The Columbus Zoo (comprised of The Columbus Zoological Park Association, The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay LLC, and Safari Golf Course) (collectively, the “Zoo”) is committed to protecting consumer privacy and personal information, especially for children. This updated Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) outlines how we treat personally identifiable information and other information that we collect and store.  

This Policy applies only to information collected by all four Zoo entities on their respective web sites (the “Site”) and/or information collected as part of providing services, sales, marketing, or events (we refer to them collectively in this Policy as the “Services”). This policy is not a contract between you and the Zoo, and this Policy imposes no duties on us not imposed by state or federal law. By using the Site of  the Zoo or its affiliates, you agree to the collection, use, and sharing of data in accordance with this Policy.

The Site is owned and operated by the Zoo. Any inquiries about this Policy should be directed to:

Mail:
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
P.O. Box 400, Powell, OH 43065

Email:
info@columbuszoo.org
Include subject line: PRIVACY POLICY
 


Information We Collect

  • Personal information you disclose to us: We collect personal information that you provide to us such as name, address, contact information, membership status, photograph, passwords, security data, and payment information.
  • Information automatically collected: Some information – such as IP address and/or browser and device characteristics – is collected automatically when you visit our Site. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our Site, and other technical information. This information is primarily needed to maintain the security and operation of our Site and for our internal analytics and reporting purposes.
  • Information collected for analysis: We also collect information related to pages viewed, links clicked, and other actions taken within the Site. We may also utilize special links, electronic images, or other objects embedded within the Site—sometimes referred to as web beacons or tracking pixels—to collect information that helps determine and analyze how you and other visitors use the Site.
  • Location information:  Information regarding precise or approximate location information provided by a mobile or other device interacting with one of our Sites, applications, or physical properties (including through beacon technologies), or associated with your IP address or other online or device identifier.
  • Information collected from other sources: We may collect limited data from public databases, marketing partners, and other outside sources, and information you share publicly on social media platforms when you interact with our pages or engage with our content.
     

Information Processed for Business Purposes

We process your personal information in reliance on our legitimate business interests, in order to enter into or perform a contract with you, with your consent, and/or for compliance with our legal obligations. We indicate the specific processing grounds we rely on next to each purpose listed below. We use the information we collect or receive for the following business purposes:

  • Personalized Marketing: To deliver tailored marketing campaigns based on your interests, demographics, and web site behavior through email, social media, and other channels.
  • Market Research and Analysis: To analyze user trends and demographic data to improve our products, services, and marketing strategies.
  • Customer Service: To respond to your inquiries, provide support, and manage your account.
  • Request Feedback: To request feedback and to contact you about your use of our Services.
  • Send Administrative Information: To send you product, service, and new feature information and/or information about changes to our terms, conditions, and policies.
  • Improve User Experience
  • Disclose Aggregate Data: To third parties, such as advertisers and business partners,  to substantiate the size of the Zoo’s audience.
  • Protect Services: As part of our efforts to keep our Services safe and secure (for example, for fraud monitoring and prevention).
  • Legal Requests: To inspect the data we hold to determine how to respond to a subpoena or other legal request.
  • Web Analytics: To make our Site the best it can be, we analyze information from Site users to help us learn how people are using the Site if they are using a mobile device or a desktop computer or visiting from a certain part of the world. We use Google Analytics, the industry-standard tool for web analysis. This information helps us constantly improve our Site and better serve our guests. Google Analytics uses HTTP cookies, a small piece of data stored in your web browser, to “remember” what a user has done on previous pages/interactions with the Site. Usage of a cookie is not linked to any personal identifiable information about the user. Cookies may be disabled through the web user’s specific browser. Doing so may cause some sites, or functions of sites, to not function as expected.
     

Sharing Your Information

  • Third-Party Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our Site, managing marketing campaigns, and providing customer service (e.g., email marketing platforms, analytics tools).
  • Compliance with Law: We may disclose your data when required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights.
     

Your Privacy Controls

  • Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving marketing emails by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails.
  • Cookie Management: You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.
     

Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, please remember that we cannot guarantee that the Internet itself is 100% secure. Although we take commercially reasonable efforts to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our Site and as part of our Services is at your own risk. You should only access the Site and our Services within a secure environment.

Children's Privacy 

The Site is intended for a general audience, and it is not intended for children under the age of 13. If you are between 13 and 18 years of age, you must obtain verified permission from a parent or legal guardian before using the Site to provide personal information. If you are under the age of 13, do not attempt to provide personal information or otherwise use the Site. If we are notified that we have collected personal information from anyone under age 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information as quickly as is reasonably possible.

The Zoo abides by federal law and the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission regarding youth privacy and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Although the Site may contain information that may be of interest to children, the Site is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from such children.

To report use by a child under age 13 and to request deletion of any information related to such child, please contact us at the e-mail address listed on the first page of this policy and include the following information:

  • Name of the child;
  • The username or alias the child is using;
  • E-mail address used by the child;
  • The actual age of the child;
  • Your relationship to the child; and
  • Your basis for making the report.
     

Changes and Updates to this Policy

The Zoo reserves the right to change, update, revisit, modify, and supplement this Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on this Site. Please check the Policy periodically for changes. We indicate below the date of the last update. The continued use of the Site following the posting of changes to this Policy means you  accept those changes.

Contact us with any questions about this Policy by sending mail or email to the addresses listed at the top of this webpage.

Updated: March 31, 2025

 

Donor Privacy Policy

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium respects your privacy and your choice not to have your personal information shared with other people. The Zoo collects only personal contact information (such as names, addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers) when Website users submit it voluntarily. To make our Website more useful to you, our server automatically collects information when you visit our site, such as, but not limited to, your IP address, date and time of your visit, pages viewed and click streams. We will not collect or track information that may identify you personally. Further, we will not sell or exchange your mailing or e-mail addresses.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's Donor Bill of Rights

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

  • To be informed of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s mission, of the way the Zoo intends to use donated resources, and of the Zoo’s capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes
  • To be informed of the identity of those serving on the Zoo’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities
  • To have access to the Zoo’s most recent financial statements
  • To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given
  • To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition
  • To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law
  • To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature
  • To be informed of whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors
  • To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share
  • To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers

Questions about the Zoo’s development policies may be directed to our Philanthropy Office at (614) 724-3421 or give@columbuszoo.org.