Indianapolis Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Indianapolis Zoo

---

image_caption=The entrance to the Indianapolis Zoo
date_opened=1964
location=Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
members=AZA, AAM
num_species=360 [http://www.indyzoo.com/content.aspx?cid=632 Indianapolis Zoo - Dare to Discover: OCEANS] ]
website=http://www.indyzoo.com/

The Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, first opened to the public in 1964. Its current home in White River State Park was opened in 1988. The zoo hosts about 1.4 million visitors each year and plays a role in worldwide conservation and research, including accomplishing the world’s first successful artificial insemination of an African elephant. The Indianapolis Zoo is the only institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium, and as a botanical garden. The zoo is a private non-profit organization, receiving no tax support and is supported entirely by membership fees, admissions, donations, sales, grants, and an annual fundraiser.

The Indianapolis Zoo's stated mission is " [to] inspire local and global communities to celebrate, protect, and preserve our natural world through conservation, education, and research, and by providing an enriching and wondrous environment for our visitors and the animals in our care."

Conservation and research at the Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo has a multifaceted approach in its conservation and research efforts.

The Indianapolis Zoo is the presenter of the Indianapolis Prize, an award for animal conservation. The Indianapolis Prize includes a US$100,000 cash award and the Lilly Medal, which is presented every two years to a conservationist who has made substantial contributions toward the sustainability of an animal species or group of species.

The Indianapolis Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plans (SSPs) and conservation programs of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the national zoo membership organization of the United States.

Under the auspices of the Polly H. Hix Institute for Conservation and Research, an initiative that supports the Society’s current and future research and conservation programs, the Zoo conducts research projects both in situ and ex situ on selected species.

The Indianapolis Zoo also participates in three conservation and research foundations – the International Elephant Foundation (IEF), the International Iguana Foundation (IIF), and the Rhino Foundation (IRF).

The Hix Institute also supports the Tarangire Elephant Project in Tanzania to protect migration corridors from Tarangire National Park to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The Zoo has a second partnership with the IUCN – The World Conservation Union, a conservation network. The Indianapolis Zoo, in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, is supporting the IUCN’s project documenting the known impacts of climate change on species and habitat.

Biomes

The Indianapolis Zoo is organized around the concept of biomes. Biomes are areas of the planet with similar climate, plants, and animals. Animals at the Indianapolis Zoo are clustered in groups with similar habitats, which define the biomes. At the Zoo, one can visit the five biomes listed below.

Each of the biomes participates in conservation and breeding programs.

Temperate and tropical forests

Temperate and tropical forests of the world are represented in the Forests Biome. Featured animals in this biome include the rare and endangered Amur tiger from Siberia, active little small-clawed otters from Asia, and giant Kodiak bears from Alaska.

Oceans

The Oceans exhibit opened in 2007 and features the country's largest dogshark touch pool as its highlight. Also included in this exhibit (formerly the World of Waters) are three species of penguins - king, gentoo and rockhopper - with a transparent pane in the floor that allows visitors to see the penguins swim from one side of their exhibit to the other. There are also bonnethead sharks, green and purple mouth moray eels, moon jellies, seahorses, and many other kinds of fish and invertebrates.

Marine mammals

Surrounding the exit area of the Oceans building are several exhibits that feature a variety of marine mammals. Inside Oceans, there are underwater views of the sea lion and seal exhibit and the polar bear exhibit. The Zoo has California sea lions, harbor seals and grey seals in its collection. Next to the polar bear exhibit is the walrus pool. The Zoo is one of only a few institutions in North America to house Pacific walruses. The last marine mammals at the Zoo are Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

Deserts

In the Deserts Dome, the transparent overhead geodesic dome allows the animals to bask in natural sunlight year-round while heating and air conditioning vents hidden in the rocks regulate the temperature. The Deserts Dome re-opened in May 2006 after being closed for nine months undergoing a complete renovation to add a new meerkat exhibit, plus many new reptiles and birds. Other animals in the desert area are tortoises and lizards. The desert also has an area called "Drop Dead Gorgeous Snakes" with many venomous snakes and a hands-on learning area.

Plains

Designed to be similar to Africa is the expansive Plains Biome. Upon entering the biome, visitors see kudu, and zebras grazing in their large yard, along with ostriches, vultures and other birds. The Zoo keep endangered white rhinos, giraffes, and elephants. East African crowned cranes and Marabou storks rest near a pond that runs under a wooden bridge carving a visitor trail through the African plains with exhibits of lions, wild dogs and baboons. Toward the end are the Australian Plains, occupied by red kangaroos, black swans and emus. One can also see the lorikeets (small parrots) inside an aviary.

Encounters

The Encounters Biome is where visitors are encouraged to interact with the animals. The Encounters Biome connects the Zoo's animals and plants with its visitors by allowing Zoo guests to learn by doing, rather than by observing. At Critter Corner, zookeepers interact one-on-one with visitors to present some of the Zoo's program animals such as snakes, lizards, spiders, and cockroaches, all of which can be touched. Outside are rabbits, horses, donkeys, goats, and llamas.

Dolphin Adventure Pavilion

The Indianapolis Zoo has a large dolphin pavilion, which features a combination of approaches to dolphin/human interaction and some new architecture, including:

The Underwater Dolphin Dome

Recently build is a convert|30|ft|m|sing=on diameter, convert|12|ft|m|sing=on high, underwater dome placed squarely in the middle of the dolphin performance pool – a first for U.S. zoos. Opened on Memorial Day weekend 2005, zoo visitors can now view dolphins from underneath the surface of the water.

Marsh Dolphin Theater

On top of the water, the interior of the Marsh Dolphin Theater features a million-gallon plus pool and a coastal village scene, complete with buildings and wharf, where a dolphin show occurs every day.

Dolphin In-Water Adventure

The Indianapolis Zoo has the Midwest’s only in-water dolphin program for the public, allowing guests to interact with the dolphins in their exhibit.

Future

Komodo Dragon

A Komodo Dragon Exhibit is set to open May 23, 2009. [http://www.indyzoo.com/pdf/2009Preview.pdf]

Gorillas

After opening the Oceans Biome, the Zoo announced it would commence work on a gorilla exhibit, set to open in 2013. This exhibit will also feature Bonobos. [www.allbusiness.com/legal/environmental-law-endangered-species/10583332-1.html]

Mishaps

On August 9, 2006, a truck with a shipment of 24 penguins, an octopus, and several exotic fish from the Indianapolis Zoo to Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, flipped over due to driver error. Several fish died immediately as their bags popped. Three Gentoo penguins were killed after being hit on the roadway. As the truck was turned back over, two Rockhopper penguins were found, one dead and one alive. A King penguin had an injured wing and two other penguins were in shock. The surviving animals were taken to a zoo near Tyler, Texas for treatment. Texas law requires that drivers of such a vehicle hold a CDL to legally drive it, and neither of the women driving the penguins held such a license. The surviving animals eventually arrived at their destination at Moody Gardens. [ [http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5257861&nav=menu188_2 WTHR - Indianapolis News and Weather - Texas crash leaves penguins shaken ] ]

On November 11, 2007, a fire broke out in the Encounters area and killed several small animals. Before 4:30 AM, it started in the Critter Corner building, and firefighters arrived within five minutes. The flame was put out within 35 minutes. However, it killed three turtles, two birds, an armadillo, a snake, several hissing cockroaches and other animals in that time, and more were treated at the zoo's hospital. The Critter Corner temporarily closed and the cause of the fire is unknown. [ [http://www.theindychannel.com/news/14561432/detail.html Several Animals Killed In Indy Zoo Blaze - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis ] ]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.indyzoo.com Official site]
*The Indianapolis Zoo is located at coord|39|46|1|N|86|10|37|W|display=inline,title