Childhood dreams and a new Hollywood film about owning a zoo notwithstanding, building a world-class zoo is not an easy task. If it were, many more communities would probably have zoos and aquariums. Building a zoo takes vision, determination, loving and dedicated animal professionals, and sustained visitor support.
For the past 30 years, the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium has been the vision of one man, Mickey Ollson, a third-generation Arizonan, parent and grandparent, who dared to leave a career as a teacher to build a family friendly zoo in the West Valley – a place where people could learn to experience and appreciate wild animals up close and in person.
Ollson is quick to give all credit for the zoo’s growth to the visitors that vote with their hard earned dollars every time they pay for admission. In return, WWZA has put that visitor support to work by continually reinvesting in the zoological park. What began as a modest zoo on 25 acres with 300 animals on that first opening day has grown into a zoo and aquarium on more than 100 acres (currently under development) that features 600 species and some 6,000 animals today.
For example, the zoo recently launched Dragon World – exciting new exhibits that feature giant reptiles such as a 20-feet-long reticulated python and the state’s first saltwater crocodile named “Jaws.” Like all reptiles, these creatures use the environment to control their body temperatures. Dragon World features large acrylic panels, including some with underwater viewing, to provide visitors with an up-close look at the amazing animals.
As a USDA licensed private institution, Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium receives zero taxpayer funding. No tax dollars have ever been spent to build or operate Wildlife World.
“Rather than spend public money, we are pleased to be able to put people to work and to generate revenue for the county and state through payroll, sales, and property taxes. The hundreds of thousands of visitors to our zoo and aquarium each year have funded our growth and improvements, including Dragon World, over the past 27 years. We are humbled by their continued support during these tough economic times,” Ollson said.
Ollson also likes to point to many of the less obvious changes that have been designed to simultaneously improve guest experience and enhance animal welfare.
“The region’s great weather allows us to feature many of the zoo’s terrestrial and avian species outdoors by making use of natural substrates with lush pastures, water features and shade trees. Over the past decade, we have made a concentrated effort to improve visitor site lines using materials such as recycled telephone pole barriers for better access and viewing of animals,” Ollson said.
Plus, there are some improvements few visitors will ever see such as the modern veterinary facility.
“Building the state’s largest collection of exotic animals, we knew early on we needed a well-equipped, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic designed by the very doctors and zookeepers that use it to provide the best care possible to our animals,” Ollson said.
As a former Valley teacher, Ollson is perhaps most pleased about the commitment Wildlife World has made to public education over the past quarter of a century. For instance, recognizing the need to provide low-cost educational opportunities offsite at schools, churches, daycare facilities, summer camps, Wildlife World Zoo has long had a dedicated team of animals and full-time educators that travel throughout the Valley and state. Thanks to Sanderson Ford for its years of support by providing a zoo van, Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium has extended its mission well beyond the gates to educate and entertain students of all ages. Zoos and aquariums like Wildlife World Zoo’s are committed to learning more about the animals in their care and to use that knowledge to improve animal welfare and increase public awareness about today’s growing conservation challenges.
In addition, each year, about 75,000 students take part in organized onsite field trips. This is made possible in part due to the low-cost student admission and ride prices Wildlife World Zoo extends to school groups and their chaperones. Visiting students get to see, hear and in some cases, touch creatures from all over the world. They also can learn more about animals from the hundreds of informative images and graphics placed throughout the grounds.
With continued visitor support, Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium shows no signs of slowing down with the anticipated opening of a fourth aquarium exhibit building in early 2012. The new aquarium building will have about 7,000 square feet of public display area featuring marine turtles and a permanent small-clawed otter habitat. The main exhibit will be a 40 by 10 foot, 40,000-gallon Amazon River Monsters display containing three- to four-foot long arowana, even larger arapaima and other South American fresh water giants. These species are so large, they are well known for their ability to jump several feet out of the water to catch prey such as birds and primates perched over the water. In addition, the display will have the menacing payara, nicknamed the “vampire fish,” with six-inch fangs protruding from its lower jaw.
As for the future, Wildlife World’s team is already working on the development of an adjoining safari park. The first phase of that project should coincide with the state’s expansion of State Route 303 that runs along the western edge of the zoo’s grounds.
Ollson said, “The greater visibility and convenience provided by the Loop 303 expansion in the coming years will mean improved accessibility for visitors from all over Arizona. We are excited for the future and grateful to the community for its continued support.”
Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays. Zoo exhibits are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last zoo admission is 5 p.m.) Aquarium exhibits are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daytime admission includes access to the zoo and aquarium. Special reduced evening admission to aquarium only is available after 5 p.m. Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is at 16501 W. Northern Ave.
