Phillips Park Zoo

Phillips Park Zoo is a small municipal zoo within Aurora's larger Phillips Park, with a collection centered primarily on North American wildlife. The zoo houses about 100 animals representing 41 species, creating a compact experience rather than a large, continent-spanning zoological collection. Its setting within a broad recreational park adds another dimension to the visit, while the zoo's focus on regional wildlife gives it a straightforward connection to the animals and ecosystems of the Midwest.

The collection includes gray wolves, cougars, North American river otters, elk, bald eagles, great horned owls, other birds of prey, reptiles, and farm animals such as goats and llamas. Indoor reptile exhibits complement the outdoor habitats, while the Stover Visitors Center includes mastodon remains discovered in the park. Educational resources and exhibits provide additional context about the animals and natural history. The zoo is particularly suited to travelers looking for a compact wildlife stop with a strong North American focus, especially when combined with the surrounding park and its other natural-history features.