Finding friends at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Hailey Heseltine [email protected] Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is truly one of a kind. Throughout its nearly 110 years of operation, it has received countless awards, both nationally and locally. Additionally, it is home to over 2,000 animals and over 1,000 varieties of plants, has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for over 30 years and runs over 25 education programs for different age groups. With these extraordinary statistics, it may be difficult to imagine the zoo's beginnings. So, what is the zoo's story, and what does it offer for guests today? The story began with a simple, singular red- tailed deer on May 12, 1914. The deer was g