One of the world’s most renowned recreation and wildlife education destinations is located right in the heart of Ohio, and if you haven’t paid a recent visit to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, you will likely be blown away by the vast array of fascinating features the facility boasts today.

Located just northwest of downtown Columbus in Powell, Ohio, the ever-expanding zoo complex spans an impressive 588 acres, including 200 acres of land that have been developed as animal habitats and public spaces. The complex also includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and the 18-hole Safari Golf Club.

Home to more than 11,000 animals representing nearly 600 species from around the world, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium presents a setting that is removed as far as possible from the image of yesteryear’s stereotypical zoo: a concrete park with caged animals on display. To the contrary, a huge population of the zoo’s wildlife is housed in spacious, multimillion-dollar habitats where animals are free to roam in a more natural environment, and in many cases, are able to interact harmoniously with visitors.

It’s all part of the zoo’s continuing vision to promote “the sustainable coexistence of all living things” and its mission to “lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife.” By design, a visit to the zoo is an experience that is not only entertaining and memorable but also inherently educational.

Zoo habitats are organized into six major geographic regions: North America and Polar Frontier, Asia Quest, Australia and the Islands, Congo Expedition, the Shores and Heart of Africa. Each region contains numerous habitats where visitors can check out animals from their different native settings around the globe.

The zoo has come a long way since it was first established in the mid-1920s. Through decades of steady growth propelled by public and private support, the zoo has evolved into a worldwide leader in wildlife education and conservation. The zoo last year set an attendance record with nearly 2.5 million visitors.

A STAR IN KHAKi

Without a doubt, a key factor in the successful history of the Columbus Zoo has been Jack Hanna, who became the zoo’s director in 1978. The Columbus Zoo and Hanna soon afterwards would help launch each over into the national and international spotlight.

Hanna’s passion for animal advocacy stems back to his childhood, when he worked as a veterinary assistant while growing up in Tennessee. He went to boarding school in Pennsylvania and later found himself in East Central Ohio, where he graduated from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, and met his wife, Suzi, there. The couple later opened a pet shop and petting zoo back in Knoxville, Tenn., before Hanna jumped at an opportunity to serve as director of the Central Florida Zoo from 1973-75.

An illness in the family prompted Hanna to step away from the animal world in the mid-1970s, but that all changed when he moved back to Ohio to become director of the zoo in Columbus.

“When I first started at the Columbus Zoo, attendance was low and the animal habitats were outdated,” Hanna noted in his bio. “My top priority was to increase attendance by offering educational and entertaining events. As a result of these programs, more and more people started visiting the zoo.”

The Columbus Zoo had made some headlines in the past, particularly with the arrival of the world’s first zoo-born gorilla, Colo, in 1956. After the first gorilla twins to be born in the Western Hemisphere arrived at the zoo in 1983, Hanna was invited to appear on “Good Morning America.” The segment made such a splash, it opened the floodgates to invitations for other national television appearances.

In 1985, Hanna made his first appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman,” where the quirky, khaki-clad zookeeper’s personality – combined with the unpredictability of the animal guests from the zoo – helped create a magically awkward yet highly entertaining on-air chemistry between Hanna and the late night talk show host. That chemistry continued on a regular basis, with Hanna serving as one of Letterman’s most frequent repeat guests for 30 years until the host’s recent retirement from the show this year.

Because of his busy schedule of television appearances and speaking engagements, Hanna was also prompted to retire from the day-to-day duties of managing the Columbus Zoo. He became director emeritus of the zoo in 1992, a role in which he continues to serve today. He has remained a regular guest and wildlife correspondent on “Good Morning America” and several other programs, and has won daytime Emmy awards for “Into the Wild” in the categories of Outstanding Children’s Series and Outstanding Travel Program.

“Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” continues to air in syndication, and his newest show, “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown” airs Saturday mornings on ABC, broadcast from his “very own base camp at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.”

WHAT’S NEW

AT THE ZOO?

Over the past two decades since “Jungle Jack” Hanna became director emeritus, the zoo has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Hundreds of additional acres have been acquired, scores of which have been developed into major attractions. State highways have even been relocated to help accommodate the expansions.

Just last year, Hanna was joined by actress Betty White to introduce the Columbus Zoo’s newest region: Heart of Africa. The 43-acre region features a sprawling savanna setting with mixed animal species including lions, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, monkeys, camels, ostriches, gazelles, wildebeests and others.

Visitors to Heart of Africa can ride a camel, see first-hand the speed of a cheetah and come face-to-face with or even feed a giraffe.

Other major features opened at the zoo over the past decade include the award-winning Polar Frontier; the educational Animal Encounters Village and Animals on Safari show; the Asia Quest region with habitats for sun bears, Asian elephants, Amur tigers, red pandas, cranes and many other animals; the Zoombezi Bay water park featuring several state-of-the-art water slides, a wave pool, lazy river and pools and splash zones; Jungle Jack’s Landing, a 12-acre amusement park with a roller coaster and other rides and attractions; and the interactive Stingray Bay.

New for 2015 is Pirate Island, a temporary seasonal attraction featuring scores of almost creepy lifelike, animatronic pirate characters, many of which can be seen throughout the zoo.

Aside from being a major family destination, the zoo has been a leader in conservation efforts regionally and around the world. More than $2 million in funds privately raised through the zoo were awarded to support 70 conservation projects in 30 countries last year alone. The zoo participates in the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Program and Species Survival Plans. International recognition has come as a result of the zoo’s work caring for gorillas. Touting another record, the first gorilla born in human care – the zoo’s famous ambassador, Colo – turns 59 this year and is the world’s oldest gorilla on record.

If you are planning a visit to the zoo, it may be advisable to plan ahead and consider in advance highlights you may want to see, because it’s nearly impossible to check out in one day all of the interesting, interactive and educational exhibits and attractions the zoo has to offer.

For more information about the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay or any of the other zoo facilities, visit columbuszoo.org.