The story behind the St. Louis Zoo ultimately shows how even since its founding it has been connected to the citizens of St. Louis. This is shown today through how the zoo operates by constantly putting an emphasis on citizens and interactions with animals, ultimately reflecting the zoo’s commitment to their original mission 

Within the St. Louis Zoo, there are many well known older exhibits people have grown used to such as the monkey house where the cages are so close you feel like you are next to the monkeys. The dark and cold reptile exhibit, despite its age, remains a fan favorite for its variety of animals and interactive elements.

Newer exhibits include the McDonnell polar bear point established in 2015, the penguin house, some of the bigger cats, and the painted dog puppies, all of which serve as immersive experiences for all guests who attend at the St. Louis Zoo. 

The giraffe feeding experience is also a fairly recent addition, and offers people to be uniquely close to a giraffe. It offers people a chance to see an inside into the lives of Giraffes, it also helps promote conservation efforts, and reaffirms the hard working notions zookeepers live by. 

However, some of the older exhibits are noticeably in need of an update. Many show signs of wear and tear and it almost seems as if a monkey or reptile could escape from them.

Unlike the majority of zoos, the St. Louis Zoo is completely free as it is paid for by the tax payer money of the people who live in St. Louis. Furthermore, when people want to save money, they have the option of bringing their own food, but if people are interested in eating at the St. Louis Zoo, they can find a plethora of food options based on local dishes in St. Louis. While the quality of the food at the St. Louis Zoo is comparable to that of a cafeteria, the St. Louis Zoo contrasts with other zoos in the way it is able to implement a variety of cuisines and an allergy menu, as stated on their website.

People can find street parking in Forest Park, which is completely free. However, this requires zoo patrons to have a bit more of a walk from their vehicle. According to their website, The St. Louis Zoo offers camps in the fall when kids are off to get a chance to learn more about uprising conservation. There are also Family programs listed on their website, like “the polar bear plunge”, where people can see the zoo exclusively after closing. 

The zoo is also currently under construction because they are actively trying to build a new place referred to as Destination Discovery in their website.  The website reports it has a focus on children, and sensory detail, more information will be provided later in the year.

The St. Louis Zoo Website also says they are building another location. The focus of the new location will be on conservation and it will be known as the Wildcare Park will feature endangered species. 

Furthermore, the St. Louis Zoo also hosts an annual Animals Aglow event, decorating the grounds with Chinese lanterns. The event puts emphasis on the Chinese cultural roots of many St. Louisians, including personality signs based on your Chinese zodiac with matching light display meant to look like lanterns. There is even a giant dragon at the center of the park that breathes fire. This once more showcases how phenomenal the St. Louis Zoo really is.

Ultimately, whether you live in St. Louis or are visiting from out of town, the St. Louis Zoo is one of the best attractions the city has to offer and you should definitely be sure to check it out!