Assiniboine Park Zoo
Assiniboine Park Zoo entrance |
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| Date opened | 1904 [1] | |
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| Location | 2595 Roblin Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N7 | |
| Coordinates | 49°52′09″N 97°13′50″W / 49.86917°N 97.23056°W / 49.86917; -97.23056 Coordinates : | 49°52′09″N 97°13′50″W / 49.86917°N 97.23056°W / 49.86917; -97.23056 |
| Land area | 32 hectares (80 acres) | |
| No. of species | 200 | |
| Memberships | ||
| Major exhibits | 11 | |
| Owner | Assiniboine Park Conservancy | |
| Director | Grant Furniss, Senior Director of Zoological Operations | |
| Public transit access |
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| Website | assiniboinepark.ca/zoo | |
The Holiday Hours
Holiday Hours
">Assiniboine Park Zoo is open 364 days a year. The hours of operation are limited:
November 11: Open 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
December 25: CLOSED
NO OFFICE OPEN on any other holiday, including Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Canadian Forces Appreciation Program
The Assiniboine Park Zoo is proud to participate in the Canadian Forces Appreciation Program. Participants in the program will receive 10% off their regular Zoo admission if they present their Canadian Forces Appreciation Program Card. The discount is only available to holders of a CFOnecard. Discount can also be applied to the purchase of an Assiniboine Park & Zoo individual, duel, or family membership. The CFOne Card must be shown at purchase for each individual covered by the membership. Discount cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.
1960S-1990S
The official name of the zoo, Assiniboine Park Zoo was given to it in 1959.
In the 1960s, the gibbon/monkey-house was built. An additional orphan polar bear cub came to the zoo in his place, and later, a snow leopard joined the zoo. 1968 saw the completion of the renovations to the Polar Bear enclosure, which included an additional story and two new cubs. In 1968 and 1969 were also built the Tropical House, Native Animal Exhibit as well as a new south entrance.
After being inactive for some time, the Zoological Society of Manitoba began funding new signage, exhibits and infrastructure. It was rebuilt to house a Zoological Society gift shop and renovated the Carousel Restaurant.
New enclosures for the camels, yaks, and zebras, as well as the "Camel Oasis" Interpretive Playground, opened in the northwest end of the zoo in 1995. In 1995, the Zoo opened "Lights of the Wild", a program that featured light sculptures of animal life. It ran for three consecutive weeks.
In 1997, the "Saturn Playground" was constructed and the main restaurant facilities were renovated. The Zoo's electrical infrastructure was upgraded and the Saturn Shuttle, Kiosk information kiosk projects were created in 1998. The Zoo had a growing animal collection, with 77 mammal species (370 animals), 151 birds (700 specimens) and 14 reptiles (33.4 specimens). In 1998 the Zoo budget was $2,497.173. ($161,800 food and supplies and $1,952,707 labour).
2000S
The Zoo was opened until late 2000 from 9 am through sunset or at 9 pm. However, later[ when?
] the Zoo's hours were significantly reduced.
The Zoo opened an experiment in July 2015 that extended the Zoo's opening hours to 8pm every Wednesday. This was due to many visitors complaining about the inconvenience of the earlier closure.
A new Master Plan Development Proposal was created by the Zoological Society of Manitoba (the Zoo's first since 1960). It was launched in 2000. The original proposals included the renovation of the Polar Bear enclosure. But, it evolved into a more extensive Master Plan Development project. Assiniboine Park Conservancy, created in 2008, was formed to govern and manage Assiniboine Park including the Zoo. Assiniboine Park Conservancy revealed a plan that would transform Assiniboine Park, Zoo and surrounding areas. The project was estimated to cost $200 million.
De. Fehr Foundation donated funds to the Palliser Interpretive Center as headquarters for ICE Camp. Mini U Zoo, a partnership between the University of Manitoba's Summer Camps and Fehr Foundation, allows campers to spend one-week at the University of Manitoba as well as one week at MZ Zoo.
In 2004, as part of venture with the University of Manitoba Architecture Department, substantial improvements were made to the Education Centre. [ Citation necessary] In 2009 the Assiniboine Zoo/Assiniboine National Park Conservancy released a multi-phase redevelopment program for the Assiniboine Zoo. In the second phase of this plan, the Zoo's revitalization was the main focus. The Zoo's flagship exhibit is the Journey to Churchill.
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Boo At The Zoo
Boo at Zoo is BACK This event has been reimagined and is now bigger, better, spookier and more magical than ever. Tickets are now available!
Summer Entertainment Series at Winnipeg Casinos
The Casinos of Winnipeg Summer Entertainment Series is back for 2021! From August 1 through September 9, events such as Movies in the Park and the Summer Music Series will be held at the Lyric Theater. Every event is FREE. To learn more or see the complete schedule, click the button.
Workshops and Programs
Put your money into your health and wellbeing. Be creative! Join us for some family fun! Workshops and Programs are available at the Park and Zoo.
