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years of planning. The planning stage was crucial because of the rich history surrounding the property, including four archeological sites. Within two years, it was obvious that the zoo would not be self-supporting, and the
Riverbanks Zoological Society was created to help raise money for the zoo. At the same time, Palmer "Satch" Krantz was appointed executive director. Notable features of the original Zoo design were the mountainous, moated exhibits for big cats and bears.
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643:(opened on June 10, 1995 at the cost of $ 6 million) with more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants, and some sculptures. A trail system lets visitors explore several kilometers of bottomland and upland mixed hardwood forests in search of the native wildlife that call the Zoo and Garden home.
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exhibit also opened. This was all part of the zoo's $ 36 million
Destination Riverbanks plan. Additionally, a children's garden opened in 2016, complete with a dinosaur digging area and water features to interact with. This garden has been the largest addition to the zoo since the botanical garden in
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In the early 1960s, Columbia-area businessmen conceived of a zoo for the state capital. However, the idea did not get beyond the planning stages until 1969, when the state created the Rich-Lex
Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District to run the proposed zoo. The zoo opened on April 25, 1974 after 5
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has only 800,000 people). Riverbanks is a four-time winner of the
Southeastern Tourism Society's Shining Example Award as the Southeast's top tourist attraction and a two-time winner of the SC Parks Recreation and Tourism Governor's Cup Award as South Carolina's Leading Attraction.
624:. Phase two of this plan was approved in December 2023, with approximately $ 80 million invested from both Richland county and Lexington county. This project is planned to have a significant impact on tourism, local education, and potential job opportunities.
409:. The Birdhouse at Riverbanks (opened 2001) was given a Significant Achievement Award by the AZA as one of the best new zoo exhibits in the United States, and features a display of king, rockhopper, and gentoo penguins. The Zoo 2002 plan cost $ 15 million.
479:-acre (0.20 ha) renovated yard with a 250,000-U.S.-gallon (950,000 L) pool. As of November 20, 2019 the last elephant was transported to the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. The closing of the elephant exhibit made room for a
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434:(opened in 1989 as part of the Zoo II plan) is a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m) building with a 50,000-U.S.-gallon (190,000 L) tank for Pacific coral reef species, as well as exhibits for
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Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is South
Carolina's largest gated attraction, averaging over one million visitors each year—a considerable amount for a zoo serving a region as small as Columbia (the
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In May 2022, Riverbanks announced their new Bridge to the Wild plan, which aims to extend the zoo into the gardens. Plans include a new restaurant, as well as new species including
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counties. It is overseen by the
Riverbanks Park Commission, comprising two members each from the three governments and one at-large member.
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Waterfall
Junction (opened in April 2016) is a children's play area that includes a splashpad, playground, playhouses, and more.
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is another modern addition. It has a path leading into the exhibit where visitors can view
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in 2012. The babirusas have successfully been bred and can be found in the previous
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The last original animal who had been there since the zoo's opening, a female
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without a barrier between them. However, visitors cannot stray from the path.
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Zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden in
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
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317:, United States. A small portion of the zoo extends into the nearby city of
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African Plains, Aquarium, Sea Lion
Landing, Reptile Complex, Riverbanks Farm
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1061:"New at Riverbanks Zoo: Interactive children's garden to open next month"
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on
January 18, 2013, since deceased; as well as a breeding pair of
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1133:. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press.
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was designed to house two of the larger African species, the
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exhibit was opened, which is modeled after San Francisco's
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The zoo is home to over 2,000 animals, with collections of
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Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is an accredited member of the
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is a 2-acre (0.81 ha) pair of exhibits featuring
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A giraffe being fed at an overlook in 'Africa Plains'.
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Buildings and structures in Columbia, South Carolina
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Krantz, Palmer "Satch"; Jacobs, Monique Blanchette.
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1047:"Meet the Riverbanks Zoo sea lions and harbor seal"
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60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1310:Protected areas of Richland County, South Carolina
509:, later replaced by the rebuilt sea lion exhibit.
321:. It is operated by the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park
1100:"Last of the Original Animals at Riverbanks Dies"
271:Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District
1315:Tourist attractions in Columbia, South Carolina
714:), one of the many fishes in the aquarium area.
419:(including a paid feeding station), as well as
815:List of botanical gardens in the United States
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8:
803:at the Riverbanks Zoo Earth Day celebration.
397:. In 2002, additions included exhibits for
325:, a partnership of the city of Columbia and
1131:Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: Forty Wild Years
993:. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Archived from
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639:Riverbanks also has a 70-acre (28 ha)
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835:"Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums"
784:Waterfall Junction, children's play area.
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
668:Bench in a part of the Botanical Garden.
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338:Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
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146:Entrance to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
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513:features threatened species such as
58:adding citations to reliable sources
1295:Botanical gardens in South Carolina
483:exhibit, opened in summer of 2020.
799:with an information booth for the
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1269:Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
745:Smallest wild cat in Africa, the
955:"Aquarium Reptile Complex (ARC)"
878:Trinkley, Michael (1989-08-07).
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469:. The elephants once lived in a
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45:needs additional citations for
465:, various birds, and formerly
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216:West Columbia, South Carolina
1074:Thomas, Jason (2023-12-14).
1106:. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
1045:Shaw, Erin (May 26, 2016).
1026:. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
961:. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
935:. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
766:Orange-shoulder surgeonfish
538:The Riverbanks Zoo added a
297:is a 170-acre (69 ha)
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731:Pteroglossus beauharnaisii
712:Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
577:Separate exhibits include
354:Columbia metropolitan area
377:A male lion at Riverbanks
295:Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
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18:Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
1320:Zoos established in 1974
1227:Center for Birds of Prey
1080:Columbia Business Report
544:North Sulawesi babirusas
432:Aquarium Reptile Complex
323:Special Purpose District
315:Columbia, South Carolina
1274:South Carolina Aquarium
569:exhibit, and renovated
459:western lowland gorilla
174:34.009651°N 81.072436°W
1305:Zoos in South Carolina
895:Cite journal requires
801:Congaree National Park
631:, died in March 2014.
463:slender-tailed meerkat
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226:170 acres (69 ha)
195:; 50 years ago
1236:HollyWild Animal Park
797:National Park Service
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179:34.009651; -81.072436
770:Acanthurus olivaceus
727:Curl-crested aracari
618:American black bears
553:In June 2016, a new
515:golden lion tamarins
511:Conservation Outpost
481:Southern white rhino
361:Animals and exhibits
54:improve this article
1219:Alligator Adventure
467:de Brazza's monkeys
436:Galapagos tortoises
170: /
1104:www.riverbanks.org
1024:www.riverbanks.org
991:www.riverbanks.org
959:www.riverbanks.org
933:www.riverbanks.org
647:Waterfall Junction
629:Caribbean flamingo
525:Kangaroo Walkabout
503:ring-tailed lemurs
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309:located along the
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1223:Animal Forest Zoo
1063:. March 12, 2016.
772:) in an aquarium.
579:Hamadryas baboons
507:red ruffed lemurs
399:African elephants
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16:(Redirected from
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571:grizzly bear
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499:Lemur Island
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451:Ndoki Forest
450:
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311:Saluda River
294:
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110:October 2023
107:
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64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
917:Zoo history
559:harbor seal
283:.riverbanks
250:Memberships
190:Date opened
177: /
1289:Categories
1085:2024-03-05
821:References
614:red wolves
606:orangutans
595:alligators
245:1+ million
234:of animals
165:81°04′21″W
162:34°00′35″N
80:newspapers
1261:Aquariums
1149:841893872
1030:6 October
1004:6 October
965:6 October
939:6 October
680:Giraffes.
550:exhibit.
529:wallabies
331:Lexington
223:Land area
1202:Zoos of
1110:25 April
848:30 March
809:See also
599:siamangs
591:meerkats
555:sea lion
403:gorillas
391:reptiles
327:Richland
303:aquarium
212:Columbia
208:Location
839:aza.org
655:Gallery
610:gibbons
563:Pier 39
548:warthog
495:alpacas
474:⁄
425:ostrich
417:giraffe
383:mammals
344:History
276:Website
198: (
94:scholar
1147:
1137:
620:, and
597:, and
574:1995.
423:, and
407:koalas
405:, and
393:, and
305:, and
237:2,000+
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998:(PDF)
987:(PDF)
583:lions
567:otter
491:goats
387:birds
268:Owner
101:JSTOR
87:books
1212:Zoos
1145:OCLC
1135:ISBN
1112:2014
1032:2011
1006:2011
967:2011
941:2011
901:help
850:2011
557:and
531:and
505:and
493:and
457:and
430:The
395:fish
329:and
293:The
285:.org
214:and
73:news
843:AZA
313:in
299:zoo
281:www
254:AZA
232:No.
56:by
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50:.
20:)
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