810:
388:
714:
738:
230:(WPA) during the Great Depression. The City of Jackson, like almost every other city and state, used funds from the New Deal programs to create construction jobs for its citizens in those hard times. With the public works, the City and zoo director Irl Bennett left a heritage of facilities that have served Jackson for some 80 years. Today, many of the buildings constructed by the WPA are still standing. At the time, the Castle served as Monkey Island, housing several dozen
750:
774:
726:
786:
454:
822:
762:
798:
277:
favor of "voluntary segregation" and supported the racial integration of all of
Jackson's recreational facilities, including Jackson Zoo. Soon thereafter, instead of allowing for a seamless integration of the Jackson's recreational facilities, Mayor Thompson ordered all of the city's public pools and bathrooms closed, while also removing benches and picnic tables from public parks, including the Jackson Zoo.
548:
349:
284:
was added, later renovated to what is now the
Discovery Zoo. An animal hospital was built to perform routine checkups, for surgeries for any of the residents, and to quarantine new arrivals before they can live amongst the permanent collection. In 1975, James L. Swigert became the director. With the
276:
of the city's recreational facilities, including the city's zoo, golf courses, pools, and parks. Even though a three judge panel concluded that the arrest of an
African American "boy and girl" at Livingston Park was an "isolated publicity stunt," the court did not agree with the city's argument in
180:
and exhibits over 120 species and approximately 250 individual animals, providing the public the opportunity to observe and study wildlife from around the world and region. The
Jackson Zoo is in the historic 110-acre (0.45 km) Livingston Park and welcomes approximately 85,000 visitors annually
433:
from all over the world. There are plans to continue the renovation of any older exhibits that can be used to more modern standards, or new builds to upgrade to current standards of professional animal care. Several buildings have been renovated over the years, and hold certification of historic
367:
In 2007, recognizing the expanded facilities, the
Jackson Zoo was named the "Travel Attraction of the Year" presented by the Mississippi Tourism Association; it received the "Attraction of the Year" at the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau Summit Awards. Drawings began for
402:
In 2010, the decision was made to send two popular elephant residents to another zoo to form a larger herd, due to lack of acreage and newly discovered species needs. The
Southern White rhino becomes the largest mammal in the zoo, and moves to the elephant enclosure.
383:
Also in 2007, a groundbreaking was held for the
Gertrude C. Ford Education Center in the Wilderness Mississippi area. In October that year, renovations were completed in the animal hospital, with state funding and donations from Baptist Medical Center.
575:. The zoo accommodates this by having a large field, with several night houses for the animals to sleep in and several places for the weary animals to hide if need be. Currently, the zoo has several animals calling the African Savannah home, including
434:
landmarks with the
Mississippi Department of Archives and History: The Elephant House Cafe, the Elephant/Rhino Barn, and the Monkey Castle with its adjoining Ramada. Due to age and safety, neither the cafe nor the castle are home living animals.
559:
exhibit is built as two large open plains, separated by fencing and trees. Completed in 2005, these mixed exhibits were designed so that when visitors view its residents, they feel like they are out on a field expedition on the open
Savannah.
29:
416:
As of August 22, 2020, the zoo is open to the public for limited hours on weekends due to COVID-19 restrictions, and awaiting the finalizing of a new management agreement under zoOceanarium LCC with the City of
Jackson.
306:
In 1996, the zoo became a member of a community organization called ZAPP (Zoo Area Progressive Partnership) in an endeavor to assist with the regeneration of the neighborhoods surrounding the location.
635:
In the spring of 2006, the Jackson Zoo opened a section of the zoo dedicated completely to Mississippi's most beautiful creatures. With newly designed exhibits portraying many of the states natural
204:
In 1916, the city of Jackson purchased from Samuel Livingston 79 acres (320,000 m) of undeveloped land, then on the outskirts of town. By 1919, a group of firefighters were collecting various
1505:
1530:
1520:
1525:
488:
Island - The zoo currently has four chimpanzees, all of which live on a large Island in the African Rainforest exhibit. The zoo has one male and four females on property.
406:
In 2017, orangutans on loan from other facilities were removed to new properties due to the age of their enclosure and lack of funding to renovate in a timely fashion.
1370:
1365:
1324:
1123:
997:
1417:
299:
In 1995, the state government provided $ 4 million for improvements to the facilities. In 1998, the city agreed to a $ 1.5 million match. Including the African
1089:
1510:
1142:
1065:
1339:
1334:
1247:
809:
1152:
410:
461:
The African Rainforest is a boardwalk off the main path of the zoo that is designed to submerse visitors into the dense jungle of the forest.
42:
1264:
413:
Class C licensing. Zoo staff remained in place for animal and facility care under the City of Jackson Department of Parks and Recreation.
468:
pool - The first exhibit on the African Rainforest is a large lake to the right of the wooden boardwalk. In this lake, with the native
1252:
1050:
990:
1515:
1410:
1360:
1206:
1174:
293:
193:
140:
480:, they typically can be found either in their lake, or wallowing in several of their mud holes in the back portion of the exhibit.
1101:
238:. The grounds also served as a park to its visitors, with much of the zoo's land remaining open, a scenic location with a lake.
1106:
506:
821:
713:
1094:
1045:
249:. With his help, the zoo was able to purchase several rain forest specimens from the government of Liberia, including three
1118:
983:
227:
1500:
1403:
1227:
1084:
181:
from Mississippi and surrounding states. 20,000 school children make their way to the zoo throughout the school year.
1461:
189:
737:
909:
749:
1381:
1113:
671:
644:
303:
and the Mississippi Wilderness Exhibits, it would be the largest capital improvement project in the zoo's history.
785:
725:
576:
510:
391:
1211:
1169:
675:
773:
761:
1269:
1186:
1055:
387:
1259:
1147:
1020:
246:
1293:
662:
The first building found on the zoo's new facility is the Backyard Creatures, a venomous snake house.
1479:
1385:
1060:
1006:
292:
Exhibit. In 1987, Barbara Barrett Piazza was hired as director. In 1989, accreditation came from the
223:, the city decided to move them to the newly purchased land and the Livingston Park Zoo was created.
177:
95:
797:
1196:
1075:
695:
616:
502:
584:
1344:
1300:
1286:
1070:
679:
640:
519:
465:
438:
289:
273:
699:
691:
453:
345:
Exhibit opened to the public. Barbara Piazza retired as director; Beth Poff became the fifth.
250:
1307:
1201:
1181:
683:
612:
523:
469:
356:
In 2006, the Wilderness Mississippi area opened. Renovations were completed to exhibit two
272:
In 1962, three African American residents of Jackson sued the City of Jackson for de facto
1471:
1451:
648:
242:
208:, housing them in the central fire station, what is now the Chamber of Commerce Building.
608:
580:
235:
231:
288:
In 1985, taking in more space from Livingston Park allowed for the development of the
1494:
592:
535:
285:
help of the City Council and a design group, he put together the first Master Plan.
656:
619:
habitat, despite not being from Asia. There are also smaller enclosures containing
588:
531:
509:, is designed to show visitors mutualism: how many animals coexist within the same
477:
473:
377:
547:
1446:
1430:
857:
620:
476:, and fish, are three pygmy hippos. Smaller than their larger cousins, the Nile
281:
99:
437:
The zoo has several areas dedicated to specific places on Earth, including the
636:
624:
485:
266:
57:
44:
639:, the Jackson Zoo has many of the states most represented animals including
607:
The Asian Garden is right by the entrance and is home to grottos containing
527:
357:
335:
216:
348:
409:
In September of 2019, the park closed to the public while re-establishing
150:
African Rainforest, African Savannah, Asian Garden, Wilderness Mississippi
917:
687:
564:
556:
442:
342:
311:
300:
254:
28:
596:
572:
494:
430:
323:
319:
258:
212:
1395:
652:
498:
426:
220:
205:
310:
In 2004, the Friends of the Zoo installed a new Endangered Species
975:
546:
493:
Old World monkey exhibit - this mixed exhibit, with two different
452:
386:
373:
347:
331:
327:
315:
262:
226:
In the 1930s, many new buildings were erected with help from the
568:
369:
1399:
979:
360:
from Borneo. The zoo was named a "Southern Travel Treasure" by
1438:
1426:
241:
In 1948, the collection was expanded thanks to the efforts of
185:
968:
883:
159:
522:
has several exhibits with animals that occupy various
1470:
1437:
1353:
1317:
1278:
1240:
1220:
1162:
1133:
1036:
1029:
1013:
154:
146:
136:
128:
117:
106:
91:
73:
21:
338:bench was built, with handicapped accessibility.
188:in the state, behind the 175-acre (0.71 km)
1506:Buildings and structures in Jackson, Mississippi
425:The Jackson Zoo currently has approximately 250
234:and the Elephant House Café was home to a young
211:In 1921, after the collection had evolved from
1325:Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
1411:
991:
8:
1531:Protected areas of Hinds County, Mississippi
1521:Works Progress Administration in Mississippi
445:, Asian Garden, and Wilderness Mississippi.
