Tapir Webcams

Reid Park Zoo Live Cams

Officially established by park recreation director Gene Reid in 1965 and founded in 1967, the city-owned and non-profit Reid Park Zoo located in Tucson, Arizona houses more than 500 animals.

Interesting Facts About The Reid Park Zoo

• Reid Park Zoo was originally established in 1965 just north of the zoo’s current site as A fledgling zoo with exhibits of guinea fowl, peafowl and pheasants. In 1966 the zoo’s later exhibits included Prairie Dog Town which housed Prairie dogs from Lubbock, Texas followed by a two-year-old male Asian elephant in the fall that year.

• Reid Park Zoo’s Flight Connection first opened in 1999 is a large aviary housing dozens of bird species of birds native to Africa, Asia and Australia.

• Between 1967-1968 the Tucson City Council approved a $49,000 budget for opening the zoo as part of the city operations. This resulted in the zoo changing its name to Randolph Park Zoo as well as the addition of a new collection of species which included tapir, leopard, alligator, primates, camel and bear. The Friends of Gene Reid group to aid in the zoo’s daily operations was unofficially organized during this period.

• In 1972 under the tenure of the zoo’s first professional administrator J.L. Swigert, the zoo began its first Admission fees. That year Michael Flint was appointed the zoo’s first curator. The zoo was admitted to the American Association of Zoos & Aquariums today known as the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

• In 1973 the zoo built its leopard exhibit from the proceeds collected from its admission fees.

• In 1974 the zoo built its first elephant exhibit.

• In 1975 the zoo appointed its second zoo administrator Dr. Ivo Poglayen and built its polar bear exhibit as well as constructed an entrance featuring a gift shop in the zoo’s sough border.

• In 1976 the zoo constructed its rhino exhibit and built Macaw Island. The Friends of Gene Reid group became Friends of Randolph Zoo Society, Inc.

• In 1977 zoo built its African Veldt zebra and ostrich habitat.

• In 1978 the zoo opened its Asian Grasslands exhibit and expanded its area from 13 to 15 acres. With the rename of the park the zoo’s name was changed to Reid Park Zoo. Friends of Randolph Zoo Society, Inc. was also incorporated as the new Tucson Zoological Society.

• In 1979 zoo opened its health center and administration offices.

• In 1981 Reid Park Zoo opened an entrance, gift shop and snack bar at its north end increasing its size to 17 acres.

• In 1982 the recently constructed snack bar was officially opened as well as built its waterfowl exhibit. The former entrance and gift shop building located on the zoo’s south side was redeveloped to serve as the zoo’s school and docent main office.

• In 1983 Reid Park Zoo opened its lion exhibit.

• In 1985 the zoo built and opened its tiger exhibit.

• Steve McCusker became the zoo’s third administrator in 1986.

• The zoo constructed its Malayan sun bear exhibit in 1987, the same year Kerry Hoffman was appointed the first education curator.

• In 1988 the zoo completed the remodeling of its lion-tailed macaque enclosure as well as completing the construction of a new administration building. The zoo that year began its construction of a new giraffe habitat and remodeling of the polar bear exhibit as well as the demolishing of old bear and cat and bear cages.

• Reid Park Zoo completed its new giraffe and polar bear exhibits in 1990 as well as drew up the first architectural plans for the new South America Exhibit. In August that year the zoo appointed its first executive director for TZS.

• In 1991 the zoo remodeled its mandrill exhibit as well as appointed Susan Basford the second education curator.

• In 1992 the former Asian Grassland area was redeveloped to the new African Savanna. The zoo held its first “Festival of Lights” that year.

• In 1993 Reid Park Zoo completed its extensive remodeling of the zoo school and later held its first “ZOOcson” fundraiser event.

• In 1994 the zoo began the remodeling of its alligator exhibit into a newly designate habitat for caiman.

• In 1995 the zoo began construction of its South America exhibit later completed in 1997 and appointed Susan Basford its fourth administrator.

• In 1996 the zoo held its first “Howl-o-ween” event and appointed Vivian VanPeenen its third education curator.

• In 2000 the zoo began its remodeling of its lion-tail macaque habitat completed in 2008.

• In 2003 the zoo expanded its polar bear exhibit to include an innate substrate yard. The zoo also completed its New front gate project.

• In 2004 the zoo appointed its second general curator, Scott Barton.

• In 2006 the zoo completed its giraffe feeding platform.

• Reid Park Zoo’s Kenya Get Wet splash pads was opened in 2007.

• In 2008 the zoo completed construction of the Lee H. Brown Family Conservation Learning Center.

• Jim Schnormeier in 2009 is appointed the zoo’s third general curator. Zoofari Café is also remodeled and for the first time includes indoor seating.

• Reid Park Zoo’s Gift Shop is remodeled in 2010. Groundbreaking for expansion with the new elephant exhibit; Expedition Tanzania later opened in 2012 also takes place.

• In 2012 the zoo opens its Education Department appoints four new staff members.

• Jason Jacobs in 2013 is appointed the zoo’s fifth administrator.

• In 2014 Reid Park Zoo witnesses the birth of a female African elephant calf, the first ever born in the State of Arizona.

• Reid Park Zoo is designed to uniquely treat animals with cancer by way of heat therapy and radiation. Through its partnership with the Cancer Center at the University of Arizona scientists can treat animals transported to the zoo from all over the United States.

• The Save Tucson Elephants activists in 2006 lobbied the city of Tucson to relocate a pair of elephants housed at the zoo to a Tennessee sanctuary. The campaign however was unsuccessful as the city council after receiving public requests to keep the elephants in Tucson instead opt to raise funds for the development of a new elephant habitat at the zoo.

Reid Park Zoo Webcams

Reid Park Zoo is organized into four zone habitats according to the type of animals. Animals such as the Aldabra giant tortoise, and grizzly bear are housed in the Adaptation Zone while the South America zone houses species including the spectacled bear and the jaguar.

The zoo’s African zone opened in 2012 includes Expedition Tanzania featuring a heard of 6 African elephants, as well as animals such as lion and giraffe. The zoo’s the Asian zone houses animals such as the Malayan sun bear and tiger. In 2014 the zoo witnessed the birth of the first elephant calf in the State of Arizona.

Africa Zone Webcams

View Elephant Cam #1.

View Elephant Cam #2.

View Giraffe Cam.

View Lion Webcam.

View Lemur Webcam.

Adaption Zone Webcams

View Grizzly Webcam #1.

View Grizzly Webcam #2.

South American Zone Webcams

View Tapir Webcam.