Metro Richmond Zoo
Encyclopedia
Metro Richmond Zoo is a privately-owned, for-profit zoo
in Chesterfield County
, Virginia
. It is located in the central Virginia area, on the western side of I-95. Metro Richmond Zoo encompasses about 70 acre (28.3 ha) and houses around 1,400 animals representing over 150 species, including Reticulated Giraffe, White Rhinoceros
, Snow Leopard
and Grant's Zebra
. It is visited by 25,000-30,000 visitors annually.
The zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), and has one of the largest primate
collections in the United States.
, kept in a yard across from the main giraffe exhibit along with another Reticulated Giraffe. Animals residing with the giraffes include Eastern Bongo, Klipspringer
, Ostrich
, Black-necked Swan
, Stanley Crane and Crowned Crane
. Many other animals that can be fed zoo treats are deer, goats, sheep, donkeys and young antelope, which can be found in the children's farm. Some of the larger animals can be fed zoo treats via tubes that reach to their feeding troughs. Those animals are Dromedaries, Bactrian Camel
, Elk
, American Bison
, and Warthog
.
The zoo has one of the largest collections of primates in the United States, with more than 200 individuals representing 30 species,such as Sulawesi Macaque, Diana Monkey
, Orangutan
, Cottontop Tamarin
and three species of lemur, including Ring-tailed Lemur
.
2003 was the opening year of the zoo's safari sky ride, a fifteen minute ride that gives visitors a high view of much of the zoo. 2003 was also the year the north american area of the zoo opened. Elk
, Bison
, White-tailed Deer
, Pronghorn
, American Alligator
and Bighorn Sheep
live here.
2007 saw the opening of an aviary near the zoo entrance containing Roseate Spoonbill
, Sacred Ibis
, and multiple species of waterfowl
such as Rosybill
, Yellow-billed duck
, Mandarin Duck
, Black Swan
and Red-crested Pochard
. The aviary also houses Golden Pheasants. Adjacent to the aviary is a flock of Chilean Flamingo
A $250,000 expansion in 2008 introduced a safari-like ride through a new 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) animal enclosure, with visitors in a two car "train." The enclosure includes Grant's gazelle
, Addra gazelle, Gemsbok
, Waterbuck
, Greater Kudu
, Eland
, Nyala
, Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax
, Thomson's Gazelle
, Yellow-backed Duiker
, Marabou Stork
, Ostrich
and Impala
. It should be noted that the Addra Gazelles and Scimitar-horned Oryx are temporarily quarantined for behaving aggressively towards the other animals in the safari enclosure. The Addra Gazelles can still be seen in their holding pen from the viewing deck at the zebra enclosure and they can also be seen from the safari sky ride.
Adjacent to the safari enclosure is a large wooded valley viewable only from the safari train and a small viewing deck. Four species of ungulates native to India
and China
reside in this exhibit. They are Blackbuck
, Mouflon
, Himalayan Tahr
and Takin
. The Metro Richmond Zoo is one of the few zoos in the United States
to have Takin on display, as it is considered a national treasure in China
and receives the same protection as the Giant Panda
. The exhibit opened in 2003.
Near the station where the visitors get on the zoo train is an African Penguin
exhibit where visitors can view an educational penguin feeding program at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Around the penguin exhibit are enclosures containing Indian Muntjac
, Red River Hog
, African Clawless Otter
, King Vulture
, toucans, New World Primates, camels and an enclosure containing south american speciemens such as Brazilian Tapir
, Greater Rhea, Llama
and Alpaca
. A bat house is placed adjacent to the King Vulture enclosure and contains Indian Flying Fox, Straw-colored Fruit Bat, Two-toed Sloth
and Douroucouli.
2008 saw the debut of a coconut-climb and a walk-through aviary for about 400 Budgerigars. The aviary offers seed-coated Popsicle sticks that visitors can purchase to attract the birds to perch and feed.
New arrivals in 2010 and 2011 were Golden Pheasant
, White-faced Saki
, Kirk's Dik-dik
, Steenbok
, Great White Pelican, Marabou Stork
, Himalayan Tahr
, Yellow-backed Duiker
, Toco Toucan
, Red-billed Toucan, Black Howler Monkey, Crested Screamer
, Reeve's Pheasant and Allen's Swamp Monkey
. More exhibits are currently being built, including a large building near the zoo entrance which may or may not be an animal house and small enclosures around the safari paddock.
The zoo allows Indian Peafowl
to roam free among the visitors. Barnacle Geese and Egyptian Geese also have this opportunity. The zoo is also a rest stop for wild virginia-native waterfowl such as Wood Duck
, Mallards and Canada Geese.
and Eastern Bongo conservation. The bongo herd has had several calves born in the past several years and many of the Addax born at the zoo have been released to the wild. Other threatened and endangered animals living here include Asiatic Black Bear
, Binturong
, Galapagos Giant Tortoise, Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
and Cheetahs.
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....
in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It is located in the central Virginia area, on the western side of I-95. Metro Richmond Zoo encompasses about 70 acre (28.3 ha) and houses around 1,400 animals representing over 150 species, including Reticulated Giraffe, White Rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
The 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...
, Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
and Grant's Zebra
Grant's Zebra
The Grant's Zebra is the smallest of six subspecies of the Plains Zebra.-Distribution:The distribution of this subspecies is in Zambia west of the Luangwa river and west to Kariba, Shaba Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north to the Kibanzao Plateau. In Tanzania north from...
. It is visited by 25,000-30,000 visitors annually.
The zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), and has one of the largest primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
collections in the United States.
History
In 1980 Jim Andelin, then 27 years old began collecting animals. This hobby turned into a full time profession and eventually land was allocated solely for his collection. The zoo was opened to the public in Spring of 1995, and was home to 167 animals of 15 species at the time. Many animals were donated to the zoo; in 1999, the zoo received 38 animals.Animals and Exhibits
The Metro Richmond Zoo is noted for giraffe-feeding opportunities and its display of white Bengal tigers. The zoo provides visitors cups filled with zoo treats for giraffe feeding. When the zoo first opened, the zoo treats were provided free, but they now cost two dollars. The zoo houses a herd of Reticulated Giraffe and a single Masai GiraffeMasai Giraffe
The Masai Giraffe or Maasai Giraffe, also known as the Kilimanjaro Giraffe is the largest subspecies of giraffe and the tallest land mammal. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.-Description:...
, kept in a yard across from the main giraffe exhibit along with another Reticulated Giraffe. Animals residing with the giraffes include Eastern Bongo, Klipspringer
Klipspringer
The Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus, is a small species of African antelope.-Name:The word klipspringer literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans/Dutch...
, Ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
, Black-necked Swan
Black-necked Swan
The Black-necked Swan is the largest waterfowl native to South America. Males are and weigh 4.5-6.7 kg ; females are and weigh 3.5-4.4 kg . The wingspan ranges from . The body plumage is white with a black neck, head and greyish bill. It has a red knob near the base of the bill and...
, Stanley Crane and Crowned Crane
Crowned Crane
Crowned Crane may refer to:*Black Crowned Crane *Grey Crowned Crane *Red-crowned Crane or Japanese Crane...
. Many other animals that can be fed zoo treats are deer, goats, sheep, donkeys and young antelope, which can be found in the children's farm. Some of the larger animals can be fed zoo treats via tubes that reach to their feeding troughs. Those animals are Dromedaries, Bactrian Camel
Bactrian camel
The Bactrian camel is a large, even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of central Asia. It is presently restricted in the wild to remote regions of the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts of Mongolia and Xinjiang. A small number of wild Bactrian camels still roam the Mangystau Province of southwest...
, Elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, American Bison
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 Warthog
Warthog
The 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...
.
The zoo has one of the largest collections of primates in the United States, with more than 200 individuals representing 30 species,such as Sulawesi Macaque, Diana Monkey
Diana Monkey
The Diana monkey is an Old World monkey found in West Africa, from Sierra Leone to Côte d'Ivoire.The Diana monkey ranges from 40 to 55 cm in length, excluding its tail, which is of a uniform 3–4 cm diameter and 50–75 cm long. Adults weigh between 4–7 kg...
, Orangutan
Orangutan
Orangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
, Cottontop Tamarin
Cottontop Tamarin
The cotton-top tamarin , also known as the Pinché tamarin, is a small New World monkey weighing less than 1 lb...
and three species of lemur, including 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...
.
2003 was the opening year of the zoo's safari sky ride, a fifteen minute ride that gives visitors a high view of much of the zoo. 2003 was also the year the north american area of the zoo opened. Elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, Bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, White-tailed 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...
, Pronghorn
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and...
, American Alligator
American Alligator
The 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...
and Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
live here.
2007 saw the opening of an aviary near the zoo entrance containing Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill
The Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja, is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae...
, Sacred Ibis
Sacred Ibis
The African Sacred Ibis is a species of ibis.-Description:An adult individual is 68 cm long with all-white body plumage apart from dark plumes on the rump. The bald head and neck, thick curved bill and legs are black. The white wings show a black rear border in flight...
, and multiple species of waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
such as Rosybill
Rosybill
The Rosy-billed Pochard, alternatively named Rosybill, or Rosybill Pochard is a duck with a distinctive red bill on males and a slate-colored bill on females...
