through Labor Day) Granny's Goose Patch Trails of Africa In 2007, the zoo announced a major expansion called Trails of Africa. Opened in 2011, this exhibit features bull African elephants in a bachelor herd setting. The exhibit is revolutionary; a US zoo had never before housed multiple males together and attempted to replicate these bull herds recently discovered in the wild. At this time, three elephants (Bulwagi, Gadze, and Lutie) reside in the new facility. Trails of Africa includes an interactive boma yard, safari cafe, waterhole exhibit, and many more small accessories. This exhibit makes the Birmingham Zoo a national leader in the care and breeding of elephants. After the completion of the main exhibit in early 2011, the 50-year-old pachyderm building was renovated to allow staff to provide a higher quality of care for the three southern white rhinoceroses that resided there. A new giraffe yard, added in April 2012, allows the zoo's young herd to continue to grow and allow visitors a closer look at the animals while on the new feeding platform. All three southern white rhinoceroses (Max, Laptop, and Ajabu) were permanently transferred to a private conservation facility in late 2021. Their former exhibit (including the former Nile hippopotamus exhibit) will be home to a crash of black rhinoceroses. Boma Yard Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter: Reticulated giraffes Main Elephant Yard: African bush elephants Rhinoceros Building: Eastern black rhinoceros (opening in spring 2023) Savannah Hoofstock Yards: plains zebras, ostriches, Eastern bongos Other facilities and activities Carousel Primary Giftshop Nourish 205 Cafe Lorikeet Feeding narrow gauge Birmingham Zoo Express/Red Diamond Express trains (track was gauge prior to 1976) Wild Burger Cafe Safari Peak Pavilion Sea Lion Show Tiki Hut Giftshop Wildlife Show Incidents On February 15, 2006 a zookeeper was taken to the hospital for minor injuries after being mauled by the resident female lion, Sheeba. On September 16, 2019 two white-crested laughing thrushes were discovered missing from their habitat. It is unknown whether the birds were taken or flew off once their containment was compromised. On July 18, 2022 the zoo's sixteen-year-old lioness Akili was fatally injured due to a confrontation with its new residential lion, Josh. References External links Birmingham zoo on zooinstitutes.com Buildings and structures in Birmingham, Alabama Landmarks in Alabama Zoos in Alabama Works Progress Administration in Alabama Protected areas of Jefferson County, Alabama Tourist attractions in Birmingham, Alabama