Saint Louis Zoo

Located on 90 acres in Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo is home to more than 603 species of animals, many of them rare and endangered. It is one of the few free zoos in the nation and has been named #1 zoo by Zagat Survey’s U.S. Family Travel Guide in association with arenting magazine. The Zoo annually attracts three million visitors, who can see 14,840 wild animals—including the thousands of leafcutters and butterflies at the Zoo. Since its 1910 founding, the Zoo has been renowned for its beautiful naturalistic exhibits, its diverse collection of animals and its innovative approaches to animal management, wildlife conservation, research and education. The Zoo’s Education Department staff—the largest among the nation’s zoos—offers programs designed to help visitors of all ages and abilities learn through experience, involvement and discovery. Of the three million visitors hosted annually by the Saint Louis Zoo, approximately 1.7 million visitors interacted with an Educational Interpreter, Zoo Docent or Zookeeper who provided educational experiences and information.