September 30, 1910The Washington Park Zoological

Society (WPZS) was formed.

1912

German-American businessmen recognizing the importance of zoos to city development,

were instrumental in forming the WPZS.

The WPZS purchased four polarbears for the zoo. In 1919, twoof them became the parents to Zero, the first polar bear to survive birth in captivity.

The weather was approximately10 degrees below zero, thus his name!

The Original Objectives of the WPZS:• To enlarge the Milwaukee zoo.

• To exhibit animals under favorable conditions.

• To foster and encourage zoological research.

• To increase public interest and public

knowledge in and of wild animals.

• To secure better protection of animal life by

educational methods.

• To attract people from out of town to visit Milwaukee.

1913

The first large African animal,Yacob (Jacob) the hippopotamus,

was purchased.

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1915-25These are some of the animals purchased by the WPZS during this period.

Bengal Tiger

Grizzly Bear American Bison

Leopard

Annual monkeyroundup. (Tomove theminto winterhousing.)

Monkey Island Town, complete with saloon!

1920 Monkey Island opened with four dozen rhesus monkeys donated by the WPZS. It was the first monkey island in the country!

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Reticulated Spots Masai SpotsReticulated giraffe atWashington Park Zoo.

The old bear dens had bars asfar as the eye could see.

In the new barless dens,bears were separatedfrom people by a moat,much like at the Zootoday.

1925 With the donation of $12,000, we became the onlypublic zoo in the world to exhibit giraffes!

1930During the depression, the WPZS tookover the cost of feeding the animals.

The WPZS also paid for the building ofbarless bear dens and sheep mountain.

1939 Another first! We became the first zoo in America toexhibit reticulated giraffes. They were namedBumba and Momba.

Nigal and Nykaiwere Masai giraffes.

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WPZS became active in planning and fund-raisingfor the “new Zoo.”

Koronga the rhinoBengal Tiger

Zoo Director George Speidelshows off the model for thenew Zoo.

Anthony and Cleopatra arrived at the zoo in 1943.

1940

1946

Significant WPZS animal donations in the ’40s included tigers, a rhinoand two hippopotamuses.

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Two new stars, Samson and Sambo,arrive at the zoo thanks to WPZS dona-tions. They arrived at the WashingtonPark Zoo and in 1959, moved to thenew zoo.

The Zoo Directorand Zoo Matronwelcome the pairwith open arms.

There’s time for longwalks, dressing upand just swingingaround.

1950

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Above: Samson andSambo mug it up forthe camera.

Right: Samson celebrates a birthday.

Samson posesfor Terra andshows off hisphysique.

Below: Samson looksover his healthy selectionof food.

Right: He poses for thecamera again.

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1953The Washington Park Zoological Societychanges its name to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County (ZSM).

1956“Milwaukee Goes on Safari” is a fund-raising event for a $300,000 campaign to purchase animals and

equipment for the new Milwaukee County Zoo (MCZ).

The campaignraised $528,000within months!

And yes, therewere animals atthe fundraiser.

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During construction,visitors were allowed to

ride the train aroundthe zoo to see what wasbeing done. The moneyfrom the train was usedto build exhibits, pur-chase animals as well

as the zoomobile.

1958 The new MCZ construction begins!

Bear den gunite walls.Zoomobile

Monkey Island

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1963 The Washington Park Zoo was vacated.

The following photos represent the animals purchased by the ZSM.

Mot Mot

Snow Leopard

Orangutan

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Black Swan

Bengal Tiger

King Penguin

Thompson’sGazelle

Caribbean Flamingo

ColobusMonkey

ScarletMacaw

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The ZSM finances a 16,000-mile trip for Zoo staff to collect 18 Adeliepenguins from Antarctica.

Adelie penguinand chick.

1965

The Children’sZoo becamethe first projectjointly fundedby the ZSMand the MCZ.

1971

Another world’s“first” occurredwhen an Adeliepenguin chick“Little America”was born in 1966.

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Red kangaroo

The Ed-Zoo-cation Mobile Laboratory.

The ZSM, with cooperation fromthe Zoo and Milwaukee PublicSchools, began education outreachprograms in Milwaukee County.

The Irwin Maier loco-motive was donatedthrough the ZSM andwas the final additionto the fleet.

1972

Red kangaroos were hard toacquire in the ’70s; so the ZSM

used contacts in Australia tobring three to the Zoo.

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1974 Zoo Pride, the volunteer auxiliaryof the ZSM, was formed.

In 1975, the 63 charter membersvolunteered over 1,000 hours.The group has grown to 548members in 2009, volunteering35,500 hours!

Zoo Pridevolunteersstaffed the informa-tion boothat the Zooentrancefor theirfirst project.

Today, volunteershelp educate the

public about endangered

animals and theZoo’s collection …

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… create enrichmentitems for the animals,

and welcome Zooguests at the new

Guest Services Kiosk.

1976Milwaukee County,UW Extension and ZSM create a Zoo Edu-cation Department.Three educators offerguided tours and talksto approximately10,000 students.

1982The ZSM starts theAdopt an Animal Pro-gram to raise money tofeed the animals. Theprogram is now calledthe Sponsor an Animalprogram and the moneyis used to support allthe animals here at the Zoo.

Zoo Pride Celebrates Its 35th Anniversary in 2010!

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1984 The first Zoo Ball is held. Zoo Ball is the largest annual fund-raising eventfor the ZSM, and has raised millionsof dollars since its inception.

Outfits match thetheme of Zoo Balland guests opentheir purse stringsto help raise money.

Entertainment is variedand fun is had by all!

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Guests wine,dine anddance thenight awayat Zoo Ball.

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1985

The following areas were renovated or built during this campaign:Peck Welcome Center Herb and Nada Mahler Family AviaryStearns Apes of Africa Primates of the WorldAquatic & Reptile Center Wong Family PheasantryWolf Woods Underwater Viewing – Polar BearOceans of Fun pool and theater Education BuildingRaptory Theater Dairy ComplexPetting Ring

The ZSM and MCZ launch the Core Zoo (New, NewZoo) capital campaign. Both organizations raised$12.5 million toward the projects.

The Herb and NadaMahler Family Aviary

Stearns Apesof Africa

Aquatic & Reptile Center

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The ZSM creates the Conservation Department towork on a species survival plan for bonobos. Thedepartment also supports conservation research by Zoo staff in the wild and at the Zoo.

Bonobo Research in Wisconsin and the Democratic Republicof Congo.

Humboldt Penguin Research in Chile.

Grand Cayman Island Blue Iguana Research.

Trumpeter Swan Research in Wisconsin.

Ornate Box Turtle Research in Wisconsin.

Barley and baby, Buster.

1989

Barley and Brewster,two highly endangeredblack rhinos, arrive atthe Zoo from the wildsof Zimbabwe throughZSM donations.

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1989

1997

The ZSM takes on sole fiscal responsibilityfor the Education Department.

The ZSM Conservation Depart-ment creates the Bonobo andCongo Biodiversity Initiative to:• preserve bonobo habitat• assess bonobo populations• build Congolese conservation

institutions• educate Congolese people

to conserve, farm, read

The Education Department offers avariety of classes from Turtles toZoo Vet.

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2001 The ZSMC and MCZ begin the $30.5 million NewZoo II capital campaign. The ZSM pledged $14.8million, but raised more than $15.5 million for the projects.

Florence Mila BorchertBig Cat Country

Karen Peck Katz ConservationEducation Center

Animal HealthCenter

Macaque Island

The following areas were renovated or built during this campaign:Animal Health Center & Holz Family Foundation Learning Zone

Macaque IslandHolz Family Impala Country

MillerCoors Giraffe ExperienceFlorence Mila Borchert Big Cat Country

U.S. Bank Gathering PlaceNorthwestern Mutual Family FarmStackner Family Animal Encounter

Lakeview Place RestaurantKaren Peck Katz Conservation Education Center

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