, Yellow-billed duck
Yellow-billed Duck
The Yellow-billed Duck, Anas undulata, is a 51–58 cm long dabbling duck which is an abundant resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa.This duck is not migratory, but will wander in the dry season to find suitable waters...
, Mandarin Duck
Mandarin Duck
The 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:...
, Black Swan
Black Swan
The 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...
and Red-crested Pochard
Red-crested Pochard
The Red-crested Pochard is a large diving duck.Their breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and southern and central Asia. They are somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south and into north Africa.The adult male is unmistakable. It has a rounded orange...
. The aviary also houses Golden Pheasants. Adjacent to the aviary is a flock of Chilean Flamingo
Chilean Flamingo
The Chilean Flamingo is a large species closely related to Caribbean Flamingo and Greater Flamingo, with which it was sometimes considered conspecific...
A $250,000 expansion in 2008 introduced a safari-like ride through a new 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) animal enclosure, with visitors in a two car "train." The enclosure includes Grant's gazelle
Grant's Gazelle
The Grant's gazelle is a species of gazelle. Its populations are distributed from northern Tanzania to southern Sudan and Ethiopia, and from the Kenyan coast to Lake Victoria. Its Swahili name is Swala Granti.-Taxonomy and genetics:...
, Addra gazelle, Gemsbok
Gemsbok
The gemsbok or gemsbuck is a large antelope in the Oryx genus. It is native to the arid regions of southern Africa, but formerly some authorities included the East African Oryx as a subspecies...
, Waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
, Greater Kudu
Greater Kudu
The 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....
, Eland
Taurotragus
Taurotragus, commonly called Eland, is a genus of antelopes of the African savannah, containing two species: the Common Eland and the Giant Eland...
, Nyala
Nyala
The Nyala is a Southern African antelope. It is a spiral-horned dense-forest antelope that is uncomfortable in open spaces and is most often seen at water holes. Nyalas live alone or in small family groups of up to 10 individuals.The male stands up to 110 cm , the female is up to 90 cm ...
, Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax
Addax
The Addax , also known as the screwhorn antelope, is a critically endangered species of antelope that lives in the Sahara desert. As suggested by its alternative name, this pale antelope has long, twisted horns. It is closely related to the oryx, but differs from other antelopes by having large...
, Thomson's Gazelle
Thomson's Gazelle
The Thomson's gazelle is one of the best-known gazelles. It is named after explorer Joseph Thomson and, as a result, is sometimes referred to as a "tommie"...
, Yellow-backed Duiker
Yellow-backed Duiker
The Yellow-backed Duiker , is an antelope found in central and western Africa. They have the widest range of any duiker in the genus Cephalophus....
, Marabou Stork
Marabou Stork
The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips...
, Ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
and Impala
Impala
An impala is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle"...
. It should be noted that the Addra Gazelles and Scimitar-horned Oryx are temporarily quarantined for behaving aggressively towards the other animals in the safari enclosure. The Addra Gazelles can still be seen in their holding pen from the viewing deck at the zebra enclosure and they can also be seen from the safari sky ride.
Adjacent to the safari enclosure is a large wooded valley viewable only from the safari train and a small viewing deck. Four species of ungulates native to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
reside in this exhibit. They are Blackbuck
Blackbuck
Blackbuck 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....
, Mouflon
Mouflon
The mouflon is a subspecies group of the wild sheep Ovis aries. Populations of Ovis aries can be partitioned into the mouflons and urials or arkars...
, Himalayan Tahr
Himalayan Tahr
The Himalayan Tahr or Common Thar is a large ungulate related to the wild goat.-Habitat:...
and Takin
Takin
The Takin , also called cattle chamois or gnu goat, is a goat-antelope found in the Eastern Himalayas. There are four subspecies: B. taxicolor taxicolor, the Mishmi Takin; B. taxicolor bedfordi, the Shanxi or Golden Takin; B. taxicolor tibetana, the Tibetan or Sichuan Takin; and B. taxicolor...
. The Metro Richmond Zoo is one of the few zoos in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to have Takin on display, as it is considered a national treasure in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and receives the same protection as the Giant Panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
. The exhibit opened in 2003.
Near the station where the visitors get on the zoo train is an 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...
exhibit where visitors can view an educational penguin feeding program at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Around the penguin exhibit are enclosures containing Indian Muntjac
Indian Muntjac
The Common Muntjac , also called the Red Muntjac, Indian Muntjac or Barking deer is the most numerous muntjac deer species. It has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair, sometimes with creamy markings. This species is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, shoots, seeds, birds' eggs as well as small...
, Red River Hog
Red River Hog
The 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...
