Wildlife World Zoo cuts tape on eight-acre expansion, new exhibits

PHOENIX — Visitors at the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park will be able to get up close and personal with more African animals after an expansion opened Friday.

The eight-acre expansion of the park near the Loop 303 and Northern Avenue in Litchfield Park was headlined by three white rhinoceres imported from South Africa.

The park hoped the rhino exhibit would increase awareness about the plight of the animal. It is hunted for its horns — which are considered an aphrodisiac in some countries — and is considered to be “near threatened,” meaning its population is dangerously low, but growing.

“It’s my hope that through education and awareness, we can work together in the fight for the rhino’s survival—to guarantee a viable genetic population and ensure that no more rhino species go extinct,” Mickey Ollson, the director and founder of the zoo, said in a Facebook post.

“If the persecution of this species continues, we will likely see the rhino go extinct within our lifetime.”

Other animals that will be on display for the first time at the zoo were Hamadryas baboons, striped hyenas, a serval cat and a slew of other African species.

The zoo also doubled the length of its popular Safari Tram ride that carries guests past exhibits from the comfort of a tram.

To celebrate the expansion, the zoo was offering coupons for cheaper admission.

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