Detroit Zoo Attendance Drops Amid Growth in Membership and New Attractions

The Detroit Zoo watched paid gate attendance fall. Membership numbers rose. So did outreach efforts in the community. Dr. Haley Murphy runs the place, and she told the Wayne County Zoological Authority about the drop. Staff are keeping a close watch on spending.

"All the zoos and aquariums are down, some as much as 20%," Murphy said, per the Wayne County authority. A small price increase at the gate in 2023 didn't cause the dip, she said, and zoo leaders check their finances against similar places around the country.

Murphy and Dr. Amanda Hamlin shared news about baby animals born at the zoo. A female giraffe arrived Nov. 23. She stood about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 130 pounds when born, as per the Citizen Portal. Lion cubs came too—four were born, but, sadly, one didn't make it.

The zoo takes part in programs that protect species and track genetics. Baby animals stick around until they're ready—both in body and behavior—to head to a different zoo. Lions stay put for two to three years, give or take.

Murphy talked about the Fred and Barbara Herb Discovery Trails, a 7-acre expansion that opens in spring. This new section will have a 600-foot canopy trail suspended about 40 feet up, and wheelchairs can roll right along it, according to Citizen Portal. Kids can pet goats and alpacas, feed chickens, and check out art by Hubert Massey, who lives nearby.

Touch exhibits will let visitors feel stingrays and bamboo sharks. The section aims to draw families and school groups.

Deondria Matthews works as vice president of access and community engagement at the Detroit Zoological Society. She described partnerships across Wayne County—working with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan on after-school programs, plus teaming up with Thriving Together, First Step shelter, Focus HOPE, and Mac Development.

Matthews discussed Dream Night, a free evening each year for families with kids who face chronic or terminal illnesses. This year, organizers set a cap at 1,000 people. 969 came. Staff spread tickets through selected nonprofit partners and brought in community ambassadors to reach groups that often miss out, like those connected to the Detroit Justice Center.

Murphy said the zoo creates Wild Lights, a show that runs 31 nights each year. "We do over 6,000,000 lights," Murphy stated. Workers at the zoo arranged the whole thing.