The Indianapolis Zoo is a non-profit

zoo A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes. The term ''zoological garden'' refers to z ...

, public aquarium, and

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

, United States. Incorporated in 1944, the Indianapolis Zoological Society established the first zoo at George Washington Park in 1964. The current zoo opened in 1988 at White River State Park near

downtown Indianapolis Downtown Indianapolis is a neighborhood area and the central business district of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Downtown is bordered by Interstate 65, Interstate 70, and the White River, and is situated near the geographic center of Ma ...

. It is among the largest privately funded zoos in the U.S. The institution is accredited by the

Association of Zoos and Aquariums The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), originally the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1924 and dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in ...

and

American Alliance of Museums American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It was the first in the U.S. to receive triple accreditation as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden. The zoo is a leader in animal conservation and research, recognized for its biennial

Indianapolis Prize The Indianapolis Prize is a biennial prize awarded by the Indianapolis Zoo to individuals for "extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts" affecting one or more animal species. Overview The Indianapolis Prize was established by the India ...

and as home to the Global Center for Species Survival through its partnership with the

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

. In 2020, the zoo housed more than 1,400 animals of 235 species while the adjoining White River Gardens contained more than 50,000 plants of nearly 3,000 species, respectively. The Indianapolis Zoo is a significant economic driver in the city and among its most visited attractions. In 2021, the zoo employed 700 people and welcomed 1.2 million guests, contributing nearly $60 million annually to the city's economy.

Site and access

The Indianapolis Zoo is situated within White River State Park, about west of Monument Circle on the eastern edge of the Near Westside neighborhood area. The White River hugs the zoo's northern and eastern boundaries, physically separating the facility from

. Visitors arriving by car access the parking lot from West Washington Street, which forms the zoo's southern boundary. Parking is free for zoo members and $10 for non-members. The zoo is accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, or other non-motorists via the White River Trail which runs between its namesake river and the zoo's property. Public transportation serves the facility via IndyGo's Route 8. The former Washington Street Bridge spanning the White River was completed in 1916 as part of the

National Road The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a main tran ...

. In 1984, construction began on the realignment of Washington Street to the south to make way for the zoo's development. The bridge was preserved and renovated in the 1990s to carry non-motorized traffic between downtown and the zoo's east entrance at White River Gardens.

History

Beginnings

Limited in number and species, Indianapolis's earliest captive animals were located in small exhibits at various city parks. Brookside Park was home to a collection of birds, including cockatoos, parrots, and macaws. Garfield Park contained a bear and several monkeys. Riverside Park exhibited a pair of sea lions. By 1906, the Indianapolis Parks Department consolidated the various exhibits into a single site at Riverside. The zoological garden's demise came amid wartime conservation efforts as the U.S. entered

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

. The park board began selling the animals in 1916 and the zoo was officially closed in 1917. In 1944,

Lowell Nussbaum Lowell Nussbaum (born November 6, 1901 – November 22, 1987) was a professional journalist whose ''The Things I Hear'' column ran in ''The Indianapolis Star'' newspaper from 1945 to 1971. He was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame ...

, columnist for the ''

Indianapolis Times The ''Indianapolis Times'' was an evening newspaper that served the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1888 to 1965 when the paper ceased publishing. History The ''Indianapolis Times'' began as the ''Sun'' in 1888, "the only one cent paper ...

'', and later the ''

Indianapolis Star Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

'', began to advocate for a zoo through his column "Inside Indianapolis", which inspired the incorporation of the Indianapolis Zoological Society in October 1944. Soon after, members outlined plans for the zoo. Group members were adamant that "the zoo will rely on admissions, in-park sales, contributions, and memberships to support the zoo". However, it would not be until 20 years later, in 1964, that the zoo would open to the public.

