Atlanta Zoo

Edited Recently

History

Zoo Atlanta, one of the earliest zoos in the United States, has experienced several transformative phases, from its founding in 1889 to modern-day acclaim. Known initially as Grant Park Zoo, it has faced cycles of decline and resurgence, each period marked by ambitious rebuilding efforts that ultimately propelled it back to the forefront of American zoos. Key milestones, such as the arrival of the zoo's first gorilla and later, its acquisition of giant pandas, have brought renewed public interest and prestige, yet the journey has been fraught with significant challenges.

The Beginnings in Grant Park (1889-1930s)

Zoo Atlanta’s story began early 1889, when a traveling circus, unable to continue due to financial troubles, was abandoned in Atlanta in March. After the circus owner encountered legal issues, he departed for Chicago, leaving the circus assets - including three lions, a gazelle, two monkeys, a hyena, a jaguar, and a black bear - stranded in Atlanta’s railroad yard. Local businessman George V. Gress stepped in, purchasing the collection and donating it to the city. The city quickly moved the animals to Grant Park, establishing what became known as the Grant Park Zoo in April that year. It was one of the first zoos in the United States, initially designed as a "menagerie" or place to observe exotic curiosities in cages, a popular Victorian-era pastime.

Atlanta Zoo elephant undatedCommunity involvement was part of the Zoo’s life from the onset, with private citizens donating animals and Atlanta newspapers heralding new arrivals and spearheading fund drives. The largest of these resulted in the introduction of Clio, the Zoo’s first elephant, in 1890. However, over the years, the zoo faced wavering support from city leaders who occasionally questioned its funding. An article from the Atlanta Constitution in 1898 praised the improved conditions under the guidance of H.D. Austin, the park’s new superintendent, noting the zoo’s enhanced cleanliness and appeal. The piece celebrated Grant Park as a valued public resort, helping to bolster public support and ensuring its survival. However, for the next eight decades, the zoo often hovered near financial peril. At one point, a city commissioner even suggested killing and stuffing the animals for display in city council chambers, reflecting a dark period in the zoo’s funding struggles. Despite this, private donors frequently stepped in to support the zoo, donating both animals and money to keep it operational. Yet, until major reforms in the 1980s, many animals lived in cramped, outdated cages - a problem that would be exacerbated by the growth of the zoo’s collection.

Expansion and Overcrowding: The Candler Donation (1930s-1940s)

In the 1930s, Asa Candler Jr., a Coca-Cola heir with a large private animal collection, found himself with too many animals to house on his estate on the corner of Briarcliff and University roads in Atlanta’s Druid Hills neighborhood. He negotiated a deal to donate his collection to the zoo. Although this nearly doubled the zoo’s animal population, insufficient funds prevented the construction of proper enclosures. Overcrowding became a severe issue as animals were packed too closely together, leading to increased injuries and illnesses. Despite these challenges, Candler’s donation boosted the zoo’s prominence, marking it as one of the few zoos in the country with such a diverse collection. Unfortunately, this expansion also brought a period of decline as funding failed to keep pace with the zoo’s needs.

The Arrival of Willie B. and Mid-Century Improvements (1950s-1970s)

Willie b statueIn 1959, a young gorilla named Willie B. arrived, named after then-Mayor William B. Hartsfield. Willie B. quickly became the zoo’s most beloved resident and would later symbolize its rebirth (read more). The 1960s saw some modernization efforts, largely thanks to the new director, John Roth, the zoo’s first professional zoo director, who aimed to bring innovative zoological practices to Atlanta. He collaborated with Emory University’s Yerkes National Primate Research Center to bring in rare primates, including great apes, and sought to use the zoo for conservation and educational purposes rather than solely for entertainment. However, the zoo still faced continual financial challenges, and Roth resigned in 1970 amid growing issues with the outdated facilities.

The Crisis of 1984 and the Maple Era

By the early 1980s, the zoo’s conditions had deteriorated so drastically that Parade magazine listed Zoo Atlanta among the ten worst zoos in the United States. The Humane Society of the United States condemned its lack of medical care, overcrowded enclosures, and general neglect. Some animals were in such poor condition that an emergency investigation led to the zoo losing its accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Outrage spread through the city, and there were calls for the zoo’s closure. In response, Mayor Andrew Young assembled a crisis team and appointed Dr. Terry Maple, a professor at Georgia Tech, as interim director.

Dr. Maple, initially volunteering for the summer, quickly became a transformative figure. Within days, he set ambitious goals to overhaul the zoo, focusing on animal welfare and creating a better visitor experience. He worked with Mayor Young to secure a $50 million grant, which funded a comprehensive modernization of the zoo. Maple outlined a five-step improvement plan that included creating larger, naturalistic enclosures, reducing animal populations to provide more space, and investing in landscaping to make the zoo more inviting. Ford African rain forest 3b744His vision included the now-iconic Ford African Rain Forest exhibit, modeled after his team’s research trip to Africa funded by the Ford Motor Company, which added new enclosures for animals like lions, elephants, and giraffes. These improvements sparked a surge in attendance and attracted further corporate sponsorships, allowing Maple to continue expanding the zoo’s facilities and conservation efforts. The Ford African Rain Forest opened in 1988, gave the now 30-year-old Willie B. his first foray outdoors since infancy. The Ford complex also created lush habitats for a collection of gorillas loaned by Emory University’s Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Willie B.’s social life captured the public eye, and Atlantans were thrilled when the former bachelor’s first offspring, Kudzoo, was born in 1994. The silverback would sire four more offspring – Olympia, Sukari, Willie B., Jr., and Lulu – over the next five years.

Several new additions opened in 1989, the Zoo’s centennial year: Masai Mara, featuring a recreation of the African savanna; Mzima Springs, with elephants foraging near an authentic watering hole; and new naturalistic habitats for black rhinos, drills and Sumatran tigers. The Zoo that had once disgraced the city was now a point of pride, even receiving awards at the local, state and national levels.

Panda-Mania and Modern Achievements (1990s-present)

The success of Maple’s efforts led to Zoo Atlanta re-emerging as a top zoo in the country. A highlight came in 1999, when the zoo became one of only four U.S. zoos to host giant pandas, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, on loan from China. The arrival of the pandas was a major attraction, drawing visitors from across the nation and solidifying Zoo Atlanta’s reputation as a world-class zoo. In 2006, their offspring, Mei Lan, became the first panda cub born in the United States in seven years, sparking what became known as “Panda-Mania” in Atlanta. This success was a testament to the zoo’s revitalization efforts and its focus on conservation and species preservation. Mei Lan would later be followed by a younger brother and five sisters, which all returned to China and live at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China.

Unfortunately, Willie B. passed away in 2000 at the age of 41. The gorilla who had become the symbol of the Zoo’s resurgence was memorialized by a crowd of over 5,000 people, and remembered by media throughout the U.S., including Time magazine.

Today, Zoo Atlanta stands as a conservation leader and an educational institution, hosting over half a million visitors annually. Under the guidance of recent directors like Dennis W. Kelly and Raymond B. King, it has continued to grow, with exhibits such as the award-winning Scaly Slimy Spectacular and Trader’s Alley enhancing its appeal. Zoo Atlanta’s journey, from near collapse to international recognition, reflects the dedication of its staff, the generosity of the Atlanta community, and a shared commitment to animal welfare, conservation, and public engagement. Through every challenge, the zoo has emerged stronger, proving its resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.

Now more than 125 years removed from its historical origins, Zoo Atlanta has evolved from a quaint picnic stop where people visited wild animals to a conservation organization seeking to engage the public in the lives of its animal ambassadors and the preservation of their counterparts in the wild. The long journey from Victorian curiosity to the modern up-to-standard institution it is now has not been without its challenges, but the mission, animals, programmes and people of Zoo Atlanta will ensure that history will continue to be made.

 

 

(Source: Zoo Atlanta website, accessed in September 2013 and October 2024; Animal attractions by Elizabeth Hanson, 2002; Zoo Atlanta by Francis Desiderio, in New Georgia Encyclopedia, originally published 6 Oct 2006, last edited 4 Apr 2019; Zoo Atlanta by Brian Boggs, in The History of Our Streets, 2016)

 

Goal: 7000 tigers in the wild

Tiger range countries map

 

"Tiger map" (CC BY 2.5) by Sanderson et al., 2006.

logo

about zoos and their mission regarding breeding endangered species, nature conservation, biodiversity and education, which at the same time relates to the evolution of species.