Lions, tigers and bears…oh my! Here in Ohio we have lots places to go if we want to see any of those animals and more. To be exact we have six different zoos in the state. Each one is unique and interesting in its own right and in this week's Know Ohio, we'll tell you why.
Our first stop is in Northeast Ohio at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Founded in 1882, it's one of the oldest and largest zoos in the United States. The Cleveland Zoo is home to 3,000 exotic animals and has recently added a new attraction, the African elephant crossing, a large area dedicated to giving visitors up close and personal access to the majestic animals.
Just 30 minutes away is the Akron zoo. It's an accredited world conservation zoo, a distinction given to only 10 percent of zoos across the country.
In Northwest Ohio, there's the Toledo Zoo, with more than 5,000 animals. The zoo is also home to a historic reptile house featuring Baru, a 17-foot crocodile from Australia, the biggest saltwater crocodile in north America.
In Southeast Ohio, you'll find The Wilds, which is not your typical zoo or wildlife habitat. At the wilds you can travel aboard a safari transport or open-air safari to view and learn about rare and endangered animals from around the world. You can also soar through the sky as you overlook the majestic animals on the zip line tour.
Located in our state's capital is the Columbus Zoo, which is home to 5,000 animals and in 2009 was named the number one zoo in America by the USA Travel Guide. The Columbus Zoo is also known for Jack Hanna, who might look familiar. He's the director emeritus of the zoo and is best known for his media appearances, in particularly with David Letterman. And for more than 10 years he's hosted various nationally syndicated animal TV shows, the first being 'Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures,' and has been nicknamed "jungle jack".
And last, but not least is the Cincinnati Zoo. it was recently rated as the number one attraction locally and one of the top zoos in the nation by Zagat survey. Each year more than one million people travel to see the various exhibits that house animals from every continent in the world.