudan plated lizardSudan plated lizard , also known as the great plated lizard or rough-scaled plated Lizard is a lizard of the Gerrhosauridae family.-Physical description:...
, Blue Spiny Lizard, Northern Blue-tongued SkinkNorthern Blue-tongued SkinkNorthern Blue-tongued Skinks are the largest and heaviest of the Blue-tongued Lizards . They are native to Australia and found almost exclusively in the Northern Region...
, Broadhead Skink, Solomon Islands SkinkSolomon Islands skinkThe Solomon Islands skink is an arboreal species of skink endemic to the Solomon Islands. It is the largest known extant species of skink...
, Great Plains SkinkGreat Plains SkinkThe Great Plains Skink is — together with the Broad-headed Skink — the largest skink of the genus Eumeces...
, Panther chameleonPanther chameleonThe Panther Chameleon is a species of chameleon. It lives in the eastern and northern parts of Madagascar in a tropical forest biome. Additionally, it has been introduced to Réunion and Mauritius.- Taxonomy :...
, Green IguanaGreen IguanaThe Green Iguana or Common Iguana is a large, arboreal herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana native to Central and South America...
, Green crested basilisk, Common snakeneck turtleCommon snakeneck turtleThe eastern long-necked turtle , also known as the eastern snake-necked turtle, common snake-necked turtle or common long-necked turtle, has as its most distinctive feature its extremely long neck. In some cases, this turtle's neck can be as long as its carapace...
, Spiny Softshell TurtleSpiny Softshell TurtleThe Spiny softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America...
, African spurred tortoiseAfrican Spurred TortoiseThe African spurred tortoise , also called the African spur thigh tortoise or the sulcata tortoise, is a species of tortoise which inhabits the southern edge of the Sahara desert, in northern Africa...
, Alligator Snapping TurtleAlligator Snapping TurtleThe alligator snapping turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It is not closely related to, but is often associated with the common snapping turtle. They are the sole living member of the genus Macrochelys--while common snappers are in the genus Chelydra...
, and the 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...
. - Amphibians - White's Tree FrogWhite's Tree FrogThe Australian Green Tree Frog, simply Green Tree Frog in Australia, White's Tree Frog, or Dumpy Tree Frog is a species of tree frog native to Australia and New Guinea, with introduced populations in New Zealand and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Litoria...
, AxolotlAxolotlThe axolotl , Ambystoma mexicanum, is a neotenic salamander, closely related to the Tiger Salamander. Larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. It is also called ajolote...
, Red eyed tree frog, Panamanian Golden FrogPanamanian golden frogThe Panamanian golden frog is a critically endangered toad which is endemic to Panama. It has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally regarded as a separate species. While the IUCN still lists it as critically endangered, it may have been extinct in the wild since 2007...
, Blue Poison Dart Frog, Green and Black Poison Dart FrogGreen and Black Poison Dart FrogDendrobates auratus, also known as the green and black poison dart frog or the green and black poison arrow frog, and sometimes mint poison frog , is a brightly-colored member of the order Anura native to Central America and north-western parts of South America...
, Yellow and Blue poison dart frogDendrobates tinctoriusDendrobates tinctorius, also known by the common name dyeing dart frog, is a species of poison dart frog. It is the third largest species, reaching lengths of...
, Yellow banded poison arrow frog, Oriental Fire-bellied Toad, Giant Marine Toad, Tiger SalamanderTiger SalamanderThe Tiger Salamander is a species of Mole Salamander. The proper common name is the Eastern Tiger Salamander, to differentiate from other closely related species.-Description:...
, Western Lesser Siren. - Invertebrates - Brazilian Cockroach, Scolopendra heros, Emperor scorpionEmperor scorpionThe emperor scorpion, Pandinus imperator, is a species of scorpion native to Africa. It is one of the largest scorpions in the world and lives for 5–8 years. Its body is black, but glows under ultraviolet light...
, Lasiodora parahybanaLasiodora parahybanaThe Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-eating Tarantula is a relatively large spider originating from northeastern Brazil, hence its common name. This spider typically grows to a leg span of 20 cm , although occasionally exceptional specimens can reach leg spans of 25 cm . Large females can...
, Giant African millipede, Aphonopelma seemanniAphonopelma seemanniThe Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula, also known as the Striped-knee Tarantula , inhabits most of western Costa Rica, as well as other parts of Central America, such as Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. It is black with white stripes near the joint. Specimens from Nicaragua are tan-coloured.Zebra...
, Tailless Whip Scorpion, Vietnamese walking stick.
- Snakes - Black pine snake, Louisiana Pine Snake
- Tropical Bird House - Red LoryRed LoryThe Red Lory is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is endemic to the Moluccas and surrounding islands in Indonesia.Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical mangrove forests....
, Roseate SpoonbillRoseate SpoonbillThe Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae...