1526:Tourist attractions in Jackson, Mississippi
852:
850:
848:
846:
844:
842:
314:. Built with the site in mind, it features
1418:
1404:
1396:
1033:
998:
984:
976:
18:
16:Zoo in Jackson, Mississippi, United States
1384:serves the Jackson area but is in nearby
1253:Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame Museum
176:is a zoo that was established in 1919 in
1340:University of Mississippi Medical Center
563:The Savannah is home to many species of
192:, and is the only zoo accredited by the
838:
709:
429:, representing more than 120 different
411:United States Department of Agriculture
827:Performances are also held at the zoo.
702:and several other birds and reptiles.
372:exhibit improvements, including a new
184:The Jackson Zoo is the second largest
941:, 206 F. Supp. 539 (S.D. Miss. 1962).
670:The other animals in the zoo include
7:
815:Former African elephants of the zoo.
330:to ride, instead of the traditional
1248:Jackson–Evers International Airport
1511:1916 establishments in Mississippi
1155:(moved to Ridgeland, later closed)
14:
1361:Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson
1207:Mississippi College School of Law
916:. The Jackson Zoo. Archived from
457:Chimpanzees at Chimpanzee Island.
294:Association of Zoos and Aquariums
194:Zoological Association of America
141:Zoological Association of America
1102:Mississippi School for the Blind
953:, 419 F.2d 1222 (5th Cir. 1969).
820:
808:
796:
784:
772:
760:
748:
736:
724:
712:
27:
1107:Mississippi School for the Deaf
507:eastern black-and-white colobus
1095:Clinton Public School District
1090:Madison County School District
1046:Jackson Public School District
421:Exhibits and animal collection
118:
107:
1:
1124:St. Andrew's Episcopal School
280:In the 1970s, the children's
228:Works Progress Administration
1228:Jackson/Hinds Library System
1191:Some campuses are in Jackson
1085:Hinds County School District
910:"History of the Jackson Zoo"
79:; 105 years ago
1462:Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo
672:black-headed spider monkeys
645:North American river otters
190:Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo
1547:
1382:Jackson Preparatory School
1114:Hillcrest Christian School
659:now calling the zoo home.
200:History of the Jackson Zoo
1379:
1371:First Presbyterian Church
676:black-tailed prairie dogs
577:southern white rhinoceros
396:Ceratotherium simum simum
392:Southern white rhinoceros
39:
35:
26:
1516:Landmarks in Mississippi
1366:Congregation Beth Israel
1212:Wesley Biblical Seminary
1170:Jackson State University
296:(now known as the AZA).
219:to include exotics like
1187:Hinds Community College
1260:Jackson Transit System
631:Wilderness Mississippi
615:. Next to them is the
552:
526:within the rainforest
458:
399:
353:
767:Flamingos at the zoo.
550:
456:
390:
351:
341:In 2005, the African
247:Jackson State College
1480:Mississippi Aquarium
696:laughing kookaburras
196:(ZAA) in the state.
178:Jackson, Mississippi
1501:Zoos in Mississippi
1197:Belhaven University
719:Pygmy Hippopotamus.
680:cotton-top tamarins
641:American alligators
617:reticulated giraffe
352:Orangutans exhibit.
58:32.3202°N 90.2207°W
54: /
1345:Eudora Welty House
1301:Jackson Free Press
1287:The Clarion-Ledger
951:Palmer v. Thompson
700:black-necked swans
692:American flamingos
555:The zoo's African
553:
520:African Rainforest
466:Pygmy hippopotamus
459:
449:African Rainforest
439:African Rainforest
400:
354:
290:African Rainforest
1488:
1487:
1393:
1392:
1335:King Edward Hotel
1294:The Northside Sun
1236:
1235:
939:Clark v. Thompson
920:on 8 January 2010
890:. The Jackson Zoo
884:"The Jackson Zoo"
864:. The Jackson Zoo
684:red ruffed lemurs
613:Asian black bears
503:Schmidt's guenons
470:red-eared sliders
170:
169:
63:32.3202; -90.2207
1538:
1420:
1413:
1406:
1397:
1308:Jackson Advocate
1202:Millsaps College
1182:Tougaloo College
1034:
1000:
993:
986:
977:
972:
971:
969:Official website
954:
948:
942:
936:
930:
929:
927:
925:
906:
900:
899:
897:
895:
880:
874:
873:
871:
869:
854:
824:
812:
800:
788:
776:
764:
752:
740:
728:
716:
649:American beavers
543:African Savannah
518:The rest of the
166:
163:
161:
120:
109:
87:
85:
80:
69:
68:
66:
65:
64:
59:
55:
52:
51:
50:
47:
31:
19:
1546:
1545:
1541:
1540:
1539:
1537:
1536:
1535:
1491:
1490:
1489:
1484:
1466:
1452:Hattiesburg Zoo
1433:
1424:
1394:
1389:
1375:
1349:
1313:
1274:
1232:
1216:
1158:
1135:
1129:
1119:Jackson Academy
1038:
1025:
1009:
1007:City of Jackson
1004:
967:
966:
963:
958:
957:
949:
945:
937:
933:
923:
921:
908:
907:
903:
893:
891:
882:
881:
877:
867:
865:
856:
855:
840:
835:
828:
825:
816:
813:
804:
801:
792:
789:
780:
777:
768:
765:
756:
755:Colobus monkey.
753:
744:
741:
732:
729:
720:
717:
708:
668:
633:
609:Sumatran tigers
605:
545:
451:
423:
376:facility and a
245:, President of
243:Jacob L. Reddix
232:rhesus macaques
202:
158:
129:Annual visitors
102:, United States
83:
81:
78:
62:
60:
56:
53:
48:
45:
43:
41:
40:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1544:
1542:
1534:
1533:
1528:
1523:
1518:
1513:
1508:
1503:
1493:
1492:
1486:
1485:
1483:
1482:
1476:
1474:
1468:
1467:
1465:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1443:
1441:
1435:
1434:
1425:
1423:
1422:
1415:
1408:
1400:
1391:
1390:
1380:
1377:
1376:
1374:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1357:
1355:
1351:
1350:
1348:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1314:
1312:
1311:
1304:
1297:
1290:
1282:
1280:
1276:
1275:
1273:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1256:
1255:
1244:
1242:
1241:Transportation
1238:
1237:
1234:
1233:
1231:
1230:
1224:
1222:
1218:
1217:
1215:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1193:
1192:
1184:
1179:
1178:
1177:
1166:
1164:
1160:
1159:
1157:
1156:
1153:Veritas School
1150:
1145:
1139:
1137:
1131:
1130:
1128:
1127:
1121:
1116:
1110:
1109:
1104:
1098:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1081:
1080:
1079:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1056:Forest Hill HS
1053:
1042:
1040:
1031:
1027:
1026:
1024:
1023:
1017:
1015:
1011:
1010:
1005:
1003:
1002:
995:
988:
980:
974:
973:
962:
961:External links
959:
956:
955:
943:
931:
914:jacksonzoo.org
901:
888:jacksonzoo.org
875:
862:jacksonzoo.org
837:
836:
834:
831:
830:
829:
826:
819:
817:
814:
807:
805:
802:
795:
793:
791:Wattled Crane.
790:
783:
781:
778:
771:
769:
766:
759:
757:
754:
747:
745:
742:
735:
733:
731:Addra gazelle.
730:
723:
721:
718:
711:
707:
704:
667:
664:
632:
629:
604:
601:
593:wattled cranes
581:sable antelope
544:
541:
540:
539:
536:red river hogs
515:
514:
490:
489:
482:
481:
450:
447:
422:
419:
236:Asian elephant
201:
198:
168:
167:
156:
152:
151:
148:
147:Major exhibits
144:
143:
138:
134:
133:
130:
126:
125:
122:
115:
114:
111:
104:
103:
93:
89:
88:
75:
71:
70:
37:
36:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1543:
1532:
1529:
1527:
1524:
1522:
1519:
1517:
1514:
1512:
1509:
1507:
1504:
1502:
1499:
1498:
1496:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1475:
1473:
1469:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1440:
1436:
1432:
1428:
1421:
1416:
1414:
1409:
1407:
1402:
1401:
1398:
1387:
1383:
1378:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1358:
1356:
1352:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1322:
1320:
1316:
1310:
1309:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1298:
1296:
1295:
1291:
1289:
1288:
1284:
1283:
1281:
1277:
1271:
1270:Hawkins Field
1268:
1266:
1265:Union Station
1263:
1261:
1258:
1254:
1251:
1250:
1249:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1239:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1219:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1190:
1189:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1176:
1173:
1172:
1171:
1168:
1167:
1165:
1161:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1132:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1099:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1082:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1048:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1037:Primary &
1035:
1032:
1028:
1022:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1012:
1008:
1001:
996:
994:
989:
987:
982:
981:
978:
970:
965:
964:
960:
952:
947:
944:
940:
935:
932:
919:
915:
911:
905:
902:
889:
885:
879:
876:
863:
859:
853:
851:
849:
847:
845:
843:
839:
832:
823:
818:
811:
806:
799:
794:
787:
782:
775:
770:
763:
758:
751:
746:
739:
734:
727:
722:
715:
710:
705:
703:
701:
697:
693:
689:
685:
681:
677:
673:
666:Other animals
665:
663:
660:
658:
654:
650:
646:
642:
638:
630:
628:
626:
622:
618:
614:
610:
602:
600:
598:
594:
590:
589:klipspringers
586:
585:Grévy's zebra
582:
578:
574:
570:
566:
561:
558:
549:
542:
537:
533:
532:Diana monkeys
529:
525:
521:
517:
516:
512:
508:
504:
500:
496:
492:
491:
487:
484:
483:
479:
475:
474:river cooters
471:
467:
464:
463:
462:
455:
448:
446:
444:
440:
435:
432:
428:
420:
418:
414:
412:
407:
404:
398:) at the zoo.
