Riverbanks Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Riverbanks Zoo and Garden


image_caption=Entrance to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
location=Columbia, South Carolina, USA
area=170 acres (0.68 km²)
members=AZA
exhibits=African Plains, Aquarium Reptile Complex, Ndoki Forest, Riverbanks Farm
website=http://www.riverbanks.org/

The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (170 acres) is a large zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden located at 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.

History

Riverbanks Zoo has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973, and dates back to the early 1800s with South Carolina's textile industry and the American Civil War.

Geography

The Zoo is located on 170 acres (0.7 km²) along the Saluda River in Columbia, SC.

Natural History

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is South Carolina's largest gated attraction, averaging 850,000 visitors each year. Riverbanks is also a four-time winner of the Southeastern Tourism Society's Shining Example Award as the southeast's top tourist attraction and a two-time winner of the SC Parks Recreation and Tourism Governor's Cup Award as South Carolina's Leading Attraction. Riverbanks is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

The Zoo is home to over 3,000 animals, with extensive collections of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Recent additions to the Zoo include exhibits for African elephants, gorillas and koalas. The Birdhouse at Riverbanks (opened 2002) was given a Significant Achievement Award by the AZA as one of the best new zoo exhibits in the United States and features an incredible display of king, rockhopper and gentoo penguins.

In July 2006, the zoo started exhibiting a rare white alligator that was illegally captured in 2003 by three men at Sea Pines Resort. Unfortunately, shortly after the exhibition of this rare species, the alligator died in captivity. According to a 2006 zoo news release,

A rare white alligator being held by Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources has died from what appears to be a significant intestinal infection. In 2003, the alligator was seized by wildlife officials from three men in Beaufort County and was brought to Riverbanks to be held as evidence for a trial.

[http://www.riverbanks.org/mediacenter/releases2006/1002.shtml] [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/07/11/racing/r172105D77.DTL&feed=rss.news] [http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/15010214.htm?source=rss&channel=thestate_local]

Botanical Garden

Riverbanks also has a large botanical garden (70 acres) with more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants. A trail system is available to visitors which allows them to explore several kilometers of bottomland and upland mixed hardwood forests in search of the myriad of native wildlife that call the Zoo and Garden home.

ee also

* List of botanical gardens in the United States

External links

* http://www.riverbanks.org/
* [http://www.arches.uga.edu/~parrishm/riverbanks_list.html Riverbanks Zoo Bird List]
* [http://www.CarolinaFishTalk.com/ Carolina Aquarium Community Forum]