SAINT LOUIS ZOOLOGICAL PARK

zoo in St. Louis, Mo., U.S., site of the first zoo tissue banks for preserving tissues from dead specimens for future scientific study. The zoo, built on the grounds of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World's Fair) of 1904, also maintains a diverse animal collection for public viewing. Opened in 1913, the 33-hectare (81-acre) zoo is owned and operated by the city with the aid of a local zoological society. The zoo's aviary, one of the world's largest, contains approximately 125 free-flying large birds. Its waterfowl lakes support about 450 birds of 90 species. The zoo also has a herpetarium that is organized by ecological realms and houses a pair of tuataras, rare lizardlike reptiles from New Zealand. The bear displays are among the best in the world.