What region or area do you provide services in?

The Columbus Zoo is located in Central Ohio on the northwest side of the Columbus metropolitan area. The zoo offers educational programs to children and adults, and offers scholarships to low-income students so they can receive zoo learning opportunities for free.

The Columbus Zoo also manages a variety of wildlife conservation efforts around the globe. 

How and when did the organization get started? 

The Columbus Zoo began in 1927 as a small collection of animals donated from the Wolfe family of Columbus Ohio. Over time the zoo has grown and achieved milestones including the birth of Colo in 1956, the first gorilla born in human care.

In the late 1970’s Jack Hanna became the Director of the Columbus Zoo and began many of the transformations and improvements that are still ongoing today. Jack Hanna also brought awareness and recognition to the zoo through his multiple TV appearances over the years.

In 1992 the Columbus Zoo became a member of the PIC (Partners in Conservation), a humanitarian and wildlife conservation organization. Today the zoo supports over 70 wildlife conservation projects in over 30 countries.

How many employees do you have? 

The zoo requires hundreds of employees to run day-to-day operations.

How many volunteers does your organization have?  

The Columbus Zoo has hundreds of volunteers each year who help with training, education, and our wildlife conservation efforts around the globe.