January 11, 2013
DENVER ZOO BREAKS ALL-TIME ATTENDANCE RECORD, REACHES MORE THAN 2 MILLION
2012 Attendance Breaks Previous Record Set in 1995

Denver Zoo served a record 2,065,410 people in 2012 through zoo visits and outreach education programs, the highest in the zoo's 117-year history. This is the first time Denver Zoo has reached more than 2 million guests. A total of 1,988,593 guests visited the zoo while 76,817 people participated in the zoo's outreach education programs in schools, libraries and community centers throughout Colorado and Wyoming. The 2012 attendance number beat the previous attendance record set in 1995 when 1,984,097 people visited the zoo or participated in outreach education programs. That year, 1,958,842 visited the zoo, many who came to say farewell to the zoo's famous polar bears Klondike and Snow before they moved to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.

"Certainly the opening of our groundbreaking new exhibit, Toyota Elephant Passage, played a large role in our 2012 success. In addition to maintaining our local audiences, our work with our partners at Visit Denver also helped attract more tourists interested in seeing the new exhibit," says Denver Zoo President/CEO Craig Piper. "We are fortunate to be a family favorite that continues to gain popularity. We're grateful to our board of trustees and donors, especially our metro Denver Toyota dealers, who led the effort to make Toyota Elephant Passage a reality. We're also proud of our staff and volunteers who ensure that everyone we serve has fun, educational experiences."

Piper also noted "Denver Zoo and our colleagues in other metro cultural organizations appreciate that we would not be able to provide the breadth of programs and world class experiences for our guests without the tremendous support of citizens in the seven county metro area who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. This outstanding community support helps us in our mission to secure a better world for animals through human understanding here in Colorado and throughout the world."

Denver Zoo also reached an all-time high of 68,450 member households in 2012, breaking the previous membership record of 64,040 member households in 2010. Approximately two thirds of zoo guests reside in the seven county metro Denver; the remainder visit from elsewhere in Colorado and from outside the state.

Denver Zoo Attendance Records: