Information
Landmark: Montgomery ZooCity: Montgomery
Country: USA Alabama
Continent: North America
Montgomery Zoo, Montgomery, USA Alabama, North America
Overview
In central Alabama, the Montgomery Zoo draws families with its lively mix of wildlife exhibits, natural-style habitats, and hands-on learning-where a single stroll might take you from the roar of a lion to the splash of a penguin diving.
Just north of downtown Montgomery, the zoo and the adjoining Mann Wildlife Learning Museum offer visitors a single stop where they can watch a tiger pace in its enclosure, then step inside to explore extensive natural history exhibits.
History and DevelopmentIn the early 1900s, the zoo started out small-a handful of animals in a quiet corner of Oak Park.
In the 1970s, it moved to its present 40-acre site and grew into a modern facility, with classrooms buzzing, conservation projects underway, and exhibits you could walk right into.
Today, over 500 animals from five continents live here, grouped by region so you can wander from the roar of an African lion to the chatter of South American monkeys.
Layout and Thematic ZonesThe zoo’s divided into regions that mirror the planet’s major ecosystems.
In Africa-the largest area-you’ll spot giraffes stretching for leaves, elephants ambling in the sun, and zebras, cheetahs, lions, and rhinos roaming wide, grassy savannas.
You can take in the view from a raised boardwalk, then step onto the observation decks to watch the water glint in the sun.
Asia is home to tigers, orangutans, and gibbons, roaming in enclosures shaped like dense jungles and winding river valleys.
In South America, jaguars prowl, tapirs wander through dense forests, giant anteaters nose along the ground, and bright macaws flash through the canopy, showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Amazon and Andes.
In North America, you might spot bison grazing in open fields, black bears lumbering through the trees, cougars on the prowl, and bald eagles soaring overhead-wildlife that feels close to home.
Australia-small but unforgettable, home to kangaroos thumping across red dirt, wallabies, and flightless birds like the tall, curious emu.
The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum sits right on the zoo grounds, offering visitors a hands-on look at nature-like running your fingers over the textured fur of a mounted bear.
Inside, you’ll find one of the nation’s largest collections of preserved North American wildlife, set in lifelike dioramas-a fox poised mid-leap, a moose standing in a misty marsh.
You’ll find towering moose, lumbering bears, bright-feathered birds, sleek reptiles, and darting fish, each offering a glimpse into their habitats and the ways all these lives intertwine.
Zoo Train: A small, brightly painted train winds around the park, giving you an easy ride and a slow, scenic look at the animal habitats.
Sky Lift carries you high over the zoo, gliding past giraffes and winding paths, offering a sweeping bird’s-eye view of the animals and grounds.
Petting Zoo and Play Areas: Kids love getting up close with gentle goats, soft rabbits, and other friendly farm animals.
Giraffe Encounter and Feeding Stations let you get up close-close enough to feel the brush of a long, soft tongue as you offer a leafy snack.
All year long, the zoo rolls out special events-“ZooBoo” with pumpkins and hay bales in the fall, a sparkling “Christmas Lights Festival” in winter, and hands-on educational camps in summer-giving regular visitors something new to enjoy each time.
At the Montgomery Zoo, staff work on conservation breeding programs and team up with other zoos and wildlife groups to help protect endangered species, from tiny tree frogs to towering giraffes.
The programs range from school field trips and summer camps to lively, hands-on talks, all aimed at fostering respect for wildlife and caring for the environment.
The zoo’s pathways wind beneath leafy shade, easy to walk and dotted with benches and snack stands.
Families often linger for hours, wandering through exhibits, hopping on the little train or the sky lift, and wrapping up the day with a stop at the Mann Museum for the full experience.
Live animal encounters, lush and immersive habitats, and hands-on educational displays come together to strike a perfect balance between fun and learning.
The Montgomery Zoo is a beloved spot in the city, where families and visitors can wander past giraffes and rare birds from across the globe while soaking up a laid-back, welcoming vibe.
It blends a worldwide reach with the warmth of Southern hospitality, the kind you feel in a friendly smile at the door, making it one of Montgomery’s must‑see highlights.
Just north of downtown Montgomery, the zoo and the adjoining Mann Wildlife Learning Museum offer visitors a single stop where they can watch a tiger pace in its enclosure, then step inside to explore extensive natural history exhibits.
History and DevelopmentIn the early 1900s, the zoo started out small-a handful of animals in a quiet corner of Oak Park.
In the 1970s, it moved to its present 40-acre site and grew into a modern facility, with classrooms buzzing, conservation projects underway, and exhibits you could walk right into.
Today, over 500 animals from five continents live here, grouped by region so you can wander from the roar of an African lion to the chatter of South American monkeys.
Layout and Thematic ZonesThe zoo’s divided into regions that mirror the planet’s major ecosystems.
In Africa-the largest area-you’ll spot giraffes stretching for leaves, elephants ambling in the sun, and zebras, cheetahs, lions, and rhinos roaming wide, grassy savannas.
You can take in the view from a raised boardwalk, then step onto the observation decks to watch the water glint in the sun.
Asia is home to tigers, orangutans, and gibbons, roaming in enclosures shaped like dense jungles and winding river valleys.
In South America, jaguars prowl, tapirs wander through dense forests, giant anteaters nose along the ground, and bright macaws flash through the canopy, showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Amazon and Andes.
In North America, you might spot bison grazing in open fields, black bears lumbering through the trees, cougars on the prowl, and bald eagles soaring overhead-wildlife that feels close to home.
Australia-small but unforgettable, home to kangaroos thumping across red dirt, wallabies, and flightless birds like the tall, curious emu.
The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum sits right on the zoo grounds, offering visitors a hands-on look at nature-like running your fingers over the textured fur of a mounted bear.
Inside, you’ll find one of the nation’s largest collections of preserved North American wildlife, set in lifelike dioramas-a fox poised mid-leap, a moose standing in a misty marsh.
You’ll find towering moose, lumbering bears, bright-feathered birds, sleek reptiles, and darting fish, each offering a glimpse into their habitats and the ways all these lives intertwine.
Zoo Train: A small, brightly painted train winds around the park, giving you an easy ride and a slow, scenic look at the animal habitats.
Sky Lift carries you high over the zoo, gliding past giraffes and winding paths, offering a sweeping bird’s-eye view of the animals and grounds.
Petting Zoo and Play Areas: Kids love getting up close with gentle goats, soft rabbits, and other friendly farm animals.
Giraffe Encounter and Feeding Stations let you get up close-close enough to feel the brush of a long, soft tongue as you offer a leafy snack.
All year long, the zoo rolls out special events-“ZooBoo” with pumpkins and hay bales in the fall, a sparkling “Christmas Lights Festival” in winter, and hands-on educational camps in summer-giving regular visitors something new to enjoy each time.
At the Montgomery Zoo, staff work on conservation breeding programs and team up with other zoos and wildlife groups to help protect endangered species, from tiny tree frogs to towering giraffes.
The programs range from school field trips and summer camps to lively, hands-on talks, all aimed at fostering respect for wildlife and caring for the environment.
The zoo’s pathways wind beneath leafy shade, easy to walk and dotted with benches and snack stands.
Families often linger for hours, wandering through exhibits, hopping on the little train or the sky lift, and wrapping up the day with a stop at the Mann Museum for the full experience.
Live animal encounters, lush and immersive habitats, and hands-on educational displays come together to strike a perfect balance between fun and learning.
The Montgomery Zoo is a beloved spot in the city, where families and visitors can wander past giraffes and rare birds from across the globe while soaking up a laid-back, welcoming vibe.
It blends a worldwide reach with the warmth of Southern hospitality, the kind you feel in a friendly smile at the door, making it one of Montgomery’s must‑see highlights.
