John Ball Zoo Employee Attacked On The Job

The John Ball Zoo has been a family staple in Grand Rapids for many years.  The zoo recently had a dark day when an employee was assaulted while on the job.

John Ball Zoo began with a small collection of animals and now has over 2,000 animals representing more than 200 species.

The John Ball Zoo

The historic John Ball Zoo was founded in 1891 with a small collection of animals. When John Ball, one of Grand Rapids' founding fathers, passed away in 1884, he donated 40 acres of land, which became the foundation for the zoo. Shortly after, an additional 100 acres were added to complete the project.

John Ball Zoo fell on hard times during the Great Depression with most of the animals being given away to other zoos. The buffalo and deer were butchered to help feed the poor. It wasn't until June 1, 1950 that the zoo reopened and has remained open for 75 years and is still a local Grand Rapids favorite today.

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An Employee At John Ball Zoo Was Assaulted

According to WOOD, an employee at John Ball Zoo was assaulted Wednesday, July 30, 2025 while on the job. The female worker was assaulted by a male suspect who was unauthorized to be in the area that surrounded a service entrance.

The Grand Rapids Police Department was notified and were able to apprehend the suspect who tried to run away. The woman was taken to a local hospital to be medically evaluated.

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Chief Operating Officer Andy McIntyre said, "We are actively reviewing this incident with local police, and we want to assure our guests and community that this is an isolated incident. We remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment at John Ball Zoo."

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