March 7, 2011

DENVER ZOO CELEBRATES BANNER YEAR FOR ATTENDANCE - 2010 Attendance Numbers Are the Second Highest in Zoo History

Denver Zoo’s attendance soared in 2010, ranking as the second highest year in the zoo’s 115-year history. Denver Zoo reached 1,967,839 people through on-grounds attendance and outreach programs last year. Denver Zoo also reached an all-time high of 64,040 member households in June 2010, which translates into approximately 224,000 individuals, the most Denver Zoo membership has ever seen. This breaks the record membership set in 2008 of 64,010 member households.

The 2010 attendance number was second only to the highest attendance set in 1995 when 1,984,097 people visited the zoo, many who came to say farewell to the zoo’s famous polar bears Klondike and Snow before they left to go to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. In 2010 the zoo benefitted from nice weather and many things to celebrate, including the births of tiger cub quadruplets and a female orangutan, the first of her species born at the zoo in 25 years.

“Not only do people enjoy coming to the zoo for a fun, educational family experience, but our guests feel good about the fact that every time they buy a ticket to the zoo they help animals. We are fortunate to be a family favorite that continues to gain popularity,” says Denver Zoo President/CEO Craig Piper. “This outstanding community support helps us in our mission to secure a better world for animals through human understanding.”

The zoo’s annual holiday tradition, Zoo Lights, also had a fantastic 2010. During the event’s 20th season 185,655 guests walked through the gates to enjoy 38 acres of illuminated lights, animal sculptures and many activities. This smashed the previous record of 150,082 set in 2000.

Approximately two thirds of zoo guests reside in metro Denver; the remainder visit from elsewhere in Colorado and from outside the state.