Reid Park Zoo is a city-owned, nonprofit zoo tucked inside Tucson’s Reid Park in Arizona. Unofficially established in 1965 by parks director Gene Reid and formally opened in 1967, the zoo has grown from a small municipal attraction into an AZA-accredited facility spanning about 24 acres.
The zoo is organized into zones representing South America, Africa, Asia, and an Adaptation area, and it houses more than 500 animals. Its Expedition Tanzania exhibit, a 7-acre elephant habitat opened in 2012, anchors the collection and made headlines in 2014 when Nandi became the first elephant ever born in Arizona.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Tucson, Arizona
- Opened: 1967
- Size: About 24 acres
- Animal count: 500+ animals
- Annual visitors: About 500,000
- Famous for: Expedition Tanzania elephant habitat and Arizona’s first zoo-born elephant
What to See at Reid Park Zoo
Visitors move through geographically themed zones, encountering African lions, giraffes, and the zoo’s African bush elephant herd in Expedition Tanzania, alongside South American and Asian species elsewhere in the park. The Flight Connection Aviary lets guests walk among birds from multiple continents, and the Wildlife Carousel and a splash pad add family-friendly attractions beyond the animal exhibits.
The zoo has also built a niche in wildlife health, partnering with the University of Arizona Cancer Center to treat animals with radiation therapy, an unusual collaboration for a zoo of its size.
Conservation and Growth
As an AZA-accredited institution, Reid Park Zoo participates in cooperative breeding and conservation programs for threatened species. The elephant program has been a particular focus, with the herd expanding through births and transfers, including the 2024 arrival of an African bull elephant from Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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A stick means no greasy hands. Reapply quickly between the penguins and the giraffes.
Let them photograph their own favorite animals — and keep your phone in your pocket.
Hauls kids, coolers and souvenirs across a big zoo or park, folds flat for the trunk.
Reid Park Zoo FAQs
Where is Reid Park Zoo located?
Reid Park Zoo sits inside Reid Park in Tucson, Arizona.
How big is Reid Park Zoo?
The zoo covers about 24 acres and is home to more than 500 animals.
Is Reid Park Zoo accredited?
Yes, it is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).
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Photo: M.Fitzsimmons / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.