Oakland Zoo was founded in 1922 by naturalist Henry A. Snow. In 1936, Henry's son, Sidney, established the nonprofit organization East Bay Zoological Society, which was originally known as the Alameda County Botanical and Zoological Society. The East Bay Zoological Society operated and managed the Zoo for the City of Oakland from 1982 until August 2017, when it was renamed the Conservation Society of California to better reflect the Zoo’s evolving purpose and mission in its commitment to conservation.
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Our History
Attractions, Animal Care, and Education
Over the past twenty-five years there have been countless capital improvements to improve animal care, habitat design and the visitor experience. The Zoo is comprised of several regions: Adventure Landing, African Savanna, African Veldt, Flamingo Plaza, Tropical Rain Forest, Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo, Wild Australia, and California Trail. Over 850 native and exotic animals live in expansive naturalistic habitats and include chimpanzees, sun bears, elephants, lions, giraffes and more. Many of the Zoo’s animals are rescues. In 1991, the Zoo pioneered the “protected contact” methodology in animal husbandry, which places barriers between zookeepers and elephants and incorporates persuasion through rewards rather than discipline. The progress we have made and continue to make to this keystone program has garnered respect and approval from animal behaviorists around the world, and most importantly resulted in happy and healthy elephants. The Zoo is committed to providing an outstanding experience for Zoo visitors, delivering a rich array of education programs and a great family experience.
Partner Category
Partnership Services
Through our partnerships we are able to expand our capabilities through the inclusion of services in areas such as:
- Grant opportunities
- Sponsorship of grants
- Cooperative Agreements
To find out more about how our partner provides services view our partner services below.
