[3] Its attractions include Stingray Bay, Dino Dig, Valley Farm, Sea Lion Cove, African Adventure, and Ross Laird's Winged Wonders Bird Show.

The earliest zoo record describes a collection consisting of two bears and around fifty birds of various species.

In 1949, the zoo's Asian elephant Nosey (a name determined by a citywide "Name-the-Elephant" Contest) was acquired, with help from the Fresno Rotary Club.

[4] In the 1950s, ten large exhibits were added to the zoo grounds with monkeys, sea lions, camels, giraffes, an African bird aviary, a flamingo habitat, and on-site feed and medical compounds.

[4] In 2004, "Measure Z" was passed by the voters (73%) in Fresno to raise money to expand the zoo, and to improve the animal exhibits.

In August 2012, a very large Sea Lion Cove, designed after the Central Coast’s Point Lobos, was opened.

It contains 250,000 gallon saltwater tank with rock outcrops and islands, while preserving the redwood trees that surround the enclosures.

In January 2014, ground was broken for the approximately 18-acre "African Adventure" expansion doubling the size of the zoo and including large animal exhibits such as lions, breeding elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, meerkats, hippos, gorillas, and penguins.

The 13 acre exhibit is home to over 100 animals including lions, African elephants, cheetahs, White rhinoceroses, meerkats, giraffes, ostriches, and several antelope and birds.

[7] In 2016, the zoo opened the "Roo Walkabout," an Australian walk-through exhibit which features red kangaroos, emus and kookaburras.

This new play area was designed to allow younger guests to "cool off and make a splash in the waterfall, follow the footprints and explore the wilderness, and discover the fire lookout tower.

The new exhibit will include habitats for "the Malayan Tiger, Indian Rhinoceros, Orangutans, Asian small-clawed otter, and Sloth Bear, song birds, bats, and more.