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Date opened | August 20, 1970 (as Vancouver Game Farm) |
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Location | Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada |
Coordinates | 49°05′32″N 122°29′13″W / 49.092344°N 122.487028°WCoordinates: 49°05′32″N 122°29′13″W / 49.092344°N 122.487028°W |
Land area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
No. of animals | 600 |
No. of species | 135 |
Memberships | CAZA |
Website | www |
The Greater Vancouver Zoo is a 120-acre (49 ha) zoo located in Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada
In the late 1960s, businessman Pat Hines purchased 120 acres (49 ha) in Aldergrove, British Columbia to construct a game farm. At first, Hines registered the business as the World Wide Game Farm Ltd., but on August 20, 1970, the site was opened to the public as the Vancouver Game Farm. The first animal to arrive was a llama named "Dennis", who came from Mount Vernon, Washington. Soon after, animals of every size and description began to fill the newly constructed paddocks. Hines operated the game farm with his wife, Ann, other family members, and their employees. Their daughter Eleanor and her husband, Hugh Oakes, eventually took over management of the facility until 1991, when it was sold.
Under new ownership, the game farm underwent many changes, including a new name. In 1995, it was renamed the Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre, since it is part of the Greater Vancouver area rather than being a part of Vancouver. Improvements included the construction of new animal enclosures, miniature train rides, a picnic park with covered gazebos and barbecues, expanded landscaping, a remodeled entrance, more parking spaces, interpretive and educational programs and activities. In 1998, the North American Wilds exhibit opened, providing a narrative safari bus ride for visitors through one area where carnivores like black bears, coyotes, and Vancouver Island wolves live together; and travel into another habitat where grazers like the Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, and North American plains bison roamed. But after four years, there were more changes.