, African Clawless Otter
African Clawless Otter
The African clawless otter , also known as the cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second largest freshwater species of otter. African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas...
, King Vulture
King Vulture
The King Vulture is a large bird found in Central and South America. It is a member of the New World vulture family Cathartidae. This vulture lives predominantly in tropical lowland forests stretching from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, though some believe that William Bartram's Painted...
, toucans, New World Primates, camels and an enclosure containing south american speciemens such as Brazilian Tapir
Brazilian Tapir
The South American Tapir , or Brazilian Tapir or Lowland Tapir or Anta, is one of four species in the tapir family, along with the Mountain Tapir, the Malayan Tapir, and Baird's Tapir...
, Greater Rhea, Llama
Llama
The llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-Hispanic times....
and Alpaca
Alpaca
An alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile at an altitude of to above sea level, throughout the year...
. A bat house is placed adjacent to the King Vulture enclosure and contains Indian Flying Fox, Straw-colored Fruit Bat, Two-toed Sloth
Two-toed sloth
Choloepus 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 Douroucouli.
2008 saw the debut of a coconut-climb and a walk-through aviary for about 400 Budgerigars. The aviary offers seed-coated Popsicle sticks that visitors can purchase to attract the birds to perch and feed.
New arrivals in 2010 and 2011 were Golden Pheasant
Golden Pheasant
The Golden Pheasant or "Chinese Pheasant", is a gamebird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae...
, White-faced Saki
White-faced Saki
The 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...
, Kirk's Dik-dik
Kirk's Dik-dik
Kirk'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....
, Steenbok
Steenbok
The Steenbok, Raphicerus campestris, is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the Steinbuck or Steinbok.- Description :...
, Great White Pelican, Marabou Stork
Marabou Stork
The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips...
, Himalayan Tahr
Himalayan Tahr
The Himalayan Tahr or Common Thar is a large ungulate related to the wild goat.-Habitat:...
, Yellow-backed Duiker
Yellow-backed Duiker
The Yellow-backed Duiker , is an antelope found in central and western Africa. They have the widest range of any duiker in the genus Cephalophus....
, Toco Toucan
Toco Toucan
The Toco Toucan is the largest and probably the best known species in the toucan family. It is found in semi-open habitats throughout a large part of central and eastern South America...
, Red-billed Toucan, Black Howler Monkey, Crested Screamer
Crested Screamer
The Southern Screamer , also known as the Crested Screamer, belongs to the order Anseriformes. It is found in southeastern Peru, northern Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina. Its diet consists of plants stems, seeds, leaves, and, rarely, small animals.-Description:The...
, Reeve's Pheasant and Allen's Swamp Monkey
Allen's Swamp Monkey
Allen's swamp monkey is a primate species that is categorized in its own genus Allenopithecus in the Old World monkey family...
. More exhibits are currently being built, including a large building near the zoo entrance which may or may not be an animal house and small enclosures around the safari paddock.
The zoo allows Indian Peafowl
Indian Peafowl
The Indian Peafowl or Blue Peafowl is a large and brightly coloured bird of the pheasant family native to South Asia, but introduced and semi-feral in many other parts of the world...
to roam free among the visitors. Barnacle Geese and Egyptian Geese also have this opportunity. The zoo is also a rest stop for wild virginia-native waterfowl such as Wood Duck
Wood Duck
The Wood Duck or Carolina Duck is a species of duck found in North America. It is one of the most colourful of North American waterfowl.-Description:...
, Mallards and Canada Geese.
Miracle of Christmas Live at the Zoo
The Metro Richmond Zoo hosts a Christmas pageant every year on December 21, 22, and 23. The showing are 7:00, 7:45, and 8:30. The pageant has animals from the zoo.Research projects and conservation efforts
Metro Richmond Zoo participates in several scientific research and wild life conservation projects. The zoo also plays a key part in AddaxAddax
The Addax , also known as the screwhorn antelope, is a critically endangered species of antelope that lives in the Sahara desert. As suggested by its alternative name, this pale antelope has long, twisted horns. It is closely related to the oryx, but differs from other antelopes by having large...
and Eastern Bongo conservation. The bongo herd has had several calves born in the past several years and many of the Addax born at the zoo have been released to the wild. Other threatened and endangered animals living here include Asiatic Black Bear
Asiatic Black Bear
The Asian black bear , also known as the moon bear or white-chested bear is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, which occurs through much of southern Asia, Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far east and Honshū and Shikoku islands of Japan...
, Binturong
Binturong
The 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...
, Galapagos Giant Tortoise, Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
Black-and-white ruffed lemur
The black-and-white ruffed lemur is the more endangered of the two species of ruffed lemurs, both of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities...
and Cheetahs.