ABOUT THE ZOO

Dedicated to education and conservation, we are home to many rescued, donated, and orphaned animals. The mission of the Greater Vancouver Zoo is to create a fun and enriching environment for our guests to be inspired and learn about animals and their natural world. Established in 1970, the Greater Vancouver Zoo has grown from a small drive-through to one of Canada’s premier zoological destinations and a dedicated contributor to species conservation.

Discover the sights and sounds of 140 species on 120 acres in the heart of the Fraser Valley.

Why zoos are important

Wild spaces are shrinking and disappearing at an alarming rate and the creatures that inhabit them need our help to survive. Zoos and aquariums are a threatened species’ best hope at making enough of a recovery that hopefully in the future when there are more protected lands, they can be reintroduced to their native habitats. This is accomplished through many specialized programs such as the Species Survival Plan, Scientific Advisory Groups, and collaborative husbandry guidelines. Programs like these work internationally to maintain genetic diversity, create action plans for conservation work, and ensure the animals are properly cared for with all their physical and cognitive needs.

Over the past two decades, Canadian zoos and aquariums have shifted their focus to become places not only of education and inspiration but of action. Conservation action both internationally and locally is paramount, second only to animal health and welfare. This is another area that has progressed in leaps and bounds over the past two decades. Health and welfare are now viewed through a holistic lens. An animal’s emotional health is now just as important as its physical health.

National and international accreditation play a big role in keeping zoos and aquariums connected and accountable. Strict requirements and guidelines keep zoos and aquariums focused squarely on their objectives of excellent animal care, public education, and local, national, and international conservation efforts.

The Greater Vancouver Zoo Contributes to Global Knowledge of Species

Did you know that Greater Vancouver Zoo plays a pivotal role in creating the world’s largest and most comprehensive knowledge base on over 22,000 species? As a member of global nonprofit Species360, Greater Vancouver Zoo contributes data on the animals and groups in its care every day, from lifecycle traits to environmental needs.

That information is recorded in the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), now 50 years old and the world's largest source of data on species. To date, Greater Vancouver Zoo has contributed data on more than 3,091 animals and 316 species, subspecies, and breeds to Species360 ZIMS.

ZIMS combines the data from Greater Vancouver Zoo with contributions from like-minded species conservation institutions worldwide. The result changes what is known about animals and their environments, including insight into disease treatment, animal welfare, population health, and species conservation.

“We are proud to be a part of this international effort and its impact on animal welfare and wildlife conservation. As part of our commitment to conservation and animal welfare, we meticulously record data on our animal collections. This ensures our animals receive the best care and contribute to species population management and conservation. By continuing to share our knowledge and expertise, we can make even greater strides in protecting the planet’s biodiversity," said Menita Prasad, Director of Animal Care at Greater Vancouver Zoo.

Greater Vancouver Zoo, like other zoos, aquariums, and wildlife facilities worldwide, uses ZIMS to stay well informed about each animal and group. For instance, Species360 Global Medical Resources, part of the ZIMS for Medical module, help veterinarians treat and prevent diseases by providing benchmarks for normal blood test results.

And ZIMS for Studbooks is utilized by conservation teams worldwide to ensure the genetic diversity and health of animal populations in human care. This is critical for reintroduction programs, where conservation institutions work to reestablish native species in their natural habitats, ensuring these populations are healthy and sustainable. Greater Vancouver Zoo records data in ZIMS for our three local reintroduction programs: Oregon Spotted Frog, Western Painted Turtle, and Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly.