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The Milwaukee County Zoo is a serene home to more than 1,700 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles with more than 350 species represented. However, the Zoo has become more than that to visitors. It is a site for workshops, holiday celebrations, summer concerts and food festivals.

Recognized as one of the country’s finest zoological attractions, the Milwaukee County Zoo serves as a resource to educate, entertain and inspire.

The wildness began in 1892 when the Milwaukee County Zoo was a simple miniature mammal and bird display in Milwaukee's downtown Washington Park. By 1902, the Zoo expanded to 23 acres and had acquired a roaring 800 animals. Thirty-two years later, the Zoo became an entity of the Milwaukee County Park Commission. The arrangement gave the Zoo the resources it needed to grow and prosper. The chance to grow surfaced in 1958 when the Zoo moved to its present location on 200 acres of beautiful parkland where currently over 350 species of animals are on exhibit.

The first decade at the Zoo's new location saw several developments: the Primate Building, Monkey Island and Winter Quarters construction.

In the early 1960s, Grizzly, Polar and Brown Bear dens were completed, as were the Feline, Pachyderm, Giraffe, Bird, Small Mammals, Aquarium/Reptile, and Australian Buildings. In the 1970s, the Zoo continued to grow: the Children's Zoo, Train Shed, and Zoo Hospital were constructed. The Dall Sheep Exhibit, the Gift Shop and Zoo Pride were also established during this decade of expansion.

Today, the Milwaukee County Zoo is among the top zoos in the nation. It is an accredited institution of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). In recent years, the Zoo has become increasingly involved in the propagation and conservation of endangered species. The Zoo is currently engaged in several significant breeding programs, including Humboldt penguins and Trumpeter swans. Our Zoo is also home to a troop of 21 bonobos, a highly endangered species of great ape. Each new birth of a bonobo marks a definite sign of the Zoo’s commitment to conservational programs such as the Species Survival Plan (SSP) in which the Zoo participates.

The Zoo is under the direction of Charles Wikenhauser. A 130-member staff provides the necessary support to maintain a high quality park, while continually developing innovative ways to help the Zoo reach and maintain its attendance and revenue goals.

In order to remain current in its operations, and adhere to the growing needs of the animals, the Zoo initiated an expansion and renovation master plan in 1985. This plan saw the completion of the Wolf Woods, the Polar Bear and Sea Lion Exhibits, the Dairy Complex and the Peck Welcome Center.