, Scarlet IbisScarlet IbisThe Scarlet Ibis is a species of ibis that inhabits tropical South America and also Trinidad and Tobago. It is the national bird of Trinidad and is featured on the Trinidad and Tobago coat of arms along with Tobago's national bird, the Rufous-vented Chachalaca.-Taxonomy:This species is very...
, Pink-headed Fruit DovePink-headed Fruit DoveThe Pink-headed Fruit Dove, also known as Pink-necked Fruit Dove or Temminck's Fruit Pigeon, is a small colourful dove....
, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Jambu Fruit DoveJambu Fruit DoveThe Jambu Fruit Dove, is a smallish colourful fruit-dove. It is a resident breeding species in southern Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sumatra and Java....
, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Crested Wood PartridgeCrested Wood PartridgeThe Crested Partridge also known as the Crested Wood Partridge, Roul-roul, Red-crowned Wood Partridge or Green Wood Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds...
, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Southern Crowned PigeonSouthern Crowned PigeonThe Southern Crowned Pigeon, Goura scheepmakeri, is a large, terrestrial pigeon confined to southern lowland forests of New Guinea. It has a bluish-grey plumage with elaborate blue lacy crests, red iris and very deep maroon breast. Both sexes have a similar appearance...
, Nicobar PigeonNicobar PigeonThe Nicobar Pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica, is a pigeon found on small islands and in coastal regions from the Nicobar Islands, east through the Malay Archipelago, to the Solomons and Palau. It is the only living member of the genus Caloenas....
, Helmeted guineafowlHelmeted GuineafowlThe Helmeted Guineafowl is the best known of the guineafowl bird family, Numididae, and the only member of the genus Numida...
, Mandarin DuckMandarin DuckThe Mandarin Duck , or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan.-Description:...
, Ruddy ShelduckRuddy ShelduckThe Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea, is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae...
, Prevost's Squirrel, and the Blue-and-gold Macaw.
- Primate House - Callimico, Douroucouli
- Vampire Bats - This darkened exhibit features the Common Vampire BatCommon Vampire BatThe Common Vampire Bat is a small leaf-nosed bat native to the Americas. It is one of three extant species of vampire bat, the other two being the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat and the White-winged Vampire Bat. Along with them, it is the only parasitic mammal. It mainly feeds on the blood of livestock...
. Outside of the building is an exhibit which references the children's story of the Tortoise and the Hare. This exhibit has indoor and outdoor viewing and contact yards for the Aldabra Giant TortoiseAldabra Giant TortoiseThe Aldabra giant tortoise , from the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, is one of the largest tortoises in the world....
, Spur-thighed tortoise, and the Rabbits.
- Waterfowl Pond - This exhibit features a large pond where all sorts of birds swim together. It includes the Mallard Duck, Black-billed Whistling DuckBlack-billed Whistling DuckThe West Indian Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna arborea, is a whistling duck which breeds in the Caribbean. Alternative names are Black-billed Whistling Duck and Cuban Whistling Duck....
, Black-bellied Whistling DuckBlack-bellied Whistling DuckThe Black-bellied Whistling Duck , formerly also called Black-bellied Tree Duck, is a whistling duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the USA, it can be found year-round in parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast...
, Radjah ShelduckRadjah ShelduckThe Raja Shelduck or Radjah Shelduck , also known as the Burdekin Duck in Australia, is a species of shelduck. Placed in the genus Tadorna, it differs markedly in external morphology, and mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data suggests its status should be reinvestigated...
, Paradise ShelduckParadise ShelduckThe Paradise Shelduck is a large goose-like duck endemic to New Zealand. They are known to the Māori as Pūtangitangi but now commonly referred to as the "Paradise duck", and are prized game birds...
, Bar headed goose, Canada GooseCanada GooseThe Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, Black SwanBlack SwanThe Black Swan is a large waterbird, a species of swan, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. The species was hunted to extinction in New Zealand, but later reintroduced. Within Australia they are nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon climatic...
, American White PelicanAmerican White PelicanThe American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America, in winter....
, and Chilean FlamingoChilean FlamingoThe Chilean Flamingo is a large species closely related to Caribbean Flamingo and Greater Flamingo, with which it was sometimes considered conspecific...
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East Zone
- Great Apes - The exhibit features a walkway that is suspended above the ape's enclosure. The ground is covered in grass and includes trees and rope for the apes to climb. Western Lowland GorillaWestern Lowland GorillaThe western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary, and secondary forests and lowland swamps in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the gorilla usually found in zoos...
can be seen on one side of the walkway and Common ChimpanzeeCommon ChimpanzeeThe common chimpanzee , also known as the robust chimpanzee, is a great ape. Colloquially, the common chimpanzee is often called the chimpanzee , though technically this term refers to both species in the genus Pan: the common chimpanzee and the closely related bonobo, formerly called the pygmy...
and Bornean OrangutanBornean OrangutanThe Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. Together with the slightly smaller Sumatran orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia....
can be seen on the either.
- Lorikeet Landing - This exhibit houses the Rainbow LorikeetRainbow LorikeetThe Rainbow Lorikeet, is a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia , Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania...
