The Valley Zoo is a zoo located in the heart of Edmonton, Alberta's river valley. The Valley Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton and is open 364 days a year only closing on Christmas. The zoo is currently accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is Northern Alberta's only accredited zoo.
The Valley Zoo opened up in 1959 as a replacement for a previous Edmonton Zoo (Borden Park Zoo) which was torn down to expand Northlands Park. The zoo is home to over 350 exotic and native animals of over 100 different species. The zoo features numerous animal enclosures which are arranged according to their needs with warm tropical animals indoors and native and exotic cold weather animals outdoors. The zoo has taken in many injured and orphaned native wildlife and has given them a home. The zoo does not have reliable transit to it, though there is a bus that operates during summer on Sundays only. The zoo is only a half an hour walk from the Health Sciences LRT station.
The Valley Zoo has just undergone the creation of a new master plan that has been approved by city council. The plan calls for the zoo to be organized into geographical areas focusing on a warm heart and a cold exterior. This means that all of the animals that require tropical temperatures will be focused in the center of the zoo and while all animals that do not require tropical temperatures will be focused on the outside. The Valley Zoo Development Society is currently fundraising for the first step of the master plan, as although the council approved the plan they have not provided any funding for it. Highlights of the new master plan include an improved children's zoo (with water play park), an Arctic Shores Exhibit, New entrance and visitors amenities, and a 3.5-acre (14,000 m2) elephant exhibit with swimming river. 1
Exhibits
- Inner Zoo. The Inner Zoo is the area of the zoo that was originally the Storyland Zoo. The vast majority of the area was constructed in 1959. Animals that live within this area of the zoo during summer include: American White Pelicans, Capybara, Emus, Waterfowl, Spider and Squirrel Monkeys, Alpaca, Callimicos, North American River Otters, Red Pandas, Guinea Pigs, and also includes a Petting Zoo filled with many domestic farm and pet animals. Only the Otters, Alpacas, and Red Pandas are located in Inner Zoo during the winter.
- Makira Outpost. Makira Outpost is a new exhibit just opened up in the summer of 2007 and is home to the zoos lemurs. The new exhibit uses many new exhibit methods. The lemurs have access to a large outdoor island with two large elm trees for climbing. It also has two outdoor enclosures that have zoomesh a nearly invisible mesh. The indoor enclosures are huge and benefit from lots of natural light. The animals housed in Makira outpost include: Ring-tailed lemurs, African Spurred Tortoise, and Red-fronted lemurs.
- Carnivore Alley. The Carnivore Alley is home to majority of the zoos carnivores. Here you can see Swift Foxes, Coatimundi, Snow Leopards, Amur Tigers, Arctic Wolves and an African Serval Cat.
- Elephant House and Exhibit. The Valley Zoo's Elephant House is home to the zoo's sole pachyderm Lucy. Lucy is an Asian Elephant who was orphaned in Sri Lanka in 1975 and came to the zoo at the age of two. She was orphaned when she fell into a gem pit. The zoo used to have an African Elephant named Samantha. Samantha is now living at the North Carolina Zoo where she is on breeding loan.
- The Valley Zoo is the only zoo in Canada currently keeping a lone elephant.2 The General Exhibit Standards within the Government of Alberta Standards for Zoos requires that “Animals should be displayed when possible in exhibits that replicate their wild habitat and in numbers that meet their social and behavioural needs.”3 Elephants are highly social animals.4 The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the US Association of Zoos and Aquariums both note in their standards that “It is inappropriate to keep highly social female elephants singly.” Animal welfare organizations concerned about elephants have been asking the City of Edmonton to move Lucy to a sanctuary in the USA where she will have the company of other female elephants and have more than 2,000 acres (810 ha) of space to enjoy.5 Lucy suffers from chronic foot infections (the leading cause of death in zoo elephants) and chronic respiratory problems.6 Due to the cold climate and lock in policy at the zoo, Lucy is locked inside the barn for more than 70% of her time.citation needed Lack of space to roam and hard substrate are the primary cause of foot problems in captive elephants.
- In response to questions about Lucy's health, the Valley Zoo provides information on her current status, and maintain that she is being well taken care of. Veterinarians and industry professionals believe any type of move would have severe consequences for her. She has formed strong bonds to her dedicated keepers, and enjoys round the clock company, enrichments, and playtime to keep her active and healthy. The Valley Zoo maintains a very high standard of care that has been recognized by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is totally committed to caring for Lucy.
- Saito Center. The Saito Center is named after the zoo's former Veterinarian who died shortly before construction of the building. Originally designed as a new winter holding building it now houses all the zoo's fragile animals. It is home to all of the zoo's primate species during winter, the zoo's South American Sea Lions, Harbour Seals, reptile and nocturnal wing, and many of the zoo's smaller animals.
- African Veldt. The African veldt is home to Addax, Peacocks, Pygmy Zebu Cattle, and Grevy's Zebras.
- Back Paddocks. The back paddocks are home to the zoos larger hoof stock and include Bactrian camel, West Caucasian Turs, Guanacos, Bighorn sheep, Pony rides, and a Sichuan Takins family. Sichuan Takins are very rare and only two other zoos in Canada house them.
- Birds of Prey. The Birds of Prey include the zoos non releasable injured raptors, raptors used for flight shows, and outreach programs. Some highlight species include Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Snowy Owls.
References
External links
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Zoos, aquaria and aviaries |
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Edmonton, 
Alberta,
Canada
