The Pittsburgh Zoo is one of only six zoo/aquarium centers in the United States. The center is home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of species. Pittsburgh Zoo is currently involved in 64 survival plans and hosts 72 threatened or endangered species on 77 acres of park land in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood.
History
The Pittsburgh Zoo opened on June 14, 1898. It added a children’s zoo in 1949, and the aquarium center (now the PPG Aquarium) was added in 1967. The PPG Aquarium was the second largest in the country and the first and only public aquarium in Pennsylvania at the time.
The zoo has added several new features in the last generation, included among these is the Asian Forest (1983), the seven-major-exhibits African Savanna (1987), and the five acre indoor rainforest Tropical Forests, housing 150+ species of primates (1991).
Pittsburgh Zoo complex also features a sub-level reptile and amphibian center as well as a two-story Educational complex complete with dozens of classroom labs, animal holding areas and a 300 seat lecture hall. The Educational complex is also a LEED certified green structure.
PPG Aquarium
The PPG Corporation stepped up in 2000 to modernize and expand the aquarium exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo, once again making it one of the best in the nation. The updated 45,000 sq. ft. complex cost over $17 million and boasts nearly 400,000 gallons of salt and fresh water with 40 aquatic exhibits.
With over 4,000 aquatic animals from throughout the world the PPG Aquarium hosts large exhibits of penguins, electric eels, jellyfish, stingrays, and many types of exotic fish. It also has an exhibit featuring regional and North American fish on the outside of the complex as an entryway.
Future growth
Work is currently underway to expand and modernize the Polar Bear/Sea Otter and Walrus exhibits in a cutting edge “Water’s Edge” complex to be completed sometime in 2007.
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