Indianapolis Zoo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter.
It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view.
Please discuss further on the talk page.

Indianapolis Zoo

The entrance to the Indianapolis Zoo
Date opened	1964
Location	Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Number of Species	360 ^[1]
Accreditations/ Memberships	AZA, AAM
Website

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." The primary guiding principle for the Indianapolis Zoo is Senegalese conservationist Baba Dioum's famous statement, "In the end, we will save only what we love; we will love only what we know; we will know only what we are taught." The Indianapolis Zoo's main goal is to help people fall in love with wild things and wild places by building powerful and compelling connections that would otherwise be impossible in today's world.

1 Conservation and Research at the Indianapolis Zoo
2 Biomes
3 Dolphin Adventure Pavilion
4 Mishaps
5 Gallery
6 References
7 External links

[edit] 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, the world's leading 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. Selected by a globally-renowned nominating committee and jury, the finalists for the 2006 Indianapolis Prize included: Dr. George W. Archibald (cranes); Dr. Holly Dublin (African elephants and other IUCN-listed species); Dr. Iain Douglas Hamilton (African elephants); Dr. David Meche (wolves); Dr. Roger Payne (whales and other cetaceans); and Dr. Simon Stuart (amphibians). Award-winning actress Jane Alexander hosted of the 2006 Indianapolis Prize Gala in September 2006 at which the inaugural Prize was presented to Dr. George Archibald. The next Prize is scheduled to be awarded at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on September 27, 2008, again hosted by Jane Alexander.

The Indianapolis Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plans (SSPs) and conservation programs of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), our national zoo membership organization. Multiple staff, from keepers to the curators, are involved in a range of activities, including serving as representatives to AZA steering committees for each species that the Zoo maintains for which an AZA conservation program has been initiated. These steering committees manage the captive populations of AZA member organizations, making decisions from husbandry programs to breeding designations. Steering committees are led by a Species Coordinator. The Indianapolis Zoo sponsors Forests and Deserts Curator Lynne Villers’ role as Species Coordinator of the ring-tailed lemur. In addition, the Zoo has committed the resources to maintain four North American regional studbooks – the African elephant, ring-tailed lemur, collared lemur and Guinea baboon.

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 significant research projects both in situ and ex situ on selected keystone 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). Each of these organizations is a 501(c)3 tax exempt group founded to seek funds to support conservation and research efforts of the particular species they represent. The Zoo is a contributing partner to IRF and supports staff as founding board members of the IEF and IIF. Just some of the projects in which IEF is involved are improving the health and care of the elephants in the Elephant Conservation Centers of Indonesia, supporting the field research of mating strategies of wild male African elephants in Kenya, funding ultrasound workshops for elephant veterinarians and wildlife scientists in Nepal and India, supporting a habitat survey of radio-collared Sri Lankan elephants, developing elephant semen freezing protocols to increase the success of artificial insemination in elephants, and providing three scholarships annually for elephant handlers and veterinarians.

The Hix Institute also supports Dr. Charles Foley and the Tarangire Elephant Project in Tanzania to protect migration corridors from Tarangire National park to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tarangire National Park is located in the heart of Maasai land. The park is an important refuge for animals during dry periods and is home to the fastest growing herd of elephants on the African continent, as well as wildebeest, zebra, antelopes and a host of carnivores. The Maasai are pastoralists and do not usually come into conflict with the wildlife with which they share their land, but in recent years the Maasai have allowed other tribes to grow crops in their traditional grazing range around the park. The result is that traditional migration routes used by the park’s animals have been disrupted by human settlement and agriculture. The Tarangrie Elephant Project is working to stop human encroachment into the last remaining open migration corridors by providing local inhabitants with economic incentives and providing protection to the animals when they leave the Park.

The Zoo has a second partnership with the IUCN – The World Conservation Union, one of the world’s largest conservation networks. The Union brings together 82 States, 111 governmental agencies, more than 800 non-governmental organizations, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. 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. Through the gathering and analysis of the data gathered through this project, the IUCN hopes to guide the development of methods and tools for reducing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable species. This enormous undertaking will require two years to complete. The data will enable us all to better understand which species are at greatest risk.

In addition to the zoo's amazing exhibits, the zoo also has rides for the young children. The rides include a mini train ride, mini rollercoaster ride, small 3D theater, and many more games, rides and restaurents.

[edit] 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 actively participates in conservation and breeding programs and many of them have achieved international recognition for their work both with the animals and breeding.

[edit] Temperate and tropical forests

At the Kodiak Bear exhibit

Temperate and tropical forests of the world are represented in the Forests Biome. As the world's forests are increasingly utilized to meet the increasing demand for paper products, fuel, agriculture, building materials, furniture and urban expansion, forest-dwelling animals are losing their habitats. 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.

[edit] Oceans

The Oceans presented by Old National Bank exhibit opened in 2007 and features the country's largest dogshark touch pool in the Firestone Gallery as its highlight. Also included in this exhibit (formerly the World of Waters) are three species of penguins - king, gentoo and rockhopper - with a new 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. This exhibit is filled with educational and inspirational interpretative signage that draws the connection we all have to the ocean environment, even in land-locked Indiana. As Oceans explores the impact of humans on the animals that live in and around the water, visitors are asked to examine their own roles in contributing to habitat destruction and global warming.

[edit] Marine Mammals

4 barking Sea Lions

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 and features daily sea lion chats. 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, which are also featured in daily chats. The last marine mammals at the Zoo are Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (see Dolphin Adventure below).

[edit] Deserts

With one step, visitors leave Indianapolis and arrive in an amazing desert environment. In fact, the desert habitat is so authentic that the Indianapolis Zoo is known worldwide for its successful research and breeding of some the rarest desert reptiles. The attention to detail in the Deserts Biome sets it apart from other desert exhibits across the USA. 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 keep the temperature in the 80s Fahrenheit. The Deserts Dome re-opened in May 2006 after being closed for nine months undergoing a complete renovation to add a new meerkat exhibit presented by the Carrier Corporation, 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.

A Giraffe at the Indianapolis Zoo during public feeding time. This is one of the exhibits in which the public is encouraged to interact with the animals

[edit] Plains

A slice of Africa is recreated in Indianapolis in 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. Endangered white rhinos are just inches away from visitors, who walk into the rhino exhibit via a rope bridge and onto a roofed shelter. Farther in, giraffes pluck leaves from trees and eat pieces of sweet potato from the hands of visitors during special giraffe feeding times. Elephants interact quietly by a waterhole. 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. Turn the corner and one arrives in the Australian Plains, occupied by red kangaroos, black swans and emus. One can also see the lorikeets (small parrots) inside an aviary.

[edit] Encounters

The Encounters Biome is, as its name suggests, 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 friendly rabbits, horses, donkeys, goats, and llamas.

[edit] Dolphin Adventure Pavilion

Dolphins at the Dolphin Pavilion

The Indianapolis Zoo is perhaps best known for its spectacular dolphin pavilion, which features a combination of new approaches to dolphin/human interaction and some spectacular architecture, including:

[edit] The Underwater Dolphin Dome

The highlight of the Dolphin Adventure is a unique 30-foot diameter, 12-foot high, underwater dome placed squarely in the middle of the dolphin performance pool – a first for U.S. zoos and made possible through the generosity of the Marmon family. Opened on Memorial Day weekend 2005, zoo visitors now have a perspective of dolphins that they have never had before.

[edit] Marsh Dolphin Theater

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

[edit] Dolphin In-Water Adventure

The Indianapolis Zoo has created the Midwest’s only in-water dolphin program for the public, allowing guests to interact with the dolphins in their exhibit. It's a unique combination of classroom experience, conservation message and opportunity to be truly in touch with these marine mammals as you command the dolphins to do tricks, and feed feed them their daily fish. Visitors can register online at indianapoliszoo.com.

[edit] 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 survivors 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 survivors eventually arrived at their destination at Moody Gardens. ^[2]

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 is temporarily closed and the cause of the fire is unknown. ^[3]