The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

The largest area of the zoo, "The African Journey" displays a wide range of animals originating from the continent of Africa. The main exhibit areas are:

• African Aviary: features an enclosed walk-through aviary home to the blue-bellied roller, hadada ibis, African spoonbill, Von der Decken's hornbill, hamerkop, fulvous whistling duck, Spur-winged lapwing, Waldrapp ibis, Red-crested pochard, and Marbled duck.
• African Watering Hole: Features a watering hole environment with dama gazelle (Addra), lesser kudu, saddle-billed stork, white rhinoceros, plains zebra, and ostrich. The Caribbean flamingo, ground hornbill, Sitatunga, Sulcata tortoise, Leopard tortoise, leopard, Cheetah, and Cape porcupine are located around the watering hole area along the boardwalk.
• African Overlook: Features the lion exhibit area and giraffe viewing area. Warthog and blue duiker are located nearby.
• Chimpanzee Forest: Indoor and outdoor areas home to the Chimpanzee, Red-tailed guenon, Panamanian golden frogs, East African black mud turtle, and slender-snouted crocodile.
• Elephant Savannah: Large observation area for the African elephant.
• Giraffe Crossing: home to the Giraffe house, feeding station, and okapi.
• Lemur Lane: Exhibit featuring the Red ruffed lemur, ring-tailed lemur and colobus monkey.

Renovations on the elephant exhibit facility began 2007.[7] In March 2006, the Maryland Zoo announced[8] it would be accepting three female African elephants from the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania as part of the expanded elephant exhibit, but construction was then indefinitely delayed and later the elephant loan was canceled.[9] However, two new elephants came to the Maryland Zoo from Arkansas in 2007.[7] On March 19, 2008, "Felix," one of the Zoo's female elephants, gave birth to a 290-pound male calf named "Samson" , the first elephant born in the Zoo's history.

In spring 2010, the Zoo's warthogs had two male offspring, which were viewable beginning in May of that year.[10]

In February 2017, the first giraffe calf was born at the Zoo in over 20 years. Willow was born to parents Juma and Caesar, and was 6'1", and 125 lbs at birth.

In March 2018, the zoo announced plans to expand the zoo's elephant, giraffe and lion exhibits. This $20 million project was made to improve living standards for the animals and also to give a much better viewing experience for guests of the Maryland zoo. The details of this initiative included the expansion of the Elephant habitat from 0.92 acres (0.37 ha) to 2.1 acres (0.85 ha), the expansion of the Giraffe habitat by 33%, the removal of what used to be "Rock Island" and several new viewing areas for the lions. The renovations finished in the Summer of 2019. [11] [12]

In July and December 2019, the Zoo welcomed two baby chimpanzees after an 8 month gestation period.[13][14]

Displaying animals found in Maryland, visitors can watch otters swim over their heads, jump across lily pads, explore a cave, or climb into giant bird nests.

• "The Bog": formerly featured the endangered bog turtle, now in the Meadow tunnel.
• "Marsh Aviary and Lily Pads": surrounds a man-made stream featuring many species of ducks and other Maryland birds such as the turkey vulture, black-crowned night heron, and Sandhill crane.
• "The Stream": includes river otters and eastern hellbenders. One can visit a submerged archway, and watch as otters swim overhead. Nearby is a Bobcat and common snapping turtle exhibit, renovated from the former Red fox exhibit.
• "The Cave": a beautifully sculpted life-size model of a cave, featuring more than a dozen small exhibits including Seba's short-tailed bats, red-spotted newts, and others.
• "Giant Tree and Slide": features many native reptiles and amphibians animals, mainly snakes. The slide is a fun way for kids to get back to the ground.
• "Meadow": has animals such as Eastern box turtles, American toads, and a broadhead skink. Kids can poke their heads in large bubble-like windows coming out of the ground. It also features a tunnel that leads to terrariums inside.
• "The Farmyard": features a variety of domestic breeds that can be touched; the highlight is a petting area of friendly African pygmy goats and Nigerian dwarf goats called "Goat Corral", sponsored by Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. Other animals included in the section include Cotswold sheep, Indian peafowl, Miniature Donkey, alpaca, lionhead rabbit, trumpeter swan, Kunekune pigs, and Miniature Texas Longhorn.

The "Maryland Wilderness" featuring The Children's Zoo is dedicated to donator and supporter, Lyn P. Meyerhoff (1927-1988).

A small-model diesel train makes a one-mile circuit and over a 105-foot bridge through parts and scenery of the Zoo, remembering the heritage of the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the city and state, with its long-time decorated colors of blue and gray colors on the locomotive and cars of the old historic road, first railroad built in America since 1827.[15] There has been a zoo train for many years, though the equipment and route has changed several times. The current zoo train from 2010 is pulled by a bright red new detailed scale replica of the 1863-era "C. P. Huntington" locomotive, named for a famous railroading tycoon and magnate in California and Virginia in the 19th and early 20th centuries.[16]

The Northern Passage currently features grizzly bears, a North American porcupine, and a rescued bald eagle. It opened in 2003 as the Polar Bear Watch and formerly featured polar bears, arctic foxes, and snowy owls. Guests can view the bears from underwater viewing areas, or from the windows of an actual massive Tundra Buggy, purchased from the Canadian company that creates these one of kind vehicles for viewing the polar bear in its natural habitat.[17]

The exhibit was formerly home to Magnet the polar bear. Magnet was born in 1988 at the Toledo Zoo in Ohio and arrived at the zoo in 1991. He won the Beast in Show contest put forth by Microsoft's Zoo Tycoon for best zoo animal in December 2001. Magnet was available as a downloadable patch for the game and during the game, polar bears purchased via the Magnet icon would play with a red ball.[18] The real Magnet was euthanized in April 2015 due to kidney disease.[19] During his later years, he lived with two female polar bears, Alaska and Anoki, but did not produce any offspring.

Beginning in March 2017, the Polar Bear Watch became home to two rescued orphaned grizzly bear cubs.[20] They are named Nova and Nita after their names were chosen in a public contest in April 2017.[21][22] The polar and grizzly bears regularly rotated around each exhibit. As of November 2021, polar bears were removed from the exhibit and the name of the exhibit changed to the Northern Passage.[23][24][25]

The Zoo’s state-of-the-art African penguin exhibit located between Northern Passage and African Journey opened on September 27, 2014. It brings guests up-close to nearly 60 (and growing) African black-footed penguins, white-breasted cormorants, and Great white pelicans in a vivid re-creation of their natural habitat along the coasts and islands of South Africa. There is an underwater viewing window and view to a tidal pool that creates a wave-like effect for the birds.[26]

The Zoo gives guests an extra peek into the lives of the penguins with the opportunity to see them get their daily fill of fish with morning and afternoon feedings.

Penguin Coast also includes an interpretive building which includes a multi-purpose room for education programs and animal demonstrations, restrooms, and indoor space for special events.

• Snow leopard
• Gibbon
• Siberian tiger
• Hippopotamus
• Spider monkey
• Asian elephant
• Polar bear