Zoo Atlanta traces its roots to 1889, when local businessman George V. Gress purchased the animals from a bankrupt traveling circus and donated them to the city of Atlanta, laying the foundation for what would become one of the Southeast’s premier animal parks. Set within the historic Grant Park neighborhood, the zoo grew from those humble beginnings into an AZA-accredited institution recognized for its conservation work and research programs.
The zoo’s modern era began in earnest after a 1985 privatization effort revitalized aging facilities, culminating in the 1988 opening of the Ford African Rain Forest habitat. That exhibit gave longtime resident Willie B., a western lowland gorilla who had spent 27 years in an indoor enclosure, his first taste of the outdoors, and it helped establish Zoo Atlanta’s now-famous gorilla program, home to the largest gorilla collection in the country.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Grant Park, Atlanta, Georgia
- Opened: 1889
- Size: 40 acres
- Species: Over 220 species, 1,000+ animals
- Annual visitors: About 1 million
- Famous for: Largest gorilla collection in the U.S.; longtime giant panda program (1999-2024)
A Legacy of Gorillas
Zoo Atlanta’s gorilla program is central to its identity. Since 1988, 24 western lowland gorillas have been born on-site, building on the legacy of Willie B., the zoo’s beloved silverback who lived there from 1961 until his death in 2000 at age 42. A statue near the gorilla habitat commemorates his life, and the zoo continues to participate in the Species Survival Plan for the species.
Pandas and Conservation Milestones
From 1999 to 2024, Zoo Atlanta was home to giant pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who produced seven cubs, including the first surviving giant panda twins born in the United States since 1987. The zoo also opened the Scaly Slimy Spectacular in 2015, noted as the world’s first LEED Gold-certified amphibian and reptile complex, and was recognized as a Top 10 Research Zoo in 2018.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Zoo Atlanta FAQs
When did Zoo Atlanta open?
Zoo Atlanta traces its origins to 1889, when the animals from a bankrupt traveling circus were donated to the city and housed in Grant Park.
How big is Zoo Atlanta?
The zoo covers about 40 acres in Atlanta’s Grant Park and is home to more than 1,000 animals representing over 220 species.
Does Zoo Atlanta still have giant pandas?
Giant pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang lived at Zoo Atlanta from 1999 to 2024 and produced seven cubs before departing; check current zoo listings for the latest panda status.
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Photo: Rob Wynne from Alpharetta, GA, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.