Dakota Zoo Full Tour - Bismarck, North Dakota - Part One

The Dakota Zoo is a zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota located on the banks of the Missouri River. It is the third zoo built in North Dakota. The Dakota Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The Dakota Zoo began with the 67 acre Marc and Betty Christianson Farm located at what was then the north edge of Bismarck. Initially, the Christianson Farm operated as a kennel for the boarding of domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, horses and, at one point, was even used to raise mink for profit. However, over time, friends and neighbors who knew the Christiansons and knew of their love for animals began stopping at the farm to deliver stray and/or injured animals with the knowledge that they would receive the care they required.
As the number of animals increased and word got out about the farm and its collection of animals, curiosity also increased, drawing an ever-increasing number of visitors to view the animals. The number of visitors to the farm would peak on "skip day" each year when school buses would transport loads of school children to view the animals housed there.
On June 3, 1961, the Dakota Zoo opened its gates to the public with 75 mammals and 23 birds on some 15 acres of developed land. Forty thousand visitors paid a ten cent admission fee that first year to visit the zoo. Today, an average of over 100,000 people walks through the gates each year and view 125 species of birds, reptiles, insects and mammals. Memberships today total approximately 3400.
In 1987, the Dakota Zoo was challenged by the Bismarck Tribune to develop a masterplan which would outline the orderly and organized development of the zoo. This challenge was accepted by the zoo board and a plan was developed. The masterplan is reviewed and update on an ongoing basis, with the last major revision taking place in 2005. The masterplan serves as a “roadmap” of where the Dakota Zoo is going in the future.
In 1988, the Beyond the Bear Necessities capital campaign began. This campaign, Dakota Zoo's first ever attempt to raise large sums of money, raised $1.2 million. Exhibits such as the bear habitat, river otter exhibit and canine and small animal exhibits were constructed as a result of this campaign.
In late 1996, the second major capital campaign, Discovery 2000 - Turning Dollars Into Senses was launched. The goal of this campaign was to raise at least $1.5 million for continued major improvements. Exhibits constructed as a result of this campaign endeavor include moose, mountain goat, mountain lion, bobcat, lynx and the Discovery Zoo.
In 2005, our third major capital campaign, Make the Big Cats Roar, was launched. The celebration goal of just over $1.9 million was reached by the fall of 2005. Exhibits constructed as a result of this campaign include the Jack & Joyce Schuchart Big Cat Complex, housing tigers and snow leopards, the Heringer Family Primate Center, home to seven endangered primate species, and the Coca Cola pavilion at the north end of the zoo housing rest rooms and refreshment vending.
The Dakota Zoo remains self-supportive and operates on monies raised through admissions, concession sales, the adopt an animal program, memberships, and donations. Since 1991, the Dakota Zoo has continued to meet the high standards that are required to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and became an accredited member of the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) in 2019.
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[@phoenix0401]

I love these so much in the winter. Keeps my spirits up on the long wait to summer.

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

Glad you like them! I was able to visit so many fantastic places in 2023 that I had more to release early this year.

[@phoenix0401]

@@TomsRoadTrippin I’m planning to do Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska this summer. Other than the obvious (Doorly, KC Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain, Denver) are there any “must see” zoos in that section of the country?

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

@@phoenix0401 I recommend the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas. The Lincoln Children's Zoo was nice too.

[@phoenix0401]

@@TomsRoadTrippin I was 50-50 on Sedgwick. 100 now. Thanks.

[@jonathandefoy6376]

good on you for going in the rain!

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

Yeah I knew the rain wasn't going to last long that day. I was surprised by the amount of animals that were outside when I first got there. The rain really wasn't an issue that day which was nice.

[@pdeXlol]

If you're curious, the bear carving was a life-size carving of an actual bear named Clyde that the zoo had from 1965 until his death in 1987. He was allegedly the world's largest Kodiak bear in captivity. Clyde's mate was Bonnie, who arrived in 1973 and outlived him into the mid to late 90s. As a kid I was only around to see Bonnie. I believe both are buried back near the area where the big cat habitats are located.

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

Thank You for sharing that info, that was a great way to honor the memory of Clyde

[@user-vi7bi4qs1y]

A zoo I recommend you visit is the Rio Grande Zoo it's one of the must see Zoos and one of the few that have Hippopotamus feeding

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

Thanks for the suggestion, I am planning to stop there this year.

[@phoenix0401]

Are you talking in Albuquerque?

[@treys1607]

@@phoenix0401 that's the one

[@cheaplaughkennedy2318]

That was really nice Tom, thanks , enjoyed the whole tour. I always really liked the beautiful exotic pheasants myself, Lady Amherst, golden and Reeves Pheasants just to name some.

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

I am glad you enjoyed my tour. Pheasants are the most gorgeous birds, so many colors and long pretty feathers. 😃

[@hollycrossman40]

There was a handful of animals you showed I never seen before. Very interesting 😊

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

That's great, I am amazed how diverse our planet is. I am thrilled when I see a new animal for the first time. It's very rare as I've been to so many zoos but it does happen.

[@victoriafisher6934]

wouldhav been nice to read more about these rare animals

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

@@victoriafisher6934 I included all sign regarding all of the animals throughout the zoo.

[@treys1607]

A zoo I recommend you visit for your Florida and Georgia road trip is Zoo World in Panama City Beach

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

That's actually one of the destinations I'm planning. Great Minds think alike🤓

[@shimonofbirdsandsupermariofan]

Idea: Gilcrease nature sanctuary full tour in Las Vegas, Nevada.

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

That's a great suggestion, I'll look into it, Thank You 🙂

[@j2fly1]

Animals of the Dakota zoo part one Australian black swan Prairie dog Red-tailed hawk Bald eagle Turkey vulture Koi Peregrine falcon North American River otter Grizzly bear Swift fox Bobcat North American porcupine American badger Great horned owl Cooper’s hawk Raccoon Snowy owl Coyote Llama Mouflon Grey wolf Puma Snow leopard Bengal tiger Amur tiger Mexican grey wolf Serval Pallas cat Fisher Scarlet Macaw Red-footed tortoise Blue and yellow Macaw White-nosed coati American marten Reeve’s muntjac African spurred tortoise Tammie wallaby Emu Black-footed ferret Bull snake Tiger salamander Garter snake Crested gecko Milk snake Chinese crocodile lizard Rosy boa Striped-kneed tarantula Walking stick Solomon island prehensile tailed skink Honey bee Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth Southern three-banned armadillo Red-tailed boa Fiji banded iguana Poison dart frog Well that’s it we will return in animals of the Dakota zoo part two

[@treys1607]

Is your March Roadtrip going to be in Louisiana because I remember you meant to there two years ago

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

No, it's going to be North Florida and Southern Georgia. I haven't forgotten about Lausianna, I'll get back there again soon.

[@ndkalypso8421]

The big bear craving was carved out of a giant tree, i want to say a California red wood, by a very talented carver that works there. The bear is a life size replica of a bear named Clyde that lived at the zoo in the 80's.

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

That person was very talented, it was an amazing outcome

[@treys1607]

Also will your Summer Roadtrip be the Northeastern States

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

Yes, late Summer will be the remainder of the Northeast states.

[@tarapelcher3102]

31:31 I can hear the black swans in the background

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

Yes, they are quite chatty sometimes

[@MrApollonox]

Fun place! BTW it’s pronounced TAM-uh-rin.

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

Thanks for the correction, I'll try to remember.

[@victoriafisher6934]

Too bad U DONT READ INFO FOR US!

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

I typically show all of the signage around the zoo. That way the viewers that would like to pause the tour they can read them.

[@TheRonin2024]

Yes and?

[@TomsRoadTrippin]

I don't know what you mean 🧐

[@TheRonin2024]

@@TomsRoadTrippin it's a new song by Ariana grande it's really good