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
379:
375:
371:
365:
363:
359:
350:
346:
344:
339:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
308:
304:
302:
297:
295:
291:
286:
283:
278:
275:
270:
268:
264:
260:
256:
253:, three rare
252:
248:
244:
239:
237:
233:
229:
224:
222:
218:
214:
209:
207:
199:
197:
195:
191:
187:
182:
179:
175:
165:
157:
153:
149:
145:
142:
139:
135:
131:
127:
123:
116:
112:
105:
101:
97:
94:
90:
76:
72:
67:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1456:
1329:
1306:
1299:
1292:
1285:
1175:see template
1148:Wingfield HS
1126:Lower school
950:
946:
938:
934:
922:. Retrieved
918:the original
913:
904:
892:. Retrieved
887:
878:
866:. Retrieved
861:
669:
661:
657:rattlesnakes
634:
621:fishing cats
606:
603:Asian Garden
562:
554:
530:, including
478:hippopotamus
460:
436:
424:
415:
408:
405:
401:
395:
382:
378:water garden
366:
362:AAA Magazine
361:
355:
340:
309:
305:
298:
287:
279:
271:
240:
225:
210:
203:
183:
173:
171:
1457:Jackson Zoo
1447:Collins Zoo
1431:Mississippi
1330:Jackson Zoo
1061:Jim Hill HS
1051:Callaway HS
924:21 February
894:21 February
858:"Zoo Facts"
625:lar gibbons
571:, and even
511:environment
282:petting zoo
274:segregation
257:monkeys, a
251:chimpanzees
174:Jackson Zoo
162:.jacksonzoo
137:Memberships
100:Mississippi
74:Date opened
61: /
22:Jackson Zoo
1495:Categories
1143:Central HS
1076:Provine HS
833:References
688:red wolves
637:ecosystems
486:Chimpanzee
441:, African
358:orangutans
334:. Even an
265:, and two
261:monkey, a
121:of species
110:of animals
49:90°13′15″W
46:32°19′13″N
1472:Aquariums
1318:Landmarks
1221:Libraries
1071:Murrah HS
1066:Lanier HS
1039:secondary
1030:Education
868:16 August
779:Antelope.
743:Tortoise.
597:ostriches
528:ecosystem
336:alligator
217:squirrels
1354:Religion
1163:Tertiary
1021:Tougaloo
803:Ostrich.
573:reptiles
565:antelope
557:Savannah
443:Savannah
343:Savannah
324:giraffes
320:leopards
312:Carousel
301:savannah
255:mangabey
92:Location
1386:Flowood
1136:schools
706:Gallery
653:cougars
551:Zebras.
495:species
431:species
427:animals
267:pythons
259:colobus
213:rabbits
206:animals
155:Website
132:120,000
96:Jackson
82: (
1134:Former
655:, and
595:, and
534:, and
524:niches
499:monkey
332:horses
328:tigers
326:, and
316:zebras
221:zebras
1279:Media
1014:Areas
569:birds
374:tiger
263:lemur
1439:Zoos
1427:Zoos
926:2010
896:2010
870:2020
623:and
611:and
505:and
370:Asia
215:and
172:The
164:.org
84:1919
77:1919
1429:of
497:of
186:zoo
160:www
124:120
119:No.
113:250
108:No.
1497::
912:.
886:.
860:.
841:^
698:,
694:,
690:,
686:,
682:,
678:,
674:,
651:,
647:,
643:,
627:.
599:.
591:,
587:,
583:,
579:,
567:,
501:,
472:,
380:.
364:.
322:,
318:,
269:.
98:,
1419:e
1412:t
1405:v
1388:.
999:e
992:t
985:v
928:.
898:.
872:.
538:.
513:.
394:(
86:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
