INTRODUCTION
By way of a quick background: Lehigh Valley Zoo sits in the midst of the Trexler Nature Preserve in Lehigh County Pennsylvania which is named for Henry Clay Trexler a local industrialist who first created the space as a Game Preserve for American Bison in 1911. The total acreage of the preserve is around 1,100. The land has been managed by the Lehigh County Board of Supervisors since Trexler's death in 1935. In 1974, a small zoo was established on the property which had grown over time to cover 29 acres along the headwaters of the spring fed Jordan Creek. The zoo is accredited with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and with their support has grown by participating in and benefiting from AZA programs. Most notably they have contributed to the Species Survival Programs for the Black-Footed Africa Penguin, the Scimitar-Horned Oryx, and the Mexican Gray Wolf. Recently they've added the Common Eland to their breeding program of African Hoofstock. They built a new Lemur House and have taken on Red-ruffed Lemurs and Mongoose Lemurs. They are a holding facility for male Masai Giraffe. And in 2024 inaugurated a first time Red Panda Habitat. There's a lot to see, and a lot of remaining potential for this little zoo.
Section I: African Penguins
The zoo is built around a flood plan, and so entering means descending a slope that is fortunately not too steep. And what you see first is the African Penguin Habitat. A large circular pool with an "island" in the center, a faux rock mound in the back (behind which is the Penguin's interior digs, and room around the edges for the birds to explore and interact. On the left side are a series of mid-sized boulders and hollow faux boulders that mimic the natural sorts of rock alcoves that the birds encounter in the wild and use for nesting. The zoo's colony is made up of 14 birds with the newest additions being three transferred from the Maryland Zoo, in Baltimore.
In 2012, the original habitat was upgraded to include an expanded off exhibit housing area, the naturalistic nesting "rocks" and other details as the result of a design created by a local Boy Scout. Jacob Wiersch used the project to earn his Eagle Scout status. An example of the connection between the zoo and the surrounding community. You get a strong sense that local visitors know and love this place.
The zoo opens to the public at 10 AM. I arrived at 10:25 AM on Good Friday and had to park outside of the ample lot on a grassy area adjacent to the Parking Lot. Safe to say, a lot of local families took advantage of the beautiful day, too.
Section II: Reptile House
If you take in the zoo in a clockwise manner, the next attraction you come to is the Reptile House. Literally a house-like building with a one way in/one way out design and habitats built around the capital letter "T". It can quickly become overcrowded on a busy day like this one. The habitats vary in size, and there are about 12-14 of them depending on what's open. Like any well designed herpetarium, the animals live in simulated environments that attempt to mimic their own. The spaces are well cared for and demonstrate an attention to detail that is as good as any other I've seen, if only a bit smaller.
Section III: North American River Otters
A medium sized amphitheater made of concrete with 3/4's of a coverage with concrete rows to sit on around a pool with a peninsula including a live tree and various enrichment elements forms the home to the zoo North American River Otters. Clearly adapted from an original design for California Sea Lions, it is one of the oldest and possibly original structures in the zoo. I have a personal connection via my volunteering at the Maryland Zoo. The female Otter is Piper, a former incumbent at the Maryland Zoo. She moved here in 2023 on a recommendation from the AZA after over 6 years with our male and no "love" connection. Her mate here, Luani, is noticeably larger than she; where the relative sizes of her and Hudson (at the Maryland Zoo) was much closer. Luani is a more aggressive male than Hudson, too. An adjustment that no doubt was a challenge for Piper who seemed to always be swimming circles around laid back Hudson.
Section IV: The West End
Down another slope, you have a range of things built around a large Barn with a Silo that is home to a modest group of Goats, I think all are Nubians. This is the space designated for a major renovation that will focus more on play options for younger children. The barn will be replaced with splash pads, an inclusive playground will continue to be developed on the outside edge of the path, and a new barn for farm animals. Besides the goats, there are Alpaca and Vietnamese Potbelly Pigs; neither of which were visible during my visit. Nearby are a pair of larger wood-framed cages where smaller mammals are kept: Skunks and Ringtails. Across from these is a little Lorikeet encounter area that has been closed to the public for years as a consequence of the ongoing Avian Flu epidemic.
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