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Coordinates: 41°55′17″N 87°38′02″W / 41.921375°N
87.633841°W / 41.921375;
-87.633841
Lincoln Park Zoo is a free zoo located in Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. The zoo was founded in 1868, when
the Lincoln Park Commissioners were given a gift of a pair of swans. In 1874, the swans were
joined by a bear cub, the first animal purchased for the zoo. The
bear became quite adept at escaping from its home and could
frequently be found roaming Lincoln Park at night. The first bison ever born in captivity was
born in Lincoln Park. Marlin Perkins, who later gained fame as
the host of the television program Wild Kingdom, was director of the zoo
from 1944 until 1962. Now, Lincoln Park Zoo is home to a wide
variety of animals. The zoo includes polar bears, penguins,
gorillas, reptiles, monkeys,
and other species totalling nearly 1,250 animals. Also located in
Lincoln Park Zoo is a burr oak tree which dates to 1830, three
years before the city was founded. Lincoln Park Zoo is one of four
zoos in the Chicago area, the others being the large Brookfield Zoo,
and the minor Phillips Park Zoo, and Cosley Zoo. Lincoln Park
Zoo is the only one within the Chicago city limits.
Two sections of Lincoln Park Zoo have been set aside for
children. The first is the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo. The
Children's Zoo contains an indoor structure for children to play
in. People used to be able to pet animals at the Children's Zoo,
but in recent years, due to health concerns, Lincoln Park Zoo has
stopped this at the Children's Zoo. Also, baby animals who are
rejected by their parents are no longer kept in the Children's Zoo
because the zoo has found that it is harder to reintroduce them
into their habitats once they grow up if they are kept away from
their own species. The second area of the zoo for children in the
Farm-in-the-Zoo, presented by John Deere. This small farm contains
pigs, cows, horses and other animals which can be found on farms.
Children can feed and pet the animals. In addition, the cows are
milked in public for children to see. Regenstein Center for African
Apes is home to Keo, the oldest male chimpanzee in a North American
zoo.
Near the southern end of Lincoln Park Zoo, one can rent a paddle
boat for a spin around the Lincoln Park Lagoon. The Lagoon is
surrounded by trees and offers a relaxing time (and, of course,
paddling exercise). Kayakers and canoers also take to the lagoon
and one can often see scullers as well.
List of animal houses and
locations
A lion in the Lincoln Park
Photochrom of the bear pit of the Lincoln Park Zoo, ca.
1897-1901
- Antelope and Zebra Area
- Blum-Kovler Penguin/Seabird House
- Helen V. Brach
Primate House
- Farm-in-the-Zoo (presented by John Deere)
- Kovler Lion House
- Kovler Sea Lion Pool
- McCormick Bird House
- Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond
- Robert R. McCormick Bear
Habitat
- Pritzker Family Children's Zoo
- Regenstein African Journey
- Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit
- Regenstein Center for African Apes
- Regenstein Small Mammal/Reptile House
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