Buffalo Zoo is the second largest attraction in Western New York after Niagara Falls and hosts a wide variety of animals including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.  The third oldest zoo in the United States may have been started purely for amusement with only two deer, but today the Buffalo Zoo has grown in to a large and important part of animal preservation efforts.

Buffalo Zoo started out as a result of two deer that were donated to the city of Buffalo by the prominent furrier Jacob E. Bergtold. To provide the animals a home, the publisher of the Buffalo daily journal offered to keep them on his estate. At that time plans were already in motion for the development of a park for citizens to relax and socialize.

The mayor of the city at that time hired a landscape artist to design what would become North Park (known today as Delaware Park). The deer was eventually donated to the park and became the first animals to reside there. Over the years more animals were added and eventually a permanent building was constructed which signified the opening of the Buffalo Zoological Gardens in 1875.

It was during the 1980’s and 1990’s that the Zoo’s focus began to change and concentrated instead on breeding animals that might otherwise become extinct. It also shifted its goal so that instead of just displaying animals for amusement, guests would rather become aware of the plight of animals that are nearly extinct and raise awareness on the issue.

The zoo features large environments that are complete with streams, trees, pools and other features that mimic a natural habitat. The animals that are housed here come from all over the world representing every corner of our planet.

Visitors to the zoo can discover the wonder of nature as there is such a vast collection of animals on display here.  See Siberian Tigers, Asian elephants, American alligators, tomato frogs, vultures, giant Brazilian cockroaches and more.

When visiting the city guests should not miss this fascinating destination near our hotel in Buffalo, New York. Hotels in the area, such as the Millennium Hotel Buffalo, provide convenient access to this venue and others in the area.