Join one of our upcoming estate planning seminars! Click here to save your seat.

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is supported by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a private non-profit organization. It is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

You can visit the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, CA from 9 AM to 6 PM. They have a 1-day pass, a 2-visit pass, a 3-for-1 pass, a Go San Diego Pass, and a membership subscription with prices ranging from $65 to $173.

History Of San Diego Zoo

The idea behind the San Diego Zoo began in 1915 with Harry M. Wegeforth after visiting the Panama-California Exposition.

Along with Paul Wegeforth, Fred Baker, Joseph C. Thompson, and Frank Stephens, Wegeforth created the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (previously known as the Zoological Society of San Diego) in 1916. Most of the animals first featured in the zoo were from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and the Wonderland Amusement Park. The zoo’s current location, a 140-acre land in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, was chosen in 1921, with the zoo formally opening in 1923.

The San Diego Zoo has had a long line of directors given its history, starting with Frank Stephens (1917), Frank Buck (1923), Tom Faulconer (1923), Belle Benchley (1927-1953), Charles Schroeder (1954-1972), Donald J. Kinter (1972-1973), Charles Bieler (1973-1985), Doug Myers (1985), and Dwight Scott (2013-2021). The current director of the San Diego Zoo is Erika Kohler.

The San Diego Zoo pioneered open-concept exhibits where animals lived cage-free and were able to roam in larger spaces that mimic their original habitats. The zoo also established a Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species in 1975 that became the Institute for Conservation Research in 2009.

Several buildings were constructed to support and expand the San Diego Zoo and its animals, such as the Lower Otay Dam, Barrett Dam, Morena Dam, International Harvester Building (from Panama-California Exposition), Wegeforth Bowl, and a miniature railroad. 

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance currently has conservation hubs for gorillas in the African Forest, jaguars in the Amazon, tigers in the Asian Rainforest, platypi and koalas in the Australian Forest, polar bears and penguins in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, ‘Alalā (Hawaiian Crow) in the Pacific Islands, elephants and rhinos in the Savanna, and desert tortoises and burrowing owls in Southwest US.

Attractions In San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo in California is renowned for its massive collection of animals and plants and they are available to view on foot or via a bus or private cart tour in the 7 curated experiences they offer on their website:

  • Animals in Action Experience ($89 and up).
  • Crazy About Cats ($92 and up).
  • Discovery Cart Tour ($55 and up).
  • Early Morning Cheetah Experience ($92 and up).
  • Exclusive VIP Experience ($675 and up).
  • Inside Look Tours ($89 and up).
  • Early Morning Explorers ($39 and up).

Meanwhile, here are some of the attractions found in the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA. This list is not a complete list of the attractions, but are some of their most popular.

  • The Lost Forest, where visitors can go through the monkey, gorilla, hippo, and tiger trails, as well as the Scripps’ Aviary.
  • The Asian Passage, houses red pandas, snow leopards, the sun, Andean, and sloth bears.
  • The Elephant Odyssey, meanwhile, is where elephants, lions, jaguars, rattlesnakes, capybaras, llamas, guanacos, and California condors can be found.
  • The Urban Jungle features giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, zebras, donkeys, ground hornbills, flamingos, kangaroos, and foxes.
  • Finally, the Australian Outback showcases Tasmanian devils, koalas, kookaburras, wombats, and three aviaries.

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California with its vast collection of flora and fauna is perfect for animal enthusiasts and those who want to enjoy beautiful views surrounded by nature.

Other Point of Interest

Driving Directions to Weiner Law office

Driving Directions to Balboa Park