The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama's most popular attraction, drawing more than 500,000 visitors annually. Approximately 750 animals of 250 species call the 122-acre Birmingham Zoo home, including sea lions, kangaroos and endangered species from six continents.
In 1999, the Birmingham Zoo became an independent not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. In the short time following this privatization, the Birmingham Zoo has hosted traveling exhibits of bats, Koalas and Black-Footed Penguins, added permanent exhibits of a Komodo Dragon and interactive lorikeet aviary and regained accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Most notably, the Zoo completed the Junior League of Birmingham - Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo, a $15 million anchor exhibit dedicated to children and devoted to urban, rural and wild animals and environs of Alabama, in April 2005 to coincide with the Zoo’s 50th birthday celebration.