Lincoln Park Zoo » Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo
24-05-2008

Welcome to Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lincoln Park Zoo is only 35 acres in size, but due in part to its zero admission cost and proximity to downtown Chicago it receives over 3 million visitors every year. It is a very old zoo (1868) but one that has spent plenty of money on updating the majority of its enclosures, and in the past few years has won two AZA Awards for new exhibits. There are almost 1,300 animals squeezed into the zoo grounds, and the gates are often left wide open for anyone who cares to visit or jog through the area.

"Regenstein Center for African Apes" (2004) cost over $26 million, and is the most expensive set of exhibits in the zoo's history. It won an AZA exhibit award, and features chimpanzees and gorillas in 3 spacious habitats: Gorilla Bamboo Forest, Strangler Fig Forest, and Dry Riverbed Valley. The latter two habitats can accommodate either chimps or gorillas, as the two sets of apes can rotate through the enclosures. In the past 40 years there have been almost 50 gorillas births at the zoo!

"Regenstein African Journey" is the second AZA award-winning exhibit, and features 4 African ecosystems: Savanna, Rainforest, Dry Thorn Forest and Lake Malawi pool.

Another highly-rated set of exhibits is the "Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House", which has many smaller enclosures that feature animals from four different continents.

24-05-2008

Exhibit

The Regenstein Center for African Apes exhibit, which features chimpanzees and gorillas.

30-05-2008

I visited Lincoln Park last October and was extremely impressed with the whole zoo - even the farm exhibit.
I couldn't believe that a zoo of this standard was free to get into either. Just out of curiosity how would the zoo be funded?
I had to smile to myself when I over heard a local lady on her mobile complaining that she'd "brought her children for an afternoon at the zoo and it had cost her 16 dollars to park!" 8 quid for a family to visit a world class zoo. Reallity check?

31-05-2008

Parking at the Lincoln Park Zoo is free for only 30 minutes, then under 3 hours is $14, 3-4 hours is $16, 4-5 hours is $20, and over 5 hours is $24. The zoo is funded by the U.S. government, in much the same way as the St. Louis Zoo and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. are. The National Zoo's parking is $16 for over 3 hours, while the St. Louis Zoo's parking is only $10.

Attendance figures per year:

Lincoln Park Zoo: over 3 million visitors.
St. Louis Zoo: over 3 million visitors.
National Zoo: over 2.5 million visitors.

31-05-2008

The Lincoln Park Zoo and Saint Louis Zoo's are in no way funded by the US government, only the National Zoo is. Both Lincoln Park and Saint Louis are funded by their respective city park boards that receive tax support from local residents.

01-06-2008

In the UK I believe there are a few local and city councils that still support and fund small animal collections or avaiaries in their public parks but I'm not sure if any still run large zoos. Blackpool used to be council run I recall and I seem to think Leeds has a hand in both Lotherton Hall Bird Park and Tropical World. Hull have a selection of animal displays across it's various city parks.
Nothing on a scale of Lincoln Park though. Hats off to them, certainly (in my opinion) a zoo that Chicago's tax payers can be proud of.

02-06-2008

@max: did you also visit the Brookfield Zoo (see separate thread) while in the U.S.? If so could you post your thoughts on it...cheers.

03-06-2008

Snowleopard, unfortunatly I didn't get time to visit Brookfield. It will be on the itinery for the next time we visit Chicago though.

26-07-2008

I have now uploaded 73 photos from the Lincoln Park Zoo, ranging from the terrible cat house to the terrific Regenstein Center for African Apes.

26-07-2008

Those cat houses were disgusting and i don't think all three put together is even big enough for a jaguar or leopard.

South Pond Restoration
24-10-2008

Not all creatures of zoo's pond to be saved -- chicagotribune.com

The Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Parks District will begin restoring the well-known lake by removing exotic/invasive species, replanting native aquatic plant species, and allowing the return of native freshwater animals to a more natural habitat.

24-10-2008

Just noticed this post, and aside from the funding issue (which okapikpr already corrected), I'd add that Lincoln Park Zoo is easily reached by public transport from many areas of the city.

30-03-2009

Chimpanzee troop suffering from mysterious respiratory infection. One chimp has already died from the illness, the rest are in quarantine...

Chimp dies: Mystery ailment strikes Lincoln Park zoo chimps -- chicagotribune.com

3 Weeks Ago

A rare Micronesian kingfisher has been hatched at the zoo

Rare Micronesian kingfisher hatches at Lincoln Park Zoo -- chicagotribune.com

3 Weeks Ago

they have Afgan Leopards, wow