Mesker Park Zoo

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Mesker Park Zoo
Date opened 1928
Location Evansville, Indiana, USA
Number of Animals 625
Number of Species 200
Accreditations/
Memberships		 AZA
Website

The Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden is a zoo located in Evansville, Indiana. It is one of the oldest and largest zoos in the state. Set on a spacious 50-acre park, the zoo features 200 species and more than 625 animals roaming freely in natural habitats surrounded by exotic plants, wildflowers, and trees.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

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.[2] Since its founding, the zoo has continued to grow and is undergoing ongoing expansion and renovation. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

[edit] Exhibits

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.[3] Other popular animals are the two reticulated giraffes, several zebras, lions, tigers, and river otters.

[edit] Expansion

A major new project, Amazonia, is currently under construction and will open in 2008. The $11.44 million project includes a tropical rain forest exhibit and significant improvements and additions to the animal health services complex. The exhibit will add more than 150 animals to the zoo and will include a jaguar, tapirs, a toucan, macaws, bats, and iguanas. One of the two existing lakes had to be filled in to provide space for the exhibit.[4] A new $4.2 million main entry complex is also being built and will open along with the new exhibit.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mesker Park Zoo Website. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  2. ^ The Beginnings of Evansville's Mesker Park Zoo. The Boneyard. Retrieved on 2006-12-24.
  3. ^ "Donna the hippo turns a nifty 55", Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved on 2006-12-24. 
  4. ^ "It'll be a jungle out there", Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved on 2006-12-24. 

[edit] External links

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Zoos of Indiana
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Zoos, aquaria and aviaries