Washington Park

The Indianapolis Zoo opened as Washington Park Children's Zoo on April 18, 1964, at Washington Park on East 30th Street. In its first year, the new attraction drew more than 270,000 visitors. The zoo originally featured an Asian elephant, penguins, kangaroos, foxes, raccoons, camels, bison, deer, lambs, tortoises, llamas, prairie dogs, pygmy goats, and buffalo exhibits. In 1965, the zoo became one of few in the country to employ a full-time education staff. By the 20th anniversary of the zoo, its animal collection had doubled in size and it was determined that the zoo needed a new location where it could continue to expand.

Move to White River State Park

In 1982, international zoo, aquarium, and wildlife authorities gathered to set goals for establishing the new zoo. It was determined that a zoo should not only be a place to see animals, but also an institution of conservation and education. That same year, White River State Park was announced as the new site of the zoo. The groundbreaking at the new downtown location was held in September 1985. The old zoo closed in 1987. The current zoo at White River State Park opened on June 11, 1988, with a size of . Jeffrey Bonner began his tenure as the zoo's president and chief executive officer in January 1993. After the construction of the Waters building and the Dolphin Pavilion, the zoo earned AZA accreditation as an aquarium as well as a zoo. In 1996, the Indianapolis Zoo became the first institution to be triple-accredited as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden. White River Gardens was considered a separate facility from 1999 to 2006, but now is included as part of the zoo. The world's first successful

artificial insemination Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse. It is a fertility treatment ...

of an African elephant occurred at the zoo in 2000.

Time under Michael Crowther (2002–2019)

Michael Crowther Michael I. Crowther (born 1952) is a retired American zoological conservationist. He was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Zoo in 2002 and retired in January, 2020.''School of the Black and Red''. A History of Be ...

was appointed president and chief executive officer of the zoo in June 2002. During his tenure, the zoo experienced a nearly 240 percent increase in annual revenue, a 700 percent increase in the value of its endowment, a 27 percent increase in total assets, and a 34 percent rise in attendance. Under Crowther's leadership, numerous capital projects were undertaken and the

was established. A $10 million renovation of the Dolphin Pavilion opened in May 2005, including an underwater dolphin viewing dome and new programming. The following season, a $400,000 renovation of the Deserts Dome was completed. The zoo invested nearly $10 million in a redesigned Oceans building, which debuted in 2007. Construction at the Indianapolis Zoo - 2013

Construction at the Indianapolis Zoo - 2013

In September 2012, the zoo broke ground on the $21.5 million Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center which serves not only as an exhibit for guests to enjoy, but also as a research hub to assist with orangutan conservation. The project was partially funded by a $2 million donation from the family foundation of Dean and Barbara White. The exhibit houses nine

orangutan Orangutans are great apes native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. They are now found only in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, but during the Pleistocene they ranged throughout Southeast Asia and South China. Classified in the genu ...

s and features a -tall viewing atrium and an aerial cable ride to give visitors a one of a kind view of the animals. The exhibit includes a series of cable highways to allow the orangutans to travel throughout the zoo at their leisure. The exhibit opened Memorial Day weekend 2014. In October 2019, the zoo acquired two parcels for a combined south of Washington Street. One parcel, consisting of of the former

General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...

plant site, was donated to the zoo by Indianapolis-based developer Ambrose Property Group, while the second parcel—consisting of of undeveloped land—was purchased from Ambrose for $3 million. Upon the announcement, zoo officials said the first parcel would "almost immediately" be used as an overflow parking lot. Further, a zoo spokesperson said the existing surface parking lot would "likely be converted into new exhibits and other zoo programming," though years of planning were anticipated.

Time under Robert Shumaker (2020–present)

Dr. Robert Shumaker was appointed president in 2016 and assumed the role of chief executive officer in January 2020, following Crowther's retirement. Since 2020, the zoo has debuted three exhibitions: Elephant Tembo Camp (2020), Alligators & Crocodiles: The Fight to Survive (2021), and Kangaroo Crossing (2022), with a total investment of nearly $4.8 million. In December 2022, officials announced a $53 million fundraising campaign, the largest in the zoo's history. The campaign will finance capital projects, including the construction of a $5 million entry plaza and welcome center and a $13 million home for the Global Center for Species Survival. Construction began in September 2021 and is projected to conclude in May 2023. A $25 million