Little Rock Zoo

Is there any family trip that’s complete without paying a visit to the local zoo? It really doesn’t matter where in the world you happen to be; there’s no bad time to remind the kids just how remarkable the natural world can be.

And if you’re going to make a zoo stop during your Arkansas trip, it might as well be at Little Rock Zoo, the largest one in the state, and one of its most significant educational resources, offering up learning courses for both children and adults.

The Little Rock Zoo began life in 1926, with only a timber wolf and a former circus bear among its menagerie. Nowadays, the zoo boasts over 700 specimens representing over 200 species.

Thanks to the expansive nature of the zoo and its various buildings, the animals are carefully sorted into a variety of sections. Sections of the zoo are dedicated to everything from reptiles and amphibians to primates and big cats, and frequent renovations aim to ensure that the animal habitats are as close as possible to their inhabitants’ natural environments. In short, the zoo gives visitors of all ages an opportunity to learn about the vastly diverse nature of the natural world and the distinctive nature of each group of fauna. Kids looking to get up close and personal with these vibrant creatures can stop over at the Lorikeet Landing, where visitors can feed nectar to the friendly and gorgeously coloured lorikeets, or else make their way down to one of the fish feeding stations; while families looking to refresh themselves can stop over at Café Africa for a bite to eat. And should you happen to arrive at the right time of year, you might well find one of the zoo’s many annual events (which cater to both kids and adults) underway.

And besides showcasing the many wonders of the natural world, Little Rock Zoo also does its part to help protect them, which has helped the zoo earn its accreditation with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Among other things, the zoo participates in the AZA’s Species Survival Plan, which helps assist and protect endangered animals; while the zoo’s own Green Team, consisting of zoo employees, does its part to help raise awareness about the important of environmental awareness in the local community.

Little Rock Zoo is pretty much everything you and the family are looking for in a zoo trip; and it’s just the place to stop over when you’re looking to add a bit of the wild side to your Arkansas trip.