Our Mission: To lead and Inspire by Connecting People and Wildlife.
A single sentence drives all efforts at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club. And, with over 6.6 million visitors to all four parks’ websites each year, our online presence is no exception.
From red pandas and a game of golf, to waterslides and Open-Air Safaris, there’s a lot of information to share with you each day! That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of redesigned websites for each park, each built with the goal to further connect people with the animals in our care.
Columbus Zoo The Wilds Zoombezi Bay Safari Golf Club
It Starts with a Look
While each park has a unique voice and offers customized experiences, you'll enjoy a streamlined look and feel for all websites that reiterates the connection between our properties and how they empower people and save wildlife in their own ways. A simplified and engaging layout invites users in from around the globe, greeting them with vibrant videos and easy navigation as they learn the story about each park’s unique contributions to wildlife conservation, education, and engaging guest experiences.
Making an Impact
Each year, we invest millions of dollars and countless hours in conservation work throughout the world to save wildlife and wild places, and empower the people who live near them. You'll learn more about work that benefits efforts ranging from conservation science and habitat restoration to providing resources though Partners In Conservation, the Zoo’s longstanding program in Rwanda that works with local communities to help protect mountain gorillas.
The Zoo and The Wilds: It’s All About the Animals!
As one of the largest zoos in the world, there’s a lot of ground to cover! The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium features eight unique regions that host over 10,000 animals representing 600 species. The new Zoo website showcases each region, including educational facts about the rare and endangered animals that live there, as well as information about conservation projects the Zoo is involved in to help protect the future of these species.
Animal Regions Animal information
If you’ve been to The Wilds, you know it’s breathtaking. It’s home to more than 500 animals representing 25 endangered species that live in open pastures spanning thousands of acres on reclaimed mine land. Beyond that, The Wilds is directly involved in important animal conservation and ecology initiatives taking place onsite. The new website introduces you to these efforts and the animals in our care that guests can observe on one of the unique safari tours offered at this conservation center in Southeast Ohio.
Plan Your Adventure!
We know that the Zoo, Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf Club, and The Wilds are destinations for families and groups of all kinds. That’s why each website’s “Plan Your Visit” information is front and center for user ease! You will find this section nestled in next to our tours, animal experiences, food and retail options, and ride information on the home page.
It’s a Mobile World
Well over half of all visitors to our websites are viewing them from mobile devices, so improving each site’s mobile capabilities was a high priority for the team leading this large project. Your experience begins even before visitors arrive at the parks, and our sites help our visitors plan ahead by offering quick access to park hours, day-of opportunities, park maps, and upcoming event information to ensure their visit is extra-memorable.
We’re Telling a Story
We’re nearing 100 years of animal education and conservation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and that means there are a lot of stories to tell! With timely updates available about field work, animal enrichment, staff accomplishments, and more, our blog is invaluable when connecting with our audiences and supporters. Representing all four parks, our blog is where readers can find the latest news and stories that showcase the work done on behalf of wildlife (and humans, too!).
We’re Accessible to All
We believe every guest deserves an exceptional experience, regardless of age or ability. The Zoo’s new website allows readers to learn about work done to ensure every guest has the opportunity for a memorable experience. Along with information on wheelchair and scooter rentals, adult changing stations, and ADA compliance documents, maps of sensory-friendly areas are available online for each region so families can plan a safe day at the Zoo.
Fun In More Places
Don’t let the adventure and learning stop at just one park! Our new website designs offer quick access to information about all four parks, allowing you to easily navigate between them and learn more about their support of the same mission.
Get Involved
We couldn’t do what we do without the support of the millions of guests we host each year. Throughout each website, you will learn ways to support our mission besides making memories at each park…like donating to conservation work, attending a VIP event, applying for an intern scholarship, volunteering their time as a docent, or even joining the team!
Discovery. Adventure. Thrills. Memories. Laughter.
These are the words we hear most often from guests as they visit The Columbus Zoo family of parks. And they should know...millions of visitors have trodden our paths for almost 100 years!
Your experience at each park is not just building amazing memories, it’s supporting animal education, advocacy for endangered species, and conservation efforts within the Zoo and worldwide.
