Elmwood Park Zoo officially opened in 1924 after a private land owner donated a small piece of property and a handful of white-tailed deer to the borough of Norristown.

[5] The facility is home to a number of species native to the North American southwest region, including *Ocelot, *Bobcat, *Jaguar, *Burrowing Owl, and *Gila Monster.

The designation, given by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), is awarded to organizations who have completed a training and review process with the goal to better serve individuals with autism and other sensory needs.

[7] Guests are permitted to bring their dogs on select days of the week, as well as specific special events.

There are animals on exhibit as well as a collection of "Educational Ambassadors" that appear periodically in onsite presentations and traveling programs.

Animals on exhibit include red pandas, bison, zebras, giraffes, jaguars, otters, an American alligator and many more.

[12] The Species Survival Plan (SSP) is the official program of the association that Elmwood Park Zoo has adopted to help protect threatened animals.