Oregon Zoo, Zoo in Washington Park, Portland, US
Oregon Zoo is a nonprofit facility within Washington Park in Portland, United States, that presents animals across multiple themed zones representing different habitats. The layout divides the grounds into sections such as Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Northwest, each designed to reflect the natural surroundings of the species living there.
The facility began in 1888 when Richard Knight donated two bears to the city, prompting officials to open a public collection. Over the following decades the site expanded and relocated to Washington Park in 1959, where it continues to operate today.
The zoo's name changed from Portland Zoo to Washington Park Zoo in 1976 after a naming contest, then to Oregon Zoo in April 1998. Its elephant program is central to local identity: Rosy the Asian elephant arrived in 1953, and Packy's 1962 birth made the zoo known worldwide. Samudra, born in 2008, was the first third-generation captive-born elephant in North America.
Entry works best through the main gate, from which clearly marked paths lead to all sections of the facility. Visitors with young children or limited mobility will find most routes paved and gently sloped, making navigation easier throughout the grounds.
In 1962 a young elephant named Packy arrived as the first Asian elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in 44 years. His birth drew international attention and helped establish the site as a center for elephant breeding and conservation work.
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