The Alaska Zoo
A Place for Everyone

The Alaska Zoo started out as a place to keep an extra elephant! This fellow won an elephant in a contest and had to keep it somewhere. For awhile, the elephant lived at a horse ranch. Later, a children's zoo was created and she was the first elephant in it.



Since then, the children's zoo turned into the Alaska zoo, which has 25 acres of ground.

Now there are over 100 animal residents at this zoo and around 40 different types, including birds. Lots of Alaskan wildlife make up the zoo population, plus a number of exotic animals from other countries. So it has become a real, well-rounded zoo!

But they have not lost their status as a children's zoo. They still maintain petting areas with goats and other animals for children to enjoy.

In addition to being a zoo, it fulfills the purpose of giving homes to wild Alaskan animals that have been stranded or injured and would have died otherwise. Because of the variety of wildlife, research and education about wildlife is also part of their program.

Elephants are no longer a part of Alaska's zoo because the climate is much too harsh for them, so they were returned to warmer climates.

TYPES OF WILDLIFE and OTHER ANIMALS at the ZOO:

OTHER FACILITIES and ACTIVITIES PROVIDED ON the ZOO GROUNDS:

In addition to being a zoo, the grounds furnish many other opportunities for enjoying the surroundings.

There are facilities for all types of meetings and special events such as birthdays, weddings, etc., that can be rented. Included in these are a greenhouse and outdoor, covered lawn space, as well as buildings.

There are also a number of programs for children and adults, both summer and winter. These include camps, talks by animal experts, speakers on the environment and various related subjects, live music and other events. In fact, the only two days of the year the facility is completely closed is on Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Their fees are low, ranging from free to $12.00, and are well-worth the quality, cultural attraction this has become. This is a 'must visit' attraction!