The Honolulu Zoo had been a gift given to the Hawaiian by King David Kalakaua in 1876. It is home to more than 900 different species which includes 34 species of mammals from cheetahs, giraffes, lemurs, chimpanzees and more than 100 species of birds, about 50 species of amphibians including the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle. The zoo covers an area of about 42 acres.
The Honolulu Zoo was first a grand public park that was carved out from the marshes and lagoons in the area. The park was later named Queen Kapiolani Park. The park was used by King Kalakaua to keep the collection of horses and exotic birds that he had. Among the first animals to arrive at the park in the 1900s were a few lion cubs, a monkey and a honey bear.
The zoo today is visited by more than 750.000 people every year. Visitors also view a very big collection of plants including Alahe'e shrubs, naio trees, and loulu palms. Various conservation programs also engage visitors, including children to participate. There are sleepovers, walkabout safari and many other activities. Camping trips are particularly fun and start with a dinner, and continues with a guided tour of the zoo.
The Honolulu Zoo had undertaken many very successful breeding programs. It was the first American zoo to breed successfully the angulated tortoises and the Galapagos tortoises. Other animals that the zoo had bred are more than 50 giraffes and the apapane.The zoo also released some golden lion tamarins back in the wild in Brazil