The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden located along the Saluda River in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. A small portion of the zoo extends into the nearby city of West Columbia. It is operated by the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District, a partnership of the city of Columbia and Richland and Lexington counties. It is overseen by the Riverbanks Park Commission, comprising two members each from the three governments and one at-large member.
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
History
In the early 1960s, Columbia-area businessmen conceived of a zoo for the state capital. However, the idea did not get beyond the planning stages until 1969, when the state created the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District to run the proposed zoo. The zoo opened on April 25, 1974 after 5 years of planning. The planning stage was crucial because of the rich history surrounding the property, including four archeological sites. Within two years, it was obvious that the zoo would not be self-supporting, and the Riverbanks Zoological Society was created to help raise money for the zoo. At the same time, Palmer "Satch" Krantz was appointed executive director. Around that time the newly renovated entrance, renovated otter exhibit, and renovated grizzly bear exhibit also opened. This was all part of the zoo's $36 million Destination Riverbanks plan. Additionally, a children's garden opened in 2016, complete with a dinosaur digging area and water features to interact with. This garden has been the largest addition to the zoo since the botanical garden in 1995.
Separate exhibits include Hamadryas baboons, lions, Siberian tiger, meerkats, alligators, and siamangs.
In May 2022, Riverbanks announced their new Bridge to the Wild plan, which aims to extend the zoo into the gardens. Plans include a new restaurant, as well as new species including orangutans, gibbons, red wolves, American black bears, and golden eagles. Phase two of this plan was approved in December 2023, with approximately $80 million invested from both Richland county and Lexington county. This project is planned to have a significant impact on tourism, local education, and potential job opportunities.
The last original animal who had been there since the zoo's opening, a female Caribbean flamingo, died in March 2014. A month later, two male African lions, Pesho and Sidai, arrived from Lincoln Park Zoo.
Botanical garden
Riverbanks also has a botanical garden (opened on June 10, 1995 at the cost of $6 million) with more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants, and some sculptures. A trail system lets visitors explore several kilometers of bottomland and upland mixed hardwood forests in search of the native wildlife that call the Zoo and Garden home.
Waterfall Junction
Waterfall Junction (opened in April 2016) is a children's play area that includes a splashpad, playground, playhouses, and more.
Gallery
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Bench at riverbanks zoo garden 5273.jpg|Bench in a part of the Botanical Garden.
Giraffe IMG 2640 (31165427366).jpg|Giraffes.
Amur Tiger (16250365802).jpg|Siberian tiger.
Six-line wrasse.jpg|Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia), one of the many fishes in the aquarium area.
Curl-crested Aracari.jpg|Curl-crested aracari (Pteroglossus beauharnaisii).
Black Footed Cat in Front (16065326987).jpg|Smallest wild cat in Africa, the black-footed cat (Felis nigripes).
Surgeonfish.jpg|Orange-shoulder surgeonfish (Acanthurus olivaceus) in an aquarium.
Riverbanks Zoo Waterpark.jpg|Waterfall Junction, children's play area.
Volunteers are Awesome! (8679091806).jpg|National Park Service with an information booth for the Congaree National Park at the Riverbanks Zoo Earth Day celebration.
</gallery>
See also
- List of botanical gardens in the United States