Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo

Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo
Location Monroe, Louisiana
Coordinates 32°27′59″N 92°05′37″W / 32.4663°N 92.0937°W / 32.4663; -92.0937Coordinates: 32°27′59″N 92°05′37″W / 32.4663°N 92.0937°W / 32.4663; -92.0937
Land area 80 acres (32 ha)[1]
Number of animals 500[1]
Website www.monroezoo.org
Boat ride
Prairie dogs
Pink flamingos
Giraffe (1971 photograph)

Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, located in Monroe, Louisiana, is an 80-acre (32 ha) zoological park that exhibits over 500 animals.

Attractions and activities

There is a reptile house and a total of roughly 500 animals at the zoo, including De Brazza's guenon, black-necked swan, black swan, hippo, agile gibbon, kangaroo, wallaby, peacock, Egyptian geese, parrots, and leopard.

There is also a boat tour that allows visitors to see species that are not visible from the foot paths, including hoofed animals, primates, and species native to the area.[2] There are also a horse-drawn carriage, horse rides and feedings, as well as a zoo train.

The zoo holds various seasonal festivities that include the Easter Egg Extravaganza and Wet and Wild.[3]

History

Much of the development of the zoo came during the long-term administration of Mayor W. L. "Jack" Howard who made the facility a centerpiece of his campaign for municipal improvements, along with such projects as a new City Hall and Civic Center. [4]

In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture, which holds regulatory authority over the nation's zoos, mandated that Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo remodel the kitchen where the food for the animals is prepared and construct eight new holding pens for primates. Zoo director Joe Clawson said that he expects to tap into the $80,000 annual maintenance budget to make the needed changes in-house.[5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo". ci.monroe.la.us. City of Monroe. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". monroezoo.com. Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  3. ↑ "Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo". monroezoo.com. Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  4. ↑ "About Us: Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo". monroezoo.org. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Scott Rogers, USDA: Zoo must make changes, July 18, 2013". Monroe News-Star. Retrieved July 19, 2013.


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