Diversity of Life

From the Africa exhibits, guests walk through an enclosed viewing area at the remodeled animal nursery, now home to American Alligators, a colony of Meerkats, Burmese Python and a variety of birds. The next stop is the Aldabra Tortoises, one of two remaining species of giant tortoise.

The walkway winds around to the American Bald Eagle exhibit and the front doors of the Hearld and Marge Ambler Diversity of Life building, which opened in April 2001. The Ambler Diversity of Life building captures our fear and fascination with the zoo's popular reptile and amphibian collection. Here guests experience three habitats found around the world: “Deserts and Dry Places,” “Under the Canopy: Rainforest” and “Ozarks Caves, Glades and Streams.”

Guests will marvel at the diversity of animals on exhibit – 35 exhibits include more than 50 different species. See rattlesnakes, a cobra, colorful rainforest frogs, giant hissing cockroaches, a modest fresh-water aquarium and many of our own native Missouri snakes species. Without a doubt, the most impressive sight is a 15-foot green anaconda – weighing in at nearly 100 pounds!

The observation deck of the Ambler Diversity of Life building provides a wonderful panorama of Dickerson Lake and islands with Madagascar's “ghostly” primates, the Lemurs. Just off the edge of the deck is a yard with Tufted Deer, small antelope from Southeast Asia.

From March through October, guests will hear the familiar whistle and clanging bell of the miniature train ride circling the lake. The train station, a green-roofed open pavilion buzzes with activity throughout the summer, including children's birthday parties hosted by zoo volunteers on Saturdays.

Along the lakeshore and throughout the park guests encounter free-roaming waterfowl, peafowl and Guinea fowl. A pavilion over Dickerson Lake gives optimum viewing of the largest lemur island and a feeding station for carp. The Hippopotamus pool across from the lake completes the loop of approximately 54 acres of exhibits comprising Dickerson Park Zoo.