Niabi Zoo

African Lion at Niabi Zoo

Niabi Zoo is an AZA certified zoo in Coal Valley, Illinois, USA. It is home to over 200 species including lories and lorikeets, wallabies, African lions, Asiatic elephants and White-Handed Gibbons. One of the main attractions of the zoo is its section of the zoo called Passport to Africa. The newest addition to Passport to Africa is the Giraffe exhibit which houses 1 male and 2 female giraffes. Inside the giraffe house there are also other smaller exhibits featuring birds, tortoises, Rock Hyrax, and a Fennec Fox. The other exhibits in Passport to Africa are the zebra and ostrich yard, the aviary, the black and white colobus monkeys, and the African lions. Another area of the zoo called the Australian Walkabout which lets visitors walk inside an exhibit that features wallaby and emu, the Australian Walkabout also features an exhibit called Lorikeet Landing which lets the visitors feed and interact with lorikeets.

History

In 1957, Gordon McLain purchased land located just off Route 6 in Coal Valley, Illinois. It took almost two years to clear the ground and construct the first building.

In 1959, Mr. McLain, a masonry contractor with an interest in exotic animals, opened the gates to the public. The McLain’s Wild Animal Farm, later named The McLain Zoo, was a family owned and operated venture.

Mrs. Charles Deere Wiman purchased the farm and additional land in January 1963. In May 1963, she deeded the farm to Rock Island County. The zoo was named Niabi, which means "young deer spared by the hunter" in the Osage language.

The zoo grounds cover 40 acres (160,000 m²), and an additional 200 acres (0.81 km²) is set aside for native flora and fauna preservation. Niabi Zoo is home to over 900 animals representing more than 160 species. Approximately 250,000 visitors a year make Niabi Zoo one of the largest attractions in the Quad Cities. The zoo grounds also offers a playground, a train ride, picnic areas and concession stands.

External links

• Niabi Zoo Home Page
• Site contains 100 pictures of the Quad Cities Niabi Zoo

Coordinates: 41°26′34″N 90°26′02″W / 41.4427°N 90.4339°W / 41.4427; -90.4339