Mesker Park Zoo
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| Mesker Park Zoo | |
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| Date opened | 1928 |
| Location | Evansville, Indiana, USA |
| # of Animals | 560 |
| # of Species | 219 |
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The Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden is a zoo located in Evansville, Indiana. Set on a spacious 50-acre park, the zoo features 219 species and 560 animals roaming freely in natural habitats surrounded by exotic plants, wildflowers, and trees.
The zoo was founded in 1928 by Gilmour Haynie and other business leaders. Karl Kae Knecht, a local cartoonist for the Evansville Courier & Press, helped popularize the idea of a zoo. It initially opened with two lion cubs, some antelope, and an elephant. Since its founding, the zoo has continued to grow and is undergoing ongoing expansion and renovation.
Mesker Park was one of the first zoos in the United States to use a moat system to display animals in more natural exhibits. The zoo's exhibits currently include African Rift, African Panorama, Australia, North America, and South America. A popular petting zoo, which was added in 1975, has recently been renovated under the new name Children's Enchanted Forest.
One of Mesker Park Zoo's most famous residents is Donna, the world's oldest living hippopotamus in captivity. She turned 55 in 2006. Other popular animals are the two reticulated giraffes, several zebras, lions, tigers, and river otters.
A major new project, Amazonia, is currently under construction and will open in 2008. The $15 million project includes a new main entry complex, a tropical rain forest exhibit, and significant improvements and additions to the animal health services complex. New animals will include a jaguar, tapirs, a toucan, macaws, bats, and iguanas.
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Conservation biology | List of zoos | List of zoo associations | Zoological Garden | Menagerie | Tourist attraction | Wildlife Conservation | Endangered species |
