Accredited by the American Zoological Association in 1980, the Louisville Zoological Gardens has garnered multiple awards in its short history. In 1988, just 8 years after its accreditation, the Zoo received the Edward H. Bean Award for its Woolly Monkey Propagation Program, and it has received international recognition for its numerous conservation and scientific study projects. In addition to its AZA accreditation, the Louisville Zoo is also accredited by the American Museum Association.
A visit to the Louisville Zoo is far more than a walk in the park. The exhibits are varied, and include numerous biomes that are home to mixed animal populations from geographic regions around the world. Zoo patrons can visit the ISLANDS exhibit, where they'll encounter a wide range of endangered species in a setting that mimics an Indonesian village, or stroll through Lorikeet Landing, an open aviary where tropical birds interact directly with zoo visitors.
Big cat lovers can visit the Alice S. Etscorn Tiger Tundra. The Zoo's long-standing Amur/Siberian Tiger Exhibit has been recently refurbished and updated to be more comfortable for both the tigers and visitors. Zookeepers conduct several tiger training sessions daily which zoo guests can enjoy from a safe distance.
The Louisville Zoo's best known exhibit, though, is the Gorilla Forest, which received the 2003 AZA Exhibit Award from the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Home to 11 lowland gorillas and 4 pygmy hippos, Gorilla Forest is more of an interactive adventure than an exhibit. The gorillas are housed in a 4 acre environment with outdoor and indoor spaces. Visitors can watch the gorillas and other animals through glass that surrounds a Discovery Trail, or learn more about them in a modern day Researchers Station where they can observe and take part in conservation efforts at the zoo.
In an effort to offer ever more entertainment and education to zoo guests, the Louisville Zoological Gardens has recently opened two new attractions to the public. The more adventurous can take advantage of the Sky Trail High Adventure Course, a challenging but safe trail that includes rickety bridges, cargo nets and rope ladders. For the young - and young at heart - the Zoo now features the Calistoga Splash Park at Glacier Run, a full-featured water area where children can cool off with a wide variety of water-based activities.
Above all, the Louisville Zoo is committed to both conservation and education. Among its most popular features is the Metazoo Education Center, the first facility to serve as both an exhibit and a learning center. The Metazoo offers classes on site as well as virtual classes for students all over the world. The Zoo is also involved in conservation efforts, including managed breeding programs for 39 endangered species to help ensure a healthy, captive population of those animals at risk of extinction.
The Louisville Zoological Garden is open year-round, closing only on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years Day. Admission is nominal, and a portion of each admission fee is directed toward the Zoo's continuing conservation efforts. There are frequent events and activities for both children and adults.
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