If you are looking for a fun, educational experience in Ohio, make sure that you visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. This 580-acre zoo just North of Columbus is home to a large number of animals and incredible wildlife education programs. The zoo has over 10,000 animals representing over 600 species in the world.
The Columbus Zoo also manages Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf, and The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center in Southeastern Ohio. The zoo is a non-profit organization and donates more than four million dollars each year to wildlife conservation programs.
After moving to Columbus, the zoo quickly became one of my favorite zoos and a great place for me to escape to regularly. I always take my family and friends to the zoo and they enjoy it as much as I do. Because the zoo is such a special place for me, I want to share with you why you should visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Wildlife Education
The education programs at any zoo are the most important part of the experience. You can take the knowledge that you learn at a zoo and become more aware of the impact that we have.
The Columbus zoo has many educational opportunities for children but also has opportunities for adults. They have scheduled events throughout the year to provide extra learning opportunities for people as well. A recent event I attended was the Party for the Planet, an event set up for Earth Day, which brought out many projects for children. Adults could attend talks put on by experts about different animals and their research and how you can help.
As you find in most zoos, the keepers are really great sources of information. You will frequently find a keeper standing nearby exhibits who is more than willing to answer any questions you may have!
Next time you visit the zoo, look for how you can learn more about the animals and help them thrive in their natural habitats.
All the Animals
As I mentioned before, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has over 10,000 animals and 600 species. That does not mean you will see all those animals. The zoo rehabilitates many animals and they never see the exhibits before they are re-released into the wild.
The Columbus Zoo is well known for having the first Gorilla born in captivity, Colo. She was an amazing gorilla, who lived for 61 years, far surpassing her life expectancy by 20 years. She led to some groundbreaking discoveries about gorillas, which led to a better understanding of them. Read more about Colo here.
Columbus Zoo is also known for Nora the polar bear who was born at the zoo in 2015. She was abandoned by her mother and raised by the zookeepers. She now lives in Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
The zoo is divided into sections: North America, Asia Quest, Heart of Africa, Expedition Congo, Shores, and Australia and the Islands. Each part shows animals in habitats that mimic the environment they would live in in the wild.
Heart of Africa
While I love all of the exhibits at the Columbus Zoo, Heart of Africa is by far my favorite. The exhibit was opened in 2015 and has an open Savanna where multiple species roam together.
Up close, you can see African lions, and in the distance, herd animals such as zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, and giraffe grazing. The lions can see the herd animals, but they are separated by a barrier.
Attend keeper talks, feed the giraffes, and watch the animals interact in the Savanna at the Heart of Africa. You can watch the mischevious Vervet monkeys or see the cheetahs chilling in their enclosure. The cheetahs are let out to run during their keeper talks, and it is an impressive experience.
They also have an alternating exhibit where different animals will be let out together to graze or play in peace. This exhibit is down low, and you stand above, so no option for tapping on the glass, which I love.
The openness and interaction of the Heart of Africa make it, in my opinion, a very good reason to visit the Columbus Zoo.
Other Exhibits, or Regions
Something that I love about the exhibits at the Columbus Zoo is that they are always evolving and improving. Ever since I moved to Columbus 5 years ago, the improvements I have seen are wonderful. The exhibits are bigger, better for the animals, and provide more information than ever before.
Some of the regions have recently added a screen to some of the exhibit windows. They allow us to see through to the animals but block us from the animals’ view, which I love. The animals may not want to see us, and I always cringe when I see people tapping on the glass. Though for some animals, it seems like they enjoy watching us as well.
I have also noticed that several animal exhibits give the animals the option of being outside in our view or inside where we cannot see them. This is an amazing improvement, in my opinion.
Another excellent part of each exhibit is that they do an excellent job of explaining conservation efforts for endangered species as well as educating on how humans impact the environment and how our ever-growing society can coexist with these animals without pushing them towards extinction. I think this is the most important job that a zoo has.
Conservation
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium supports many conservation efforts around the world. Take the time to learn more about how you can help.
Ewaso Lions is a conservation effort that promotes coexistence between people and lions in Kenya. The conflict occurs when lions attack a farmer’s livestock, leading to the farmer killing the lion to save his herd. Ewaso Lions teaches local farmers how to reduce herd fatalities without killing lions so that both parties benefit.
The Columbus Zoo also supports the Danau Girang Field Centre in Borneo, which aims to conserve wild Asian elephants. The center researches the landscape and what needs to be accomplished in order to preserve the biodiversity and determine what a viable landscape looks like for tropical species. This is so important due to the ever-declining state of rainforests in Borneo, and all across Asia.
Another project they support is the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project, which seeks to protect wild Orangutans in Borneo. Also, Polar Bears International which has projects in climate change research, environmental stewardship, and educational outreach programs. Also read about Partners in Conservation, which targets the bushmeat trade and deforestation, especially where gorillas and other great apes are involved.
The zoo supports so many different conservation programs, and by visiting the zoo, you are also contributing to these projects. Take the time to read about them, and if one sticks out to you, please see how you can help even more. You can help by monetary donation, by volunteering, or even by making a simple lifestyle change. Just being aware of the need for conservation is a huge step in the right direction.
Are You Ready to Visit?
I have been visiting zoos since I was a child. Seeing and learning about the animals led me to pursue animal science in school and to be passionate about the environment and how I can help support conservation efforts.
There are plenty of ethical concerns surrounding zoos around the world. I myself have been to zoos where the cages were too small and the animals did not seem to receive the care that they should have, and I regret supporting them. I think that it is important to research and know what kind of zoo you are visiting. It should be a nonprofit organization, and the money that they make should be going towards the care of their animals and conservation.
It is important to keep in mind that many of the animals in zoos were bred in captivity and would not survive if released. Many zoos do rehabilitate animals to re-release into the wild. Also, remember that we are actively destroying the natural habitats of many animals that you can see in zoos. We need to be aware and learn how to coexist with these animals without taking their homes from them.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has done an excellent job in caring for their animals, educating the public and supporting conservation projects. Your experience there will be fun and educational. I highly recommend a visit if you love animals and truly want to learn more about them.
Now, I’ve never been to Ohio but when I visit, I will make an effort to visit this zoo. I’m always so iffy about the zoos because my heart can’t take seeing the animals in captivity, however, once knowing and seeing that they are taken care of properly, I am able to enjoy it. I love that the conservation of the animals and rehabilitation as well as educating people about the animals they care for and what they do makes a huge difference for everyone involved. Appreciate this great post! Columbus zoo is now on my list!
I am definitely iffy about zoos as well. Once I got to a certain age I started to wonder more why they are being held in cages. I really appreciate zoos like this one that do more to educate people. I like to think that a lot of zoos are doing a better job of this now as opposed to when I was a kid.
It is weird to think about, but when I see endangered animals in zoos and learn about how their numbers are dwindling in the wild, I feel really grateful for zoos. By allowing them to thrive in zoos and caring for them properly, they could potentially reintroduce some species into the wild. Not that that is possible with every animal.
If you make it to Ohio in the future, make sure to let me know! We can meet up for coffee and I can tell you all the cool places to go. 😁
Hey! I am so glad that you pointed out the ethical aspects behind zoos. I personally really struggle with them myself. I always appreciate–like you point out–that zoos (and places like them) educate, conserve, rehabilitate, and save animals. Breeding in captivity is another hard one for me. SeaWorld makes me super angry and wary here, but recently, new laws are being enacted for whales and dolphins at aquariums. I can see breeding in captivity for extinction, but not much else–although I am not a scientist and would love to better understand other reasons for this. I can’t really judge or be too upset without all of the background info. I don’t do SeaWorld, though, as well as many zoos abroad–you are right: you have to look into their practices first. The Columbus Zoo sounds like they are on point, for sure, and I would definitely support them. Glad they encouraged you and inspired your studies.
I don’t do SeaWorld either. I am not a fan of using animals in shows like that.
There is a lot of debate about breeding in captivity. On the one hand it is great to keep species from going extinct but on the other it is super hard to reintroduce a species that has been bred in captivity. Some species take to it better than others. So is it worth it to try, or should they let nature take its course? Most scientists who do conservation work have the animals best interest in mind and it is hard to give up when you are passionate about these animals. And scientists are so often ignored by people. Ahem. Climate change. Deforestation. Etc.
As longs as zoos keep education and conservation as their main objective, I will support them. Meanwhile, I will support sea animals not at SeaWorld but elsewhere. I don’t think I mentioned it, but the Columbus zoo has a small but mighty aquarium and they are doing some great reef restoration work.
Thanks for explaining and clarifying more! You are right about our growing modern problems too…
I also trust certain bloggers–like you–when they recommend places for animals, etc., because I know you are all so vigilant in your research and values.
We grew up with a great aquarium in CT. While they had dolphin and seal shows, unlike SeaWorld, I think all of their animals were part of their rehabilitation program. They didn’t do sketch things. SeaWorld definitely lost everyone’s trust and faith. They are way more commercial too.