. Visitors have the chance to see and feed these birds up close. They are enclosed in a large building surrounded by netting.
- Laura P. Nichols Penguin Pointe - This exhibit opened on March 5, 2011 and houses the African PenguinAfrican PenguinThe 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...
. It mimics an African shoreline, specifically Boulders BeachBoulders BeachBoulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated. It is located in the Cape Peninsula, near Simon's Town towards Cape Point, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is also commonly known as Boulders Bay.It is a...
, with viewing of the penguins both above and below the water. All along the exhibit are signs that educate the public about the lives, habits, and characteristics of penguins.
- Primate Islands
- Lemur Island - This exhibit features the 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...
, Black LemurBlack LemurThe Black Lemur is a species of lemur from the family Lemuridae. Like all lemurs, it is endemic to Madagascar. Originally, the species was thought to have two subspecies, Eulemur macaco macaco and Eulemur macaco flavifrons, both of which were elevated to species status by Mittermeier et al. in...
, and Blue-eyed Black Lemur. Before the lemurs were exhibited here this island used to be Chimpanzee Island. - Spider Monkey Island - Black-handed Spider Monkey.
- Siamang Island - SiamangSiamangThe siamang is a tailless, arboreal, black-furred gibbon native to the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. The largest of the lesser apes, the siamang can be twice the size of other gibbons, reaching 1 m in height, and weighing up to 14 kg...
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- Lemur Island - This exhibit features the Ring-tailed Lemur
- Hoofstock - This collection of exotic animals includes the Giant AnteaterGiant AnteaterThe Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is the only species in the genus Myrmecophaga. It is found in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina...
from South America, the 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...
from Africa, and the BlackbuckBlackbuckBlackbuck is a species of antelope native to the Indian subcontinent. Their range decreased sharply during the 20th century. Since 2003, the IUCN lists the species as near threatened....
and Sarus CraneSarus CraneThe Sarus Crane is a large non-migratory crane found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. The tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 m , they are conspicuous and iconic species of open wetlands...
from Asia.
- Other Exhibits - These other exhibits feature the Reticulated pythonReticulated PythonPython reticulatus, also known as the reticulated python is a species of python found in Southeast Asia. Adults can grow to over 8.7 m in length but normally grow to an average of 3-6 m . They are the world's longest snakes and longest reptile, but are not the most heavily built...
, 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...
, White-handed Gibbon, and the 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...
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West Zone
- Giraffes - This exhibit features the Baringo Giraffe and the Reticulated Giraffe.
- Bears - The Spotted-necked Otter and North American River Otter can be seen at the entrance. Most of the bears in this exhibit are from Asia like the Asian Black Bear, Sun BearSun BearThe sun bear , sometimes known as the honey bear, is a bear found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia; North-East India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Southern China, Peninsular Malaysia, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.-Description:The sun bear...
, and Sloth BearSloth BearThe sloth bear , also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution...
and are separated from visitors by moats. The main attraction is the 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...
enclosure which has a large glass viewing window in order for people to see the Grizzlies up-close. The Bush DogBush DogThe bush dog is a canid found in Central and South America, including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru , Ecuador, the Guianas, Paraguay, northeast Argentina and Brazil...
and Indian Crested Porcupine are located at the end of the exhibit.
- Small Carnivores - This exhibit includes many exotic carnivorous animals found throughout the world. This exhibit features the Red FoxRed FoxThe red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
and BobcatBobcatThe bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
from North America, the ServalServalThe serval , Leptailurus serval or Caracal serval, known in Afrikaans as Tierboskat, "tiger-forest-cat", is a medium-sized African wild cat. DNA studies have shown that the serval is closely related to the African golden cat and the caracal...
and CaracalCaracalThe caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
from Africa, the OcelotOcelotThe ocelot , pronounced /ˈɒsəˌlɒt/, also known as the dwarf leopard or McKenney's wildcat is a wild cat distributed over South and Central America and Mexico, but has been reported as far north as Texas and in Trinidad, in the Caribbean...
and White-nosed Coati from South America, and the BinturongBinturongThe Binturong , also known as the Asian Bearcat, the Palawan Bearcat, or simply the Bearcat, is a species of the family Viverridae, which includes the civets and genets. It is the only member of its genus...
, Clouded LeopardClouded LeopardThe clouded leopard is a felid found from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia into China, and has been classified as vulnerable in 2008 by IUCN...
, and Reeve's Muntjac from Asia. The Three-toed box turtle and Ornate Box TurtleOrnate box turtleThe Ornate box turtle is one of only two terrestrial species of turtles native to the Great Plains of the United States. It is one of the two different subspecies of Terrapene ornata. It is the state reptile of Kansas...
can be seen occasionally in a yard next to the Ocelot.
Conservation
The Little Rock Zoo participates in the AZA 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....
(SSP), and has contributed to the survival of many threatened and endangered species.