Animal Health Center

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon officially opened the new Animal Health Center at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo with a ribbon cutting Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The health center is the largest zoological medical center in New York state outside of the Bronx Zoo.

The new 20,000 square-foot facility provides world-class health care from prenatal to geriatric, to every animal at the zoo and expands the zoo’s role as a teaching hospital for Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s zoological medicine program. It also offers opportunities for zoo visitors to observe animal health care in action. Expansive windows offer views into treatment rooms, surgical suite, nursery/ICU, animal nutrition kitchen and research lab so visitors can experience the work that goes on behind the scenes for animal care and welfare at the zoo.

The new health center also meets and exceeds the standards for accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), whose 240 member institutions must demonstrate a commitment to animal care, guest education, wildlife conservation and preserving threatened and endangered species.

The Animal Health Center Houses a Special Feature: a Junior Veterinary Clinic

The “clinic,” created by the Friends of the Zoo and supported by the Herbert S. and Eleanore L. Howard Charitable Foundation, provides an imaginative play space for learners of all ages and abilities to engage in pretend animal care using toy medical tools and plush animals. Zoo guests are welcome to bring children to visit the Animal Health Center and play in the Junior Veterinary Clinic.

Thank You To Our Major Donors

Fred L. Emerson Foundation