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New Zoo taking will include huge Safari area
Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park (in Spanish Lake
Area) Is Name for 2nd Zoo opening in 2026
Saint Louis Zoo officials have announced the name for its second campus in North County and offered more details on the facility that will include a safari , flowers on walking trails, and biodiversity studies.
“We decided on Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park as it hits on three aspects that are key to the use of this campus: wildlife, conservation and public experience,” said Jeffrey Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brownpresident and CEO, of the Saint Louis Zoo.
“With the two campuses, we will continue to operate under one mission that essentially has been unchanged for over a century: ‘To conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public.’”
The word “WildCare” is not new for the Saint Louis Zoo. Launched in 2004, the Saint Louis Zoo
WildCare Institute centralized the Zoo’s wildlife efforts. The Zoo’s field conservation efforts have grown to include 17 conservation centers worldwide, all of which are founded on wildlife management and recovery, conservation science with applied conservation action, and working with communities.
Five of these centers focus on wildlife conservation efforts in Missouri.
The word “WildCare” is not new for the Saint Louis Zoo. Launched in 2004, the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute centralized the Zoo’s wildlife efforts. The Zoo’s field conservation efforts have grown to include 17 conservation centers worldwide, all of which are founded on wildlife management and recovery, conservation science with applied conservation action, and working with communities. Five of these centers focus on wildlife conservation efforts in Missouri.
The word “Park” helps describe the guest experience that the public can expect when the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park opens – an abundance of opportunities to connect with nature through outdoor activities, attractions and wilderness adventures.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed down some of the planning and initial efforts we had hoped would be done by now, we estimate a public opening as early as 2026 for the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park,” said Dr. Bonner. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us and we want to do this right.”
The Zoo has conducted public experience studies and surveys with tourists and area residents, and will continue to seek input as it finalizes the public experiences at the new campus. The Zoo also will work with necessary authorities to evaluate property zoning, traffic studies, perimeter fencing and a potential pilot pasture in the near future.
Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park features two completely different, but highly synergistic components. The first is what the public will experience, a unique outdoor adventure that sends guests on a safari through herds of animals roaming wild over gently rolling grassy meadows and through native forests.
“Imagine, if you can, coming upon a herd of giraffe walking across the grasslands or rhinos surrounding your vehicle. Visitors might find themselves silently kayaking up to unwary zebra or disembarking the safari truck for a truly close-up experience,” said Dr. Bonner.
More than a safari, visitors also will explore the forests on trails and, for the more adventurous, high up in the forest canopy.
Biodiversity Studies
In addition to conservation programs in Missouri and around the world, the Zoo also will study the native animals and plants that live in and around the property. The first step in those efforts are biodiversity studies.
The overall goal of the biodiversity studies is to develop a comprehensive list and understanding of the animal and plant species that utilize the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park. The Zoo is mapping the biological and environmental health of the site, including the presence or absence of native wildlife, invasive species and diseases with a potential threat to Zoo animals, and an understanding of the types and quality of the habitats at the site.
Currently, there are eight areas of study: bats, birds, coyotes and foxes, invertebrates/pollinators, plants, reptiles, amphibians, and water quality of lakes and streams. Potential projects for community involvement include FrogWatch and City Nature Challenge trainings, invasive plant removal, litter cleanups, bird walks and other nature experiences.
For more information on the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park, please visit stlzoo.org/wildcarepark.
