10 Years Covering the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

A journalist reflecting on a decade of reporting for Axios has highlighted the varied narrative of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, coinciding with National Zoo Lovers Day on April 8, 2026. The retrospective covers ten years of assignments that spanned the good, the bad and the utterly adorable, beginning with the public debut of Nora, a celebrity polar bear cub.

The institution operates as a significant regional entity in Ohio, utilizing a combination of public funding and private revenue to maintain its facilities and animal populations. According to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the organization focuses on Empowering People and Saving Wildlife through its various parks, including The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club.

Public Funding and Financial Structure

A primary component of the zoo’s operational budget is a dedicated property tax levy provided by residents of Franklin County, Ohio. This support system has been in place for nearly 40 years. The current 0.75 mill levy was approved by voters in 2015 and began collections in 2016.

This specific levy was scheduled for renewal at the same rate in November 2025 for a subsequent 10-year period. For the year 2025, the levy was expected to generate approximately $20.5 million in revenue. This amount contributes 25 percent of the total operating funds for the Columbus Zoo.

The remaining 75 percent of the zoo’s operating revenue is derived from several other streams, including:

• Admission and membership fees
• Parking fees
• In-park spending on food, beverages, retail, rides, and attractions
• Donations and corporate sponsorships
• Educational programming
• Investment income
• Rounds played at the Safari Golf Club

The organization specifies that levy funds are strictly used for day-to-day operations and do not cover capital improvements, global conservation efforts, or administrative expenses.

Animal Care and Conservation Efforts

The largest portion of the levy funding is allocated to animal care. In 2025, 48 percent of the levy funds, totaling $12,326,168, were dedicated to this purpose. These funds support the care of more than 5,800 animals.

The zoo’s conservation role is evidenced by the species it houses. The facility is home to 52 species listed as Endangered or Threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 118 species at the zoo are recognized as Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Maintaining these populations requires a specialized workforce. A team of 130 full-time staff members provides care for the animals 365 days a year. This team is part of a larger workforce of 215 full-time staff members, supplemented by hundreds of seasonal employees.

Facility Operations and Scale

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium manages a sprawling 610-acre campus. The staff is responsible for the upkeep of these grounds, which includes facility maintenance, landscaping, and general cleanliness to maintain the site as a national destination.

Beyond animal husbandry and groundskeeping, the zoo’s personnel are involved in educational outreach. This includes programming conducted both on-site at the zoo and within schools across Franklin County.