Dinosaurs Uncovered
Assiniboine Park Zoo has something BIG! Dinosaurs uncovered showcases 17 animatronic, life-size dinosaurs on an outdoor trail. The rotating exhibit gallery also features museum-quality fossils, skeletons and artifacts indoors.
Five Questions with… Chris Enright (DVM), Of The Assiniboine Park Zoo’S Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre
Chris Enright DVM is the director of veterinarian services at Assiniboine park Zoo and Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre. He examines the polar bear.
Chris Enright, DVM, has known for a long time he belonged in wildlife care.
Dr. Enright had a strong desire to help all animals since high school. It was this passion that drove him to join a Canadian project on northern ecosystems.
He began his career at Assiniboine Park Conservancy, Winnipeg, Man. in 2002. Two years later, he was involved in creating a new vision of the facility. This included the creation of the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre.
With financial support from Manitoba, this centre serves as a sanctuary for rescue and transition of polar bears, and is the heart of conservation research at the zoo. It is the first home within the zoo for orphaned and at-risk polar bears and a place where they are given care as they adjust and transition to their new surroundings.
Enright hopes that the center will give cubs another chance at a happy life and inspire millions more zoo guests over time to become educated about climate change.
1) How did your career as a veterinarian care for Polar Bears begin?
High school was the beginning of my interest in conservation and being a vet. In university I was able to further explore these interests.
It was a privilege to have the opportunity to learn from some amazing mentors and to see firsthand how veterinary medicine is practiced on wild animals. Although I loved working alongside some wonderful clients and colleagues after graduation, the attraction to wildlife never diminished. 2007 was the year I got a job at Assiniboine park Zoo. Debbie, an older female polar Bear was the first polar bear I encountered in clinical care. Her well-being was important to her and she had dedicated care team. In the meantime, I have been able to care for many species of animals, and even more polar bears. It is a privilege to be surrounded by a wonderful team of veterinarians and animal-care staff, who care deeply about both the conservation and care of animals.
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2014. Blizzard came to the Zoo as an Orphan Cub
Blizzard died at Assiniboine Park Zoo on Monday. (Supplied in Assiniboine Conservancy) Blizzard is a five-year old polar bear, who lived at Assiniboine National Zoo as an orphan cub, and has now died.
It's the second polar bear death in as many years at the zoo.
"Blizzard was a beautiful bear and he will be dearly missed by zoo staff visitors and volunteers. Chris Enright, director of the zoo's veterinary services said, "It is rare to lose a bear so young."
Blizzard began acting lethargic and lost his appetite 13 days prior.
Enright stated, "Our veterinarian team made the decision that Blizzard would be anesthetized in order to carry out a full evaluation of his condition."
Blizzard underwent treatment with antibiotics. His behavior and health improved until this weekend.
"Monday morning, we decided to anesthetize the patient again. This was to allow us to perform a reassessment of his condition as well as to determine what steps should be taken. Although everything went as planned, Blizzard was unable to breathe properly after the operation. Enright reported that the veterinarian and animal staff attempted to save him. However, it was too late.
Introduction
"Biodiversity is in Jeopardy: Where do we fit?" The theme of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (CAZA), Conference this year epitomizes how zoos and aquariums are at crossroads in light of the increasing dire news regarding wildlife conservation and environmental protection. There are many challenges in researching and conserving biodiversity. These issues can be daunting for zoo managers, biologists and staff of animal care. This is because of many factors including personnel skills and preferences, institutional priorities and staff interests, travel budgets, field logistics and the time and resources available to support such programs.
The Assiniboine Zoo Zoo (APZ), aside from occasional grants to conservation funds (e.g. Snow Leopard Trust), and participation by our staff in the American Association of Zoo Keepers' "Rummaging For Rhinos” fund-raising program for animals, hasn't been able to undertake major conservation projects abroad. Therefore, our efforts have been limited to Manitoba. We also participate in formal breeding programs such as Species Survival Plans and Canadian Collection Plans. These are all hosted by international zoos. This paper highlights the various biodiversity-related programs at our Zoo and in partnership with a number of other local conservation groups. I share my personal experiences from over forty years of working in conservation, ecology and interpretation. I hope these examples will encourage especially new zoo/aquarium staff to seek out new and innovative ways of being involved in the conservation movement of wildlife and wild lands.
Editor's Comment:
The modern zoo has come a long way since their origins as private manageries run by the wealthy. The Wikipedia article Zoos gives a historical overview of zoos. While zoos are making efforts to support ethical animal care, education and conservation of wildlife, there's still an element of society that views zoos inhumane and cruel. This group considers it unnatural to confine wild animals to public display. The tragedy of it all is that these animals might not be able to exist anywhere else in the future. As a Winnipegger for over 40 years, I have been many times to Assiniboine Park Zoo. That said, I had no idea of the importance of our Zoo's conservation work until just recently. This is why Dr. Wrigley encouraged me to share this article that he wrote for CAZA. It will allow more people to see and hear about the incredible work they do.
Doug Collicutt, Nature. North.com