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Download the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Media MEDIA KIT OVERVIEW The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to nearly 10,000 animals representing over 600 species from around the globe. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and the 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact, annually contributing more than $4 million of privately raised funds to support conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating. MISSION Lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife. VISION The sustainable co-existence of all living things. SIZE The Zoo complex spans 622 acres, more than 200 of which have been developed as animal habitats and public spaces. The Zoo habitats are organized into seven geographic regions: Adventure Cove, Asia Quest, Australia and the Islands, Congo Expedition, Heart of Africa, North America and Polar Frontier, and Shores. Heart of Africa, which debuted in 2014, is designed as a mixed species savanna spanning 23 acres. ATTENDANCE The Zoo serves as one of Central Ohio’s most popular family attractions and hosts more than two million visitors annually. Over the last five years, the Columbus Zoo has welcomed over 12 million visitors. ADMISSION AND MEMBERSHIP RATES In consideration of the Franklin County taxpayers who provide support for the Zoo, a non-profit organization, the Zoo offers these residents special admission prices and membership rates, weekly promotions, and educational programs for free or a reduced price. (Recipients must show proof of their Franklin County residence.) General admission: Children under 3 years old: Free Youth (ages 3-9 years): $16.99 ($11.99 for Franklin County residents) General (ages 10-59 years): $21.99 ($16.99 for Franklin County residents) Seniors (ages 60+ years): $16.99 ($11.99 for Franklin County residents) Discounts available for riders of COTA Zoo Bus. (More information: https://columbuszoo.org/home/visit/plan-your-visit/admission) Parking is $10 per vehicle. Admission and parking is free for Columbus Zoo members. Prices are subject to change. Year-round promotions: Franklin County residents are admitted at half price every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Senior citizens (ages 60+) are admitted at half price every Tuesday. Military (active and veteran) personnel receive a $2 discount on admission for up to six tickets every day of the week. Recipients must show proof of military service. Educational group pricing: Admission for Franklin County school field trips is $3 per person. Admission for school groups outside of Franklin County is $5 per person. Scholarships for educational programs are available to schools with at least 30% of their students enrolled in free or reduced lunch. This rate is only valid during the school year (mid-August through mid-June). Membership: In 2020, a total of 71,389 memberships – representing 336,387 individuals – participated in the Zoo’s membership program. The Zoo offers five types of standard membership packages, with prices ranging from $59 for an Individual membership (admits one adult) to $189 for a Family Plus membership (admits two adults, their dependent children or non-adult grandchildren up to age 21, and two guests). Franklin County residents receive a discounted rate on Zoo memberships. Members receive free admission to the Columbus Zoo, as well as free or reduced admission to more than 100 AZA- accredited zoos in Ohio and across the country; free parking; free digital subscription to the Zoo member magazine and e-newsletter; exclusive invitations to members-only events; discounts on select educational programs; and a 10-percent discount at the Zoo gift shops. Members also receive discounts on Zoombezi Bay tickets and on membership packages to The Wilds. In addition to these perks, Gold members enjoy free rides including the camel ride and the Rides at Adventure Cove, free animal feedings, and free admission to the 4-D Theater,* as well as admission to Zoombezi Bay when in operation. *Valid while operating and while supplies last. Some restrictions may apply. In 2021, the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds added a Family Access Membership category. This is a discounted membership for families in Ohio who qualify for eligible programs, including WIC, Medicaid, or the Ohio Direction EBT card. This membership can be purchased in the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium membership office. Photo ID, proof of Ohio residency as well as participation in a qualifying program is required at the time of purchase. The cost is $45 for a Columbus Zoo membership and $60 for a Wilds membership. Complete pricing details and perks are available on the Zoo’s “Visit” page: https://columbuszoo.org/home/visit/get-your-membership/zoo-membership HOURS OF OPERATION The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is open year round, and is closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The hours are as follows: January: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. February: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning May 29) June: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. August: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Starting Aug. 16, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Zoo closes at 3 p.m. on Aug. 28 for Zoofari) September: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 4-6) October: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Extended hours during Boo at the Zoo) November: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Wildlights Hours: 5-9 p.m. Sun-Thurs; 5-10 p.m. Fri. and Sat.) December: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Wildlights Hours: 5-9 p.m. Sun-Thurs; 5-10 p.m. Fri. and Sat.) *Hours are subject to change. GOVERNANCE The Columbus Zoological Park Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. The 25-member Board of Directors meets bi-monthly to oversee the operations of the Zoo. A public Appointed Board that consists of 18 members administers the tax levy receipts received by the Zoo; six members are designated by the City of Columbus, six by the Franklin County Commissioners and six by the Columbus Zoological Park Association. It has a 125-member Association, and those members participate on the various Board committees. CONSERVATION This year, we are supporting 65 projects and organizations in over 19 countries. These projects will help hundreds of species around the world, from Asian elephants to Siberian cranes. They include the emergency rescue of monkeys from the illegal wildlife trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo, helping local people manage livestock while supporting lion conservation in Kenya, and restoring healthy populations of Tasmanian devils in Australia. While the Zoo continues to financially support a large number of conservation projects around the world, now more than ever, staff members are leading or participating in field conservation, breeding and reintroducing threatened species, inspiring and educating others, and making our facilities even greener through sustainable environmental practices. We are restoring wild animal populations such as lemurs in Madagascar, giraffes in Uganda, North American migratory songbirds, and corals in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean. We are working with Painted Dog Trust to design road signs that will be used in Zimbabwe to remind drivers to slow down in wildlife areas. For over 30 years, our Partners In Conservation Program has protected gorillas and other species in Rwanda and surrounding countries by working with local people to improve their lives so that they and wildlife can thrive. We are working with Polar Bears International to test polar bear tracking methods on our bears before using them on wild polar bears in the Arctic. We are rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing manatees in Florida and have reintroduced scimitar-horned oryx born at The Wilds to a protected area in Chad. We participate in recovery programs for Mexican wolves and zebra sharks. Closer to home we are breeding, releasing, and studying important rare species like plains garter snakes, massasauga rattlesnakes, burying beetles, hellbenders, and freshwater mussels. We are breaking ground on establishing over 2.5 acres of pollinator habitat on Zoo grounds. Even the Safari Golf Club is an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary! When visitors come to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Wilds, Safari Golf Club, or Zoombezi Bay, they are supporting these programs that make the world a better place for all of us. EDUCATION The Columbus Zoo’s Conservation Education and Engagement Department (CEED) offers fun and engaging programs for all ages. In 2019, the Zoo’s CEED team offered over 1,500 programs to more than 500,000 participants. Such programs include preschool classes, field trips, summer camps, overnight outings, teen programs and more. Because accessibility plays an important role in the Zoo’s mission to inspire, the Zoo offers scholarships for many of the education programs. These scholarships are made possible through the Mel Dodge fund and donations submitted directly to the Education Department. STAFF The Zoo’s staff is comprised of about 255 full-time and 15 part-time, year-round team members. The entire park (including Zoombezi Bay) employs about 2,000 seasonal team members. VOLUNTEERS Various volunteer groups work together to promote the Zoo’s education, recreation and conservation missions. The teen volunteer program, ZooAides, is for students entering eighth through twelfth grades.
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