Community Corner
Detroit Zoo Attendance Tops One Million
Visitors get a mega-dose of Vitamin Z with baby animals, new arrivals, and boardwalk.
The community said “thanks a million” to the for the seventh consecutive year today when 2012 attendance surpassed the one-million mark.
“There are thousands of ways to get Vitamin Z at the Detroit Zoo, as a million people have discovered so far this year. It’s very gratifying to see the community continue to support and enjoy their zoo,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan.
The mild spring weather and a spate of babies born in the spring and summer – including three North American river otter pups, a Bactrian camel calf, six red kangaroo joeys and about 20 black-tailed prairie dog pups – contributed to the robust numbers. In addition, orphaned grizzly bear cubs Mike, Thor and Boo – rescued late last year from Alaska – made their debut in the spring and drew considerable crowds.
The Detroit Zoo’s newest crowd-pleaser is the Cotton Family Wetlands Boardwalk, situated over a 2-acre Michigan ecosystem teeming with native fish, frogs, turtles and birds. The popular immersive experience opened in July.
The Zoo’s Bunnyville event on April 7 set a modern single-day attendance record of 19,234 visitors, boosting the year’s turnout.
