Magnetic Hill Zoo - History

History

The Magnetic Hill Zoo began as the Magnetic Hill Game Farm in 1953. Originally the game farm was home to orphaned and injured indigenous species like owls, bears and deer. The city of Moncton took over the park in 1979 and began acquiring more exotic species which served as a catalyst for the renaming the farm to Magnetic Hill Zoo.

In 1995, the Zoo began a 10-acre (4.0 ha) expansion called the African Oasis. At the same time the zoo also expanded by adding the Primate Conservation Center, frog bog, the koi pond, bird garden, the Camel-Zebra exhibit, and a children’s playground.

In 1997-98, the Insectarium exhibit, a new entrance building, and new food facilities were built. The bears were moved to a new exhibit, which permitted them to live in a natural habitat for the first time. The Zoo’s education programs received an Achievement Award from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

A new reptile house exhibit, known as the Ecodome, was opened in 2003. The Ecodome was built on the site of the former bear “pit”. The Ecodome was awarded the Environmental Enrichment Award by CAZA. Exhibits for the barbary sheep and bison were also completed.

A new expanded Education Center with 3 classrooms, washrooms, an office, kitchen, first aid room, and Discovery Center were added in 2003.

Between 2003 and 2004 exhibits were expanded or refurbished, including habitats for the otters, wolves, watusi and eland. A deer contact area was constructed.

In 2005 construction began on the Pridelands exhibit, a habitat for lions and ostrich. The exhibit's grand opening was held in July 2006 and won the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums Environmental Enrichment Award for the exhibit. A new food concession stand was also renovated in 2005 and the Zoo was awarded the New-Brunswick Top Attraction Status.

In 2006 significant upgrades were made to the walking path system and signage in order to make the zoo more accessible to the public.

In 2008, a new Cougar Country Exhibit was built which was awarded the zoos third CAZA Environmental Enrichment Award.

In 2009, a new Jaguar Exhibit was built to resemble the Cougar Country Exhibit built the previous year. The Zoo’s animal collection was expanded to include mandrills, a colobus monkey, and two African lion cubs. Because of the continued successful breeding program of the Zoo’s black and white ruffed lemurs, the construction of a new enclosure for these monkeys was started. The former Insectarium exhibit was renovated and reopened as The Container.