Opened in 1964, the Indianapolis Zoo is the largest privately funded zoo in the nation. Located near downtown in White River State Park since 1988, the 64-acre Zoo was the first to be triple accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium and a botanic garden. Hosting more than a million visitors annually, the Zoo has also emerged as a global leader in animal conservation and research, receiving international recognition for work with conservation and breeding programs including the world’s first successful artificial insemination of an African elephant. Funding from the Indianapolis Zoo also supports the efforts of animal conservation organizations around the globe. At the Zoo, guests can connect year-round with nearly 1,300 animals within living habitats that closely resemble their native regions of the globe. The beautiful 3.3-acre White River Gardens is also part of the Zoo and continues its tradition of connecting animals, plants and people.