BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Director Phil Frost addressed Kiwanians last week, Wednesday, April 28, to explain the three main focuses of the zoo: entertainment, conservation and education.

The Baton Rouge Zoo boasts that it is in the top ten percent of zoos in the United States and it is the first zoo in Louisiana accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

“The BRZ has approximately 250,000 visitors annually and is Baton Rouge’s number one year-round family attraction,” said Frost.

BRZ participates in over 30 Species Survival Plans for critically endangered species. The Golden Lion Tamarin internationally and the Trumpeter Swan nationally.

Who lives at the zoo? Amphibians claim 14 species; birds have 77 species; fish 24; invertebrates 7; mammals 63; and reptiles 30.

There are 93 animals on loan to other zoos and 57 animals on loan from other zoos such as the Fishing Cat from the San Diego Zoo, Spectacled Bears from the Houston Zoo and the Pygmy Hippo from the Baltimore Zoo. “We have a cooperative effort with other zoos,” said Frost.

There are plenty of educational opportunities at the BRZ such as Wildlife on Wheels Zoomobile, Zoo and Me, Wildlife Theatre, Safari Night and LSU School of Vetrinary Medicine.

The BRZ has had four perfect USDA inspections; twice awarded Clean Business of the Year; voted ‘Attraction of the Year’ by Baton Rouge hospitality industry; and voted ‘Best Place to Take the Kids for Fun’ by 225 Magazine.

New at the zoo: Safari Playground, L’aquarium de Louisiane and The Otter Pond.

The Realm of the Tiger is the zoo’s most recent attraction. For more information on the Baton Rouge Zoo, visit www.brzoo.org.