Delaware’s Only AZA-Accredited Zoo, Where Small Means Mighty

Red Pandas, Andean Condors, and 120 Years of Wildlife in Wilmington’s Brandywine Park

The Brandywine Zoo occupies a very specific and satisfying niche in the regional attraction landscape: it is a genuinely world-class zoological institution in an entirely un-overwhelming package. At just 4.7 acres — located in the green sweep of Brandywine Park along the river of the same name in Wilmington — it is small enough that families with young children never feel lost or exhausted, and substantive enough that serious wildlife enthusiasts find genuine highlights at every turn. The red pandas alone are worth the trip.

The Brandywine Zoo is open daily, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with last admission at 3:30 p.m. The zoo is closed only on Christmas Day and may close during severe weather or ongoing construction projects — always check brandywinezoo.org before visiting. Some animals may be off exhibit during cold weather.

Admission varies by season:

• April 1–October 31: Adults (18–61): $9 | Children (3–17): $7 | Seniors (62+): $8
• November 1–30: Adults: $7 | Children: $5 | Seniors: $6
• December 1–March 15: Free admission for all ages
• March 16–31: Adults: $7 | Children: $5 | Seniors: $6

Free parking is available along the Brandywine River in Brandywine Park.

120 Years on the Brandywine: A Brief History

The ground where the Brandywine Zoo now stands has a history that predates the zoo itself by decades. Before the zoo, the site held a public amphitheater where some of the most celebrated orators of 19th-century America — Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, and Henry Clay — addressed crowds from what is now within the zoo’s footprint. George Washington is said to have mustered troops on the field just above the zoo’s current location near the Washington Street Bridge during the Revolution.

The zoo’s own origins trace to 1883, when the Delaware State Legislature passed a law establishing the Wilmington Board of Park Commissioners. The commissioners hired Frederick Law Olmsted — the landscape architect responsible for New York’s Central Park and dozens of other major American parks — to plan Wilmington’s park system. Olmsted recommended acquiring land along both sides of the Brandywine River, and the resulting Brandywine Park became the zoo’s permanent home.

The zoo formally opened in 1905, initially as the Wilmington Free Zoological Association. The early collection was modest — Belgian hares, a sea turtle, ducks, and a seagull were among the first residents. Over the following decades, the collection grew steadily, the facilities improved, and the Brandywine established itself as a genuine institution in Wilmington’s cultural life.

Today the zoo is managed by the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation and supported by the Delaware Zoological Society, a nonprofit membership organization. It has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1981 — a distinction that marks a genuine commitment to animal welfare, conservation, and professional standards. It is Delaware’s only AZA-accredited zoo.

Trivia: The land the zoo occupies is part of Brandywine Park, which Frederick Law Olmsted planned in the 1880s. Wilmington is one of the relatively few American cities where Olmsted’s park-planning legacy is still visible and functioning, meaning your zoo visit takes place in a National Historic Landmark landscape.

The Animals

The Brandywine Zoo’s collection focuses on animals from the tropical and temperate regions of North and South America, Asia, and Africa, with an emphasis on species with conservation significance. Among the zoo’s most notable residents:

Red Pandas

The zoo’s red pandas are consistently its most beloved residents — and among the most engaging animals at any zoo in the region. Red pandas are native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China and are classified as endangered, with fewer than 10,000 estimated to remain in the wild. The Brandywine participates in AZA Species Survival Plan coordination for red pandas.

Andean Condors

With wingspans reaching nearly 10 feet, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most striking animals in the entire zoo. The Brandywine has maintained Andean condors for decades and participates in conservation programs supporting wild condor populations in South America.

Additional year-round residents include:

• Llamas and goats
• Ravens and toucan
• Bobcat
• Swift fox
• Serval
• Capybara
• Golden lion tamarins
• North American porcupines
• Lemurs
• A variety of birds and reptiles

Seasonal summer residents include:

• Wallabies
• Alligators

The collection is deliberately curated to emphasize species with conservation stories — connecting zoo visits to the broader global challenges of wildlife preservation.

Conservation Programs

The Brandywine Zoo punches well above its weight class in conservation:

Delaware Kestrel Partnership Founded by the Brandywine Zoo in 2014, this partnership monitors and researches endangered American kestrel populations in Delaware — working with the American Kestrel Partnership, Delaware Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Nature Society, and multiple other organizations to understand and address the sharp decline of kestrels across the region.

Urban Wildlife Monitoring Program In partnership with the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute, the Brandywine monitors wildlife throughout New Castle County — building a scientific record of urban biodiversity that informs conservation planning.

International Conservation Support: The zoo supports conservation programs that protect golden lion tamarins in Brazil, Andean condors, African vultures, and multiple other species through partnerships with conservation organizations globally.

Conservation Leadership Academy A program for local teens focused on environmental justice, healthy ecosystems, and conservation leadership skills — building the next generation of Delaware conservation advocates.

Programs and Events

The Brandywine Zoo runs a year-round education and programming calendar:

• Saturday Discoveries Series — monthly public programs exploring specific animal and conservation topics
• School programs meeting Delaware state curriculum standards
• Toddler and preschool programs
• Homeschool programs
• Spring break, holiday, and summer camps
• Family Fun Nights — special evening events with extended hours
• Behind the Build — weekly updates on the zoo’s ongoing Master Plan construction and habitat renovation project

Master Plan and Ongoing Development

The Brandywine Zoo is currently executing a multi-year Master Plan that re-imagines the zoo with updated infrastructure, improved guest services, and modern animal habitats. Construction is ongoing — some areas of the zoo may be affected during your visit. The zoo’s “Behind the Build” program offers weekly updates on progress, allowing visitors to follow the transformation in real time. Check brandywinezoo.org for current construction impacts before visiting.

Brandywine Zoo in Brandywine Park

The zoo sits within Brandywine Park — one of Wilmington’s most beautiful and historically significant green spaces, running along the Brandywine River north of downtown. The park connects via walking trails to Alapocas Run State Park, Brandywine Creek State Park further north, and the broader Wilmington trail network. Combining a zoo visit with a walk along the river is one of the most pleasant free half-day activities in the city. The Delaware Art Museum is approximately one mile south along Kentmere Parkway — making a zoo-and-museum combination a natural full-day Wilmington outing.