Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo 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 American Zoo and Aquarium Association and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium and a botanical garden. The zoo is a private non-profit organization receiving no tax support and is supported entirely by membership fees, admissions, and grants.

The Indianapolis Zoo's 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.

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 are 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 include Dr. George 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 (amphibeans). Award-winning actress Jane Alexander is the host of the 2006 Indianapolis Prize Gala. Honorary Chairs include Harrison Ford, Ted Turner, Roger Sant, Senator Richard Lugar, and Senator Evan Bayh.

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 lead 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.

The Indianapolis Zoo also participates in three conservation and research foundations – the International Elephant Foundation (IEF), International Iguana Foundation (IIF) and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). Each of this organizations are 501(c)3 tax exempt groups 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.

Another method by which the Indianapolis Zoo contributes to conservation and research is the development of an in-house program for scientific investigation. The Zoo has identified six species in the collection to which resources are applied, including African elephants, ring-tailed lemurs, penguins, dolphins, walrus, and rock iguanas as Conservation and Research Project initiatives. Steering committees made up of staff members and outside advisors oversee and guide the efforts. An advisory Research Sub-Committee consisting of professionals from the veterinary, medical and education communities provides guidance and instruction.

The Polly Horton Hix Institute for Conservation and Research is an initiative that supports the Society’s current and future research and conservation programs.

The Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens do not receive any direct public support and are dependent on the generosity of individual, corporate, foundation and estate gifts. Consider an opportunity to partner with us in the vital conservation, research, exhibition and education efforts of the Zoological Society.

The Indianapolis Zoo is organized around the concept of "biomes." What is a biome? 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, you 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.

Temperate and tropical forests of the world are represented in the Forests Biome. As the world's forests are 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.

Currently, the Waters Biome consists of the Dolphin Pavilion, the World of Waters, housing the Zoo’s fish, marine birds, amphibians and the Amazon exhibit, and the walrus, seal, sea lion and polar bear marine mammal exhibits. The Waters Biome uses three type of water: fresh water in the puffin, penguin, Amazon, Indiana Watershed, Rift Lake and polar bear exhibits; salt water in the seal and seal lion, walrus and dolphin exhibits; and, sea water (containing salt and 23 minerals) in other marine animal exhibits. The Waters building portion of this biome will undergo a complete renovation beginning in late 2006, with reopening scheduled for spring 2007. Among the new exhibits planned - a wonderful new shark touch tank!

"The Meerkats" presented by Carrier Corporation is now open! 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 nation. The transparent overhead 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. The Deserts Dome re-opened in May 2006 after being closed for nine months undergoing a complete renovation to add a new meerkat exhibit, plus lots of new reptiles and birds.

A slice of Africa is recreated in Indianapolis in the expansive Plains Biome. Upon entering the biome, visitors see eland, kudu and zebras grazing in their large yard along with ostriches, vultures and other birds. In the distance, giraffes pluck leaves from trees, and 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 you're in the Australian Plains, occupied by red kangaroos and emus. Be sure to see the lorikeets (small parrots) inside the aviary!

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.

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:

The Underwater Dolphin Dome

The highlight of the new 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. Zoo visitors have a perspective of dolphins that they have never had before.

Marsh Dolphin Theater

Meanwhile, on top of the water, the interior of the Marsh Dolphin Theater features a gigantic 2.5 million-gallon pool and a coastal village, complete with buildings and wharf.

Dolphin In-Water Adventure

The Indianapolis Zoo has created the Midwest’s only in-water dolphin program for the public, a unique combination of classroom experience, conservation message and opportunity to be truly in touch with these magnificent marine mammals.

External Links

[www.indyzoo.com Indianapolis Zoo]