Oregon Zoo, Portland (must see)

Oregon Zoo occupies a wooded, hilly site within Washington Park and covers 64 acres. Its paths lead through habitats representing the Pacific Northwest, Africa, Asia and other regions. Visitors can see Asian elephants, polar bears, chimpanzees, black rhinoceroses, sea otters, lions, giraffes and many smaller mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The sloping grounds include shaded sections, gardens and several indoor viewing areas.

The zoo began in 1888, when pharmacist Richard Knight donated a grizzly bear and several other animals to the local government. The collection was first kept in the lower part of Washington Park. A new zoological garden opened at the present site in 1959, and the institution adopted the name Oregon Zoo in 1998. Many habitats have since been redesigned to provide animals with more space, choice and natural features.

One of the main areas is Elephant Lands, completed in 2015 for the zoo’s Asian elephant herd. Three connected outdoor spaces include deep sand, pools, mud wallows and feeding stations that encourage walking, foraging and social activity. The elephants can also enter Forest Hall, a large indoor space maintained at a stable temperature. Polar Passage provides pools and varied terrain for polar bears, while Primate Forest includes climbing structures and flexible spaces for chimpanzees.

Regional wildlife is presented in the Great Northwest area, where habitats feature black bears, river otters, beavers, bald eagles, mountain goats and native fish. The zoo also supports conservation programmes involving threatened species, including California condors, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. Keeper talks and activities explain animal care, behaviour and conservation.