This modern zoo houses a diverse and intriguing range of animals from North America and many other parts of the world.
There are a large number of exotic species on show at Oregon Zoo, such as fearsome big cats from Africa. Being located in such an environmentally-aware city, the zoo also takes its conservation responsibilities very seriously. For example, it has a highly successful breeding programme for its Asian elephants which has been in operation for over 50 years.The 26 hectares of the zoo demand a full morning or afternoon to explore properly. It is divided into five distinct areas: the Great Northwest, Pacific Shores, Fragile Forest, Asia and Africa.Check out the Fragile Forests area to see the predatory anaconda in the Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit. This area is also home to screeching howler monkeys, stealthy ocelots and toucans with their oversized, often multi-coloured bills.Stroll through the Asian area to see the friendly elephants and unusual island pigs of this continent. Try ZooSnooze if you'd like to see the Malayan sun bears, who only come out after dark – you can stay overnight with this option which is available between September and mid-June, from Tuesday to Saturday.Polar bears and penguins can be found in the enclosures at Pacific Shores, with this area also home to the weird and wonderful Insect Zoo. Some of the most unusual species found here include the Madagascar hissing cockroach and the Australian walking stick.Take the weight off your legs with a short trip on the Zoo Loop train, which follows the 1.6-kilometre circumference of the zoo's 26 hectares though, unfortunately, you can't see the animals from the train. You can also hop on the Washington Park and Zoo Railway from here to the nearby International Rose Test Garden.Zoolights brightens up the long winter nights by draping lights from the zoo's many trees, while the summertime sees regular concerts on the lawn – check the website to see what's going on when you're planning your visit.Oregon Zoo is found in Washington Park on the West Hills about five kilometres from central Portland. The entry price is discounted on the second Tuesday of every month. These days are, unsurprisingly, very busy.
