For nearly 80 years the Pocatello Zoo has been bringing living symbols of the great American West to thousands of visitors every year. Bison, cougars, eagles and grizzlies, these are just a few of the animals that are on display at the zoo. Not only does the Pocatello Zoo provide great viewing opportunities for visitors but they offer interactive exhibits, classes and family programs throughout the year.
From its humble beginnings in 1932, where the only exhibits were a monkey and a raccoon in two small pens, to today where over 100 animals are on display, the Pocatello Zoo has a long history of serving our community.
Today’s zoo is unique as it is one of only two zoos in the world that specialize exclusively to animals native to the intermountain west. They are also the only zoo that incorporates the Sho-Ban culture into its design and layout.
“The great thing about the Pocatello Zoo is that it’s foremost a wildlife sanctuary and it’s great that it’s all native wildlife to the Rocky Mountain region and so that was just so attractive as an educator to get the chance to show the community these native animals that they might not get to see,” said Cory Coffman, Newly Appointed Curator of Education for the Pocatello Zoo.
The Pocatello Zoo continues to grow and they have some pretty ambitious goals. To facilitate the growth, a capital campaign is currently underway.
“I think that so much is going to happen in the next ten years,” continued Coffman. “With the new grizzly exhibit opening it’s going to be a great asset to the zoo. I know we have big plans after that, plans to expand more exhibits and to make greater and better education programs.”
The new Grizzly exhibit which Stripes is patiently waiting for is nearing completion. Once it is finished, the plan is to open up the old grizzly exhibit to the cougars which is greatly needed as their family continues to grow. The zoo just introduced a new cougar cub that was orphaned in Montana.
The Zoo hopes to have the new Grizzly enclosure open by the Fourth of July
