Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Be on the prowl for fascinating animal encounters and pop-up zookeeper presentations. With 10,000 animals, on every visit you’ll see something new. Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.
www.columbuszoo.orgHere’s the latest I can share based on available summaries:
A reported bomb and active shooter threat led to evacuations at the Columbus Zoo in Powell, Ohio, with the all-clear following a groundsweep by local law enforcement; the zoo later announced it would reopen after no suspicious items were found. This event occurred in early May 2026 and involved about 3,000 people who were inside the park at the time. [Source summaries indicate this timeline and outcome.][1]
The Columbus Zoo’s official site pages around early May 2026 highlighted ongoing safety communications and post-incident steps, including refunds to affected families and security enhancements, though these pages focus on general operations rather than the specific incident details.[2]
A local TV news report corroborated the evacuation, the swatting-like nature of the threat, and the subsequent reopening the following day, with first responders conducting a thorough check and the zoo reiterating safety procedures.[3]
For quick context, the Columbus Zoo is in Powell, Ohio (outside Columbus proper), not in Texas. The incident in question appears to be a singular security scare (bomb/shooter threat) with a temporary shutdown and a safe reopening after investigation. If you’d like, I can pull more detailed timelines or look up official statements from the Columbus Zoo or Delaware County authorities, or summarize current conditions at the zoo (hours, ticketing, and safety updates) from their latest posts. Also, if you intended a different “Columbus Zoo Texas” (e.g., a Texas-based facility), please confirm the exact location or provide a link, and I’ll tailor the search accordingly.
Citations:
Be on the prowl for fascinating animal encounters and pop-up zookeeper presentations. With 10,000 animals, on every visit you’ll see something new. Empowering People. Saving Wildlife.
www.columbuszoo.orgSee what's new at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club.
www.columbuszoo.orgWTTE FOX28 provides local news, weather forecasts and alerts, traffic updates, consumer advocacy, and the latest information about sports, politics, law enforcement, community events, government waste, and much more, including Fox network news, sports and entertainment programming. WTTE serves Columbus and nearby towns and communities in central Ohio, including Dublin, Sunbury, Delaware, Worthington, Whitehall, Powell, Lewis Center, Gahanna, Johnstown, Granville, Pataskala, Groveport,...
myfox28columbus.comFrom drawing blood from a giraffe to raising a cheetah with Labradors, the zoo that stars in National Geographic's hit show "Secrets of the Zoo" takes "Nightline" behind the scenes.
abcnews.comInteractive exhibits abound at Columbus Zoo Southeast Texas, allowing you to experience these beautiful creatures in an exciting new way. This includes entering enclosures, petting, feeding, and interacting with some of our residents. Our most personable animals are capybara, giant tortoises, young ostrich, as well as friendly reptiles. You can even snap a picture with our 10’ python named “Hugger!” Helping you enjoy memorable and educational experiences is our specialty.
www.columbuszootexas.comThe Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will reopen after a bomb and active shooter threat shut down the the park Saturday afternoon.
myfox28columbus.comWEAR, ABC 3 is the ABC affiliate for Northwest Florida and South Alabama that provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama and nearby towns and communities in the Gulf Coast area, including in Florida: Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Cantonment, Century, Jay, Pace, Milton, Perdido Key, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, Niceville,...
weartv.comKOMO 4 TV provides news, sports, weather and local event coverage in the Seattle, Washington area including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bremerton, SeaTac, Auburn, Mercer Island, Bothell, Shoreline, Lynnwood, Mill Creek and Everett.
komonews.com