The San Diego Zoo grew out of exotic animal exhibitions abandoned after the 1915 Panama-California Exposition,as did neighboring Balboa Park (more about this verdant and multiple-use setting in the next blog).The temperate, sunny maritime climate of San Diego was well suited to many plants and animals. Besides an extensive collection of birds, reptiles, and mammals, it also maintains its grounds as an arboretum, with a rare plant collection. The botanical collection includes more than 700,000 exotic plants including some rare animal foods: 18 varieties of eucalyptus trees to feed its koalas, and when Chinese pandas were in residence, the zoo grew 40 varieties of bamboo for their dining pleasure.
The San Diego Zoo also operates the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which displays animals in a more expansive setting than at the zoo. Animals are regularly exchanged between the two locations, as well as between San Diego Zoo and other zoos around the world, usually in accordance with Species Survival Plan recommendations.
Exhibits are often designed around a particular habitat.
The same exhibit features many different animals that can be found
side-by-side in the wild, along with native plant life. Exhibits range
from an African rain forest (featuring gorillas) to the Arctic taiga and tundra in the summertime (featuring polar bears). Some of the largest free-flight aviaries
in existence are here and afford an amazing opportunity to view exotic species up close from the many benches and rest areas that dot the walkways. Many exhibits are "natural" with invisible wires
and darkened blinds (to view birds), and pools and open-air moats (for
large mammals).
The San Diego Zoo has had a number of notable escapees through the years, the most noteworthy of them is Ken Allen, a Bornean orangutan who came to be known as "the hairy Houdini," for his many escapes (undoubtedly related to Richard Parker, the stowaway tiger in Yann Martel's fabulous book "Life of Pi" (and the equally wonderful movie of the same name).
