Contact Info

Jackson Zoo
2918 West Capitol St.
Jackson, MS 39209
(601)352-2580

 

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Zoo Facts

  • Blue & Gold MacawThe Zoo serves up to 175,000 visitors annually, with 47% from the Jackson metro area, 43% from other Mississippi counties and 10% from other states. The Zoo serves every segment of the population, creating a wonderfully diverse audience.
  • The Zoo is a living classroom. More than 35,000 school children visit the Zoo each year with their teachers. There were more than 27,000 participants in last year’s education programs. Zoo programs provide teachers with exciting curriculum-based lessons for their students.
  • The Zoo is a remarkable interactive family facility, with more than 90% of its visitors being families with children under 12 with their accompanying parents or grandparents.
  • Tiger in poolThe Zoo has a strong, active volunteer force who works hard, giving many hours of their time and energy to the Zoo. The Friends of the Zoo maintain an annual membership of over 4,800 and the Docent Council has 26 active Docents and 15 active Jr. Docents.
  • The Zoo successfully raised $7 million through the State of Mississippi ($4 million), the City of Jackson ($1.5 million) and an additional $1.5 million campaign in private gifts. Phase I includes a new Zoo entrance, African Savannah exhibit and native Mississippi exhibits.
  • Percy and ElephantThe Zoo is located on 110 acres of land acquired by the City of Jackson from Samuel Livingston. Approximately 52 acres are developed.
  • Thirty-three full time staff members are employed at the Jackson Zoo. An additional 15 part-time staff members are hired during the peak seasons of spring and summer.
  • The Zoo’s annual operating budget is $2.3 million.
  • The Zoo opened in 1919 and moved to Livingston Park in 1921, operated by the City until 1986. Through an operating agreement with the City of Jackson, Jackson Zoological Society, Inc. has managed the Zoo for the past 19 years. It is currently operating under a 10 year agreement which will be renewed in 2006.
  • OrangutanNumber of Species At The Zoo: 120
  • Number of Animals: 776
  • Number of Endangered Species: 14
  • (PygmyHippo, Sumatran Tiger, Malayan Tapir, African Elephants, Red Fronted Lemur, Emperor Tamarin, Cotton Top Tamarin,Gopher Tortoise, Brown-Headed Spider Monkey, Lion Tailed Macaque, Amur Leopard, Chimpanzee and Orangutan)
  • Active Species Survival Programs: 25 (Red Panda, Red Wolf, Wattled Crane, Grevy’s Zebra, Golden Bellied Mangabey, Chimpanzee, Black & White Colobus Monkey, African Elephant, White Handed Gibbon, Pygmy Hippopotamus, Diana Guenon, Orangutan, White Rhinoceros, Red Ruffed Lemur, Cotton Top Tamarin, Schmidt’s Monkey, Sumatran Tiger, Lion Tailed Macaque, Brown-Headed Spider Monkey, White Naped Crane, Fishing Cat, Addra Gazelle (Dama), Amur Leopard, North American River Otter, Malayan Tapir.)
  • Last Completed Projects:
    • Tiger Exhibit (2010)
    • Gertrude C. Ford Education Center (2009)
    • Orangutan Exhibit renovations (2006)
    • Wilderness Mississippi (2006)
  • Future Projects: Elephant Exhibit, Lemur Leopard Exhibit and Gibbon Exhibit