Bennett Insurance Group Presents: The Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962 and is the largest non-profit zoo in the United States. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the zoo was founded by Robert Maytag, a member of the Maytag family, and operates on 125 acres of land in the Papago Park area of Phoenix.

The zoo has over 1,300 animals on display and contains 2.5 miles of walking trails. It is divided into four main themed areas or trails: The Arizona Trail (American Southwest flora and fauna), the Africa Trail (animals from Africa), the Tropics Trail (residents of the rain forests), and the Children's Trail, which includes a petting zoo.

The zoo has been conservation minded from its inception. Soon after it opened it hosted what was thought to be the last few Arabian oryx, which formed the basis of the world herd created for Operation Oryx and eventually allowed the reintroduction of the species into the wild.

The Phoenix Zoo began as a personal project of Robert Maytag, who formed the Arizona Zoological Society with the intention of opening a zoo in Phoenix. Although Maytag died a few months before its opening, the zoo opened on schedule in November 1962. It was originally named the "Maytag Zoo", but was renamed the following year to "Phoenix Zoo" to identify it more closely with the community. The zoo has always been a privately owned, non-profit venture.

Although the zoo had some financial struggles in the early 1960s, it grew substantially during the 1970s as it added numerous new exhibits, landscaping features, and visitor amenities. The 1980s saw continued growth, with the addition of African Savanna habitat areas, a children's zoo, a new entrance complex, and other exhibits.

The zoo expanded again in 1998 with the opening of Harmony Farms, home to a petting zoo and many domestic farm animals. In 2000, the zoo opened Desert Lives, and in 2004 it added a new primate walk-through exhibit called Monkey Village. In November 2006, aquatic species were added to the zoo with the opening of Stingray Bay,. In November 2009, two Komodo dragons were brought to the zoo as a part of the zoo's capital campaign. In April 2011, as a part of the Zoo's capital campaign, Orang-Hutan: People of the Forest, the new orangutan exhibit opened to the public.

Location:  455 North Galvin Parkway Phoenix, Arizona 85008 Phone: 602.273.1341

Web site: http://www.phoenixzoo.org

Hours:
June 1 – August 31 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. (daily)
September 1 – October 31 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (daily)
November 1 – January 6 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (daily)
January 7 – May 31 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (daily)

When considering your need for insurance products for your home or business consider contacting Bennett Insurance Group at 623-979-4140

Brought to you by:
Jim Bennett
Bennett Insurance Group, Inc.
623-979-4140
http://jimbennettinsurance.com
jim@jimbennettinsurance.com