Micke Grove Zoo, Animal sanctuary in Micke Grove Regional Park, California.
Micke Grove Zoo covers 5 acres (2.0 ha) inside Micke Grove Regional Park in Lodi, California. It opened in 1957 and keeps native and exotic animals, including non-releasable raptors, tortoises, lemurs and a snow leopard added in 2014. The photograph shows a small bird with a black crown, yellow underparts and two white wing bars perched on a rough brown branch.
In 1938 the Micke family gave 258 acres of oak parkland to San Joaquin County; the zoo opened there in 1957 with Ronald Theodore Reuther as first curator, dedicated to Micke's wife, who died in 1952. William C. Hoegerman built most of the early zoo, and in 1958 Micke added 24 cages for lions, a Bengal tiger, sun bears, California bears, chimpanzees and baboons, with heated chimpanzee quarters and bear bathing pools.
The zoo's name honours the Micke family, who gave the oak parkland to San Joaquin County in 1938; the complex was dedicated to Micke's wife, who died in 1952. The Micke Grove Zoological Society funds education here: six weeks of private and five weeks of public zoo camp for San Joaquin County students, Animal Discovery Tours and off-site Zoo Mobile visits. Recurring events include Zoo After Dark, Zoo Tots, Toys for Critters and HalloWILD.
The zoo lies inside Micke Grove Regional Park, which also holds a Japanese Garden, the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, an amusement park, picnic shelters and a Frisbee golf course. The zoo is closed on Christmas Day and opening hours change with the season, so check them before setting out. Tickets are sold at the entrance, and guided tours can be arranged for groups of ten or more.
The zoo was once the smallest accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, but it lost accreditation in April 2006 over aging exhibits and cramped veterinarian space, and again in 2018. A 2019 civil grand jury urged the county to seek "affordable accreditation".
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