Our Mission is to inspire people to value and conserve our natural world.

The Little Rock Zoo first brought wildlife to Arkansas in 1924, and today, it’s home to over 400 animals. For over a century, we’ve created engaging experiences that inspire people to value and conserve the natural world.

Want to explore the Zoo’s rich history in more depth? Take a journey through time with the interactive story map below, showcasing the milestones, memories, and conservation achievements that have shaped the Little Rock Zoo. This timeline brings to life the key moments that tell our story.

At the Little Rock Zoo, we are committed to providing the highest standard of animal care while actively supporting global conservation. As Arkansas’s only AZA-accredited zoo, we meet rigorous standards for animal welfare, education, and sustainability—ensuring a meaningful experience for our guests and a brighter future for wildlife.

Our commitment to wildlife conservation reaches far beyond the boundaries of the Zoo. We participate in Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs that help maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations of threatened and endangered species through cooperation among accredited zoos and aquariums. We also proudly participate in AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, a global conservation initiative that unites accredited zoos and aquariums to address the greatest threats facing wildlife. Through SAFE programs, we support coordinated conservation efforts focused on sloth bears, Asian elephants, orangutans, African penguins, and radiated tortoises—helping advance species recovery efforts through research, education, community engagement, and conservation action.

Through these efforts, we are proud to play a role in protecting wildlife—and to inspire our community to help preserve the natural world for generations to come.