Assiniboine Park Zoo
Assiniboine Park Zoo is an zoo that was established in 1904 at the West end of Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is managed by the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The Assiniboine Park Zoo has been best known for decades for its polar bear exhibit, of which the old enclosure was replaced in 2013 with Journey to Churchill.
History
The City of Winnipeg Parks Board purchased some native animals including deer, bison, and elk to start the zoo in 1904. In 1908, the bear enclosure was built, and by 1909, the zoo had 116 animals of 19 species.In 1916, the zoo budget was $8,000. By 1998, the animal collection had increased to include 77 different mammal species, 151 different birds, and 14 reptiles, with the total collection including about 1,193 individuals of 271 species, and the zoo budget was $2,497,173.
The zoo got its first lion, a female, in 1935, and its first polar bear, a wild orphaned cub named Carmichael, in 1939. Carmichael got a partner in February 1940—a female named Clementine.
The Zoological Society of Manitoba was formed in 1956 to provide the vision and funding for the zoo. In 1957, the zoo helped develop "Aunt Sally's Farm", a children's petting zoo named after Sally Warnock, and which a scale model had been presented in February 1958 and opened Friday August 7, 1959. At first an admission fee of 10 cents for children over 5 and 25 cents for adults was charged. The fee was dropped years later. In 1959 the zoo was officially named Assiniboine Park Zoo.
In the 1960s, the gibbon/monkey house was built, another orphan polar bear cub arrived at the zoo, and a snow leopard was added to the zoo. The Polar bear enclosure was renovated in 1967, adding an upper story, and two more orphaned cubs arrived. Then in 1968 and 1969, the Tropical House, Native Animal Exhibit, and a new south gate were added.
In the 1980s, the Zoological Society of Manitoba, which had not been active for a while, began to provide money for new signage, exhibits, and infrastructure. The main entrance was reconstructed to include a new Gift Store operated by the Society of, and the Carousel Restaurant was renovated.
New enclosures for the camels, yaks, and zebras, as well as the "Camel Oasis" Interpretive Playground, opened in the northwest end of the zoo in 1995. This was also the first year for "Lights of the Wild," featuring animal light sculptures presented by the Zoo and the Society for 3 weeks in the winter.
In 1997, the "Saturn Playground" was constructed and the main restaurant facilities were renovated. The Saturn Shuttle and Kiosk information booth projects were established in 1998, as well as an upgrade to the electrical infrastructure of the Zoo.
In 2001 a grant from the DeFehr foundation funded the renovation of the unused Bison Restaurant Kiosk into the Palliser Interpretive Center, the headquarters for ICE Camp. An alliance with the University of Manitoba Summer Camps initiates "Mini U Zoo," where campers spend one week at the University and one week at the Zoo. The zoo master plan is unveiled to the public.
As late as 2000, the Zoo was open from 9 a.m. till sunset. However by the Zoo's hours were significantly reduced. Today the Zoo closes at 4 p.m., when most people coming home from their workplace. In July 2015 the Zoo extended visiting hours every Wednesday till 8 p.m. as a trial because there were many requests from zoo visitors that the earlier closing wasn't convenient for people who work during the day.
In 2004, as part of venture with the University of Manitoba Architecture Department, substantial improvements were made to the Education Centre.
Master Plan
In 2000, the Society and the Zoo started work on a new Master Plan Development Proposal for the Zoo. Initial proposals were for the redesign of the existing Polar Bear enclosure, but this eventually grew into a much larger Master Plan Development project.In 2008 the Assiniboine Park Conservancy is created to develop, govern, and manage Assiniboine Park including the Zoo.
In June 2009, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy unveils a comprehensive $200 million redevelopment plan for Assiniboine Park & Zoo that will be completed over 10 years.
Exhibits and facilities
Journey to Churchill
In January 2012, the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre is opened.In July 2014, the Journey to Churchill Northern Species exhibit opens. The exhibit features expansive new polar bear, Arctic fox, wolf, musk ox, caribou, snowy owl, and seal habitats. As well as interactive interpretive components, a short film experience inside a 360-degree theatre, and underwater viewing tunnels for polar bears and seals.
The Zoo's newest permanent area, Journey to Churchill is an exhibit representing various habitats of northern Manitoba. Churchill is home to what may be the "world's best" polar bear enclosure.
In January 2019, five year old polar bear "Blizzard" had died of fluid in its chest.
Located inside the Journey to Churchill exhibit, the Tundra Grill is a 150-seat restaurant with views of the underwater tank.
Toucan Ridge
Toucan Ridge, was originally known as the Tropical House. The building was constructed in 1971 at a cost of $500,000 and first opened to the public in November 1972. The Tropical House would almost double the Zoo's total species and would feature birds and other animals. Temperatures inside the Tropical House would be maintained at a constant.In 2009, the Zoo contracted with demolition company Klassen Concrete to demolish the early 1970s Tropical House. Instead of demolishing the building, a plan to reuse most of the building but to reconfigure the displays was put into place. Infrastructure renewal cost $900,000. Exhibit renewal cost $2.1 million. The project took five months to complete.
On April 20, 2011, the first new exhibit as part of the Assiniboine Park Zoo's redevelopment plans, Toucan Ridge, is opened. The exhibit features animal, bird, and plant life of the new world tropics of Central and South America. Toucan Ridge is located in what used to be known as the Tropical House.
Kinsmen Discovery Centre
Announced in November 1986, and originally planned to open in the fall of 1987, the Centre broke ground in June 1988. The $1.75 million Kinsman Discovery Centre opened on March 23, 1990, two and a half years late and $550,000 over budget. It replaced the aging Aunt Sally's Farm which operated between 1959 and 1989. The Centre contains six galleries pertaining to different life forms — water, grasslands, air, underground, plus two forest galleries. A statue honouring Winnipeg the Bear was unveiled in 1992 and has since been relocated to the Nature Playground, in the general Park area.The Zoo's 2nd biggest indoor exhibit with fish snakes reptiles etc.
Animals of Asia
In June 2010, the Pavilion of Lions is opened. A pair of African Lions becomes the exhibits first residents.In April 2012, the Assiniboine Park Zoo becomes the only facility in North America that is home to a pair of Asiatic lions. The Asiatic Lions replace the African Lions in the Pavilion of Lions exhibit.
A new expansion of the enclosure for Siberian tigers was constructed in 2013 and opened that same year. The new enclosure would assist the breeding program.
Grasslands and Boreal Forest
After Journey to Churchill opened in 2014 it was thought that a Wolf exhibit would be nice addition to the Zoo. Originally a wolf exhibit was not planned for. It opened in June 2018 and features four male grey wolves and one female grey wolf.McFeetors Heavy Horse Centre
The McFeetors Heavy Horse Centre was announced in September 2014 and officially opened on August 28, 2015.Stingray Beach
Stingray Beach is a rotating exhibit that debut on the May 2019 long weekend. However after a month and a half three male specimens died from over handling by visitors and by mating related issues. Protesters wanted the exhibit shut down permanently.Seasonal Exhibits
Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden
In June 2009, the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden, located next to the Toucan Ridge exhibit, opened. The Butterfly Garden is a permanent seasonal exhibit and is closed during the Winter months.The Zoo Lights Festival is the current special event that takes place between the late fall and early winter months since.
Former exhibits
A special Australian exhibit featuring koalas from the San Diego Zoo was created in 1993, and was open to the public between May 12 and September 19, in the former Aunt Sally's Farm space. This enclosure has been used for Matchie's tree kangaroos since the koalas left.Boo at the Zoo was started in 1996 as a Halloween event. In the first year, 40,000 people attended over a ten-day period. By its 10th anniversary in 2006, when the Pumpkin Patch Maze, Area 54 and Boo Alley were added to the attractions, the event was attended by 57,400 visitors. 'Boo at the Zoo' is no longer being offered.
Lights of the Wild, featuring animal light sculptures presented by the Zoo and the Society, was first opened in 1996 for 3 weeks in the winter. It was discontinued in 2000 and the lights were all sold to Portage Island of Lights.
A temporary exhibit, Xtreme Bugs, was featured at the Zoo during the summer of 2018.
Incidents
- In July 2014 the wolves and polar bears had to be taken out of their display areas because one or more of the wolves dug their way into the polar bear enclosure. No one was hurt in the incident.
- Safety protocols were in question when one Amur tiger gained access to another enclosure and killed another tiger in September 2014.
- In November 2014 a sea lion got trapped in a drain and died.
Admission fees
In 2015, the Zoo had offered discount Tuesdays at the cost of $10 for adults. However in that year the admission fee was raised to $12 per adult.
The Zoo has offered free children's admission during the days of the Christmas Break in years 2015,, 2017, and 2018.
As of 2019, admission fees for visiting the Assiniboine Park Zoo are:
| Entrance Fee | |
| Age 3-12 | $11.25 |
| Age 13-17 | $17.75 |
| Student | $17.75 |
| Adults | $20.50 |
| Seniors | $17.75 |
Education
The zoo hosts summer day camps for children of all ages.Guided School and Group Tours.