The Louisville ZooDonate

About

The state zoo of Kentucky, since 1969.

The Louisville Zoological Gardens is a non-profit AZA-accredited institution, agency of Louisville Metro Government, and one of just a handful of zoos in the world breeding North America's most endangered mammal — the black-footed ferret. 1,100 animals. 130 acres. Six zoogeographic zones.

Our Mission

Better the bond between people and our planet.

Excellent care for animals. A great experience for visitors. Leadership in conservation education. $0.25 of every admission and $1 of every membership goes directly to conservation partners working in the wild.

The Chronology

From a city park to a national institution.

  1. 1969

    Founded as the Louisville Zoological Garden

    Opened on 75 acres of city parkland, the institution's first animal collection drawn from regional and federal partner zoos.

  2. 1980

    Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums

    AZA accreditation locked in the modern animal-welfare and Species Survival Plan standards that anchor the campus today.

  3. 1989

    HerpAquarium opens

    One of the country's most species-dense reptile and amphibian buildings — and the start of our work on amphibian extinction prevention.

  4. 1998

    Islands exhibit debuts

    An ambitious immersive exhibit — and the world's first multi-species rotational habitat — with the orangutan breeding program at its heart.

  5. 2002

    Gorilla Forest opens

    An AZA-recognized immersive habitat modeled on the canopy structure of equatorial Africa. Recognized for innovation in primate care.

  6. 2009

    Glacier Run debuts

    The first major American zoo exhibit designed around polar bear conservation, opened with Polar Bears International as a research partner.

  7. 2016

    Master Plan adopted

    A multi-decade roadmap centered on conservation impact, accessibility, and the editorial-quality visitor experience the campus is now building toward.

  8. 2021

    KultureCity sensory certification

    Sensory inclusion certification, sensory bags at the entry plaza, and a dedicated team trained in sensory accessibility.

  9. Today

    1,100 animals on 130 acres

    One of just a handful of institutions worldwide breeding North America's most endangered mammal — the black-footed ferret — and a leader in conservation across six continents.