PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN TSUCALAS
Red Pandas,
Gibbons &
Penguins, Oh My!
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore commemorates 150 years with new exhibits, old favorites and more to come.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has always had a lot going for it. Opened in 1876, it is the third oldest zoo in the United States, and its deep roots can be seen in its historic buildings— like the Mansion House, which was built in 1801 as the residence of Colonel Nicholas Rogers, an officer in the Revolutionary War. The zoo’ s collection consists of 130 species, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and, notably, the largest colony of African penguins in North America. Its 135-acre campus is located in the bucolic Druid Hill Park. Situated only two miles from downtown Baltimore, the park is bursting with green space, attractions and recreational activities for all ages( see sidebar on page 37).
This year, as it celebrates its 150th anniversary, The Maryland Zoo has turned up the dial even more with a fresh habitat for a new resident species: the charismatic red panda. This exhibit is part of extensive upgrades to the Main Valley section of the park, which will also add new birds, hornbills and gibbons to the collection of furry and scaly friends found in Penguin Coast, African Journey, Maryland Wilderness and Northern Passage. Beyond spectating, visitors to the zoo have regular opportunities to feed goats and giraffes, watch penguin feedings
32 BALTIMORE. ORG