Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

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Fort Wayne Children's Zoo


Date opened	1965
Location	3411 Sherman Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
Land area	38 acres (0.15 km²)
Number of Animals	1,500^[1]
Accreditations/ Memberships	AZA
Major exhibits	African Journey, African Lion Exhibit, African Village, Zebra Researcher's Camp (all open 2009), Australian Adventure, Australia After Dark, Sharks, Rays, and Jellyfish Exhibit, Central Zoo, Sea Lion Beach, Indiana Family Farm, Indonesian Rainforest, Orangutan Valley, Tiger Forest, Jungle Domeaviary.
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo Website

The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo (FWCZ) is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. The zoo has been in operation since its 1965 opening in Fort Wayne's Franke Park. The zoo currently houses 1,500 animals. The zoo has continuously ranked among the top zoos in the nation, and most recently ranked in the top eight zoos in the country by FamilyFun Magazine in 2000^[2], and the ninth best zoo in America as published by Child Magazine in 2004.^[3]

1 History
2 Exhibits
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

The FWCZ can trace its origins to 1952 when 54 acres (220,000 m²) were added to Franke Park in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to establish a nature preserve. Local popularity of the preserve led to Fort Wayne officials deciding to build a full-fledged zoo by 1962. The new zoo was to target educating children about animals.

On July 3, 1965, the new Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opened on 5.5 acres (22,000 m²) with 18 animal exhibits. In 1976, a major expansion of the zoo was the African Veldt attraction, where savannah animals grazed in open fields east of the Central Zoo. A domed Indonesian Rainforest exhibit opened in 1995. An Enclosed tiger forest exhibit premiered in 1996.

In 1990, the zoo sponsored a project in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia in an attempt to save five species of rare monkeys and apes.

On May 18, 2004, 7.5-year-old "Coolah," the only Tasmanian devil to live outside of Australia, died from complications of inoperable cancer. Coolah had drawn international attention to Fort Wayne's zoo after Australia banned the export of Tasmanian devils after the species became endangered. Over the years, FWCZ was the home for 12 Tasmanian devils, the most of any zoo in the United States.

In October 2004, five wildebeests broke through a gate and jumped a fence, roaming the streets of north-central Fort Wayne neighborhoods for hours. Eventually, the Fort Wayne Police Department and Animal Care and Control cornered and tranquilized the wildebeests, sending them back to the zoo.^[4]

A striped possum, thought to be one of only six known born in captivity, made its debut at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo on February 23, 2005. Zoo keepers estimate that she was born sometime in the fall of 2004.

On November 2, 2007, artificial rocks made of styrofoam caught fire in the zoo's new African Journey expansion, the largest project in the zoo's 42-year history. The fire happened where workers are currently building an African lion exhibit, which is set to be the centerpiece of the new expansion. Thick black plumes of smoke billowing from the site of the fire were clearly visible across the skies of Fort Wayne and much of the region. No workers or animals were harmed in the blaze.^[5]

[edit] Exhibits

The zoo consists of four self-contained areas themed as different regions of the world.

[edit] African Journey

The $10.5 million African Journey is currently under construction on the former site of the African Veldt.^[6] Once complete in 2009, the African Journey will feature an African Lion exhibit, African Village, interactive cultural center, giraffe feeding area, Savannah Trail, climb-in Land Rovers, new animal exhibits (mongoose, bustards, dik diks and hyenas), a new entry into the wing, and a group educational and picnic area.^[7] Already open to the public is the new Sky Safari, a ski lift-like ride that gives riders an arial view of the African safari.

[edit] Australian Adventure

The Australian Adventure area opens with the Australia After Dark exhibit, featuring nocturnal animals native to Australia. Also included is a 20,000-gallon aquarium which holds the Sharks, Rays, and Jellyfish Exhibit, as well as a model coral reef with tropical fish. A separate building holds bats, echidnas, and owls. In the Kangaroo Walkabout, a roped path leads through an open area of kangaroos, which may cross the path at their leisure. Along the path, there is also a dingo exhibit. An aviary features birds native to Australia. There are other assorted exhibits, and a Dugout Canoe Ride where you can view the Australian Adeventure from a canal.^[8]

[edit] Central Zoo

The Central Zoo includes assorted animals from the Americas and a few from other regions, including prairie dogs, sea lions, African penguins, wallabys, tortoises, alligators and macaws. Sea Lion Beach is a major attraction, and scheduled feedings can be viewed. Monkey Island contains a family of Capuchin monkeys. Peacocks roam freely throughout the zoo. Also located in the Central Zoo are a duckpond and small aviary.^[9]

The recently added Indiana Family Farm expands from the old petting zoo area, which contained only goats, chickens, and deer. Now a model barn and farmhouse, as well as signs from the point of view of children living on a farm, lend atmosphere. Horses, sheep, rabbits, calves, and others are all contained in open stalls and may be pet by visitors. Barn mice and owls can be viewed. Chicks can be handled and lifted from their enclosure. Goats reside in an open paddock which visitors can enter, and can, for a price, be fed goat feed from ice cream cones and milk from bottles, or brushed for free. This area is considered part of the Central Zoo, and is located directly before the exit. The Wild Things Gift Shop was recently expanded at the exit.^[10]

[edit] Indonesian Rainforest

The Indonesian Rainforest features orangutans, tigers, assorted birds, mammals, and primates, as well as a domed area (Domeaviary) containing birds, fish, reptiles, and, until recently, butterflies. This area also contains an Endangered Species Carousel.^[11]