Phoenix Zoo

About

The Phoenix Zoo occupies 125 acres within Phoenix's scenic Papago Park, adjacent to the Desert Botanical Garden and surrounded by the distinctive red buttes of the Sonoran Desert landscape. Founded in 1962 as a private nonprofit, the zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals across hundreds of species—making it one of the largest privately owned nonprofit zoos in the country. The zoo is organized around four distinct trails: the Africa Trail (savanna species including giraffes, rhinos, and African wild dogs), the Tropics Trail (monkeys, tapirs, and tropical species), the Arizona Trail (native desert animals including Sonoran pronghorn, desert tortoises, and javelinas), and the Children's Trail, designed for hands-on family exploration. The zoo is also home to the Doornbos Animal Rescue and Care Center, a veterinary facility focused on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Conservation work at the Phoenix Zoo centers on Arizona native species: the Arabian oryx reintroduction program is one of the zoo's landmark achievements, and current programs protect the Sonoran pronghorn, desert tortoises, bald eagles, and cactus ferruginous pygmy owls. The zoo also runs community science initiatives engaging local volunteers in wildlife monitoring. Education programs span all ages, from toddler-focused zoo experiences to teen volunteer programs and adult courses. Summer camps run from May through August. Note that summer hours shift significantly (7 a.m.–1 p.m. June–August) due to Phoenix's extreme heat.

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