Ahead of you is the entrance to the Memphis Zoo, one of the top-ranked zoos in the United States and a beloved institution that has been part of Overton Park since 1906. The zoo began with a single bear — a black bear named Natch, donated by the city in 1906 — and has grown to house more than 3,500 animals representing nearly 500 species. The Memphis Zoo is particularly known for its giant panda program; it was one of a small number of American zoos to house giant pandas, brought from China as part of an international conservation partnership.
The zoo has also been a pioneer in animal habitat design, replacing cage-based exhibits with naturalistic environments that allow animals to behave more as they would in the wild. For generations of Memphis families, the zoo has been the place where children first encounter the astonishing biodiversity of the natural world. It's also a reminder that conservation is a civic responsibility — that cities have a role to play in protecting species and ecosystems far beyond their borders.
The animals here are ambassadors from a world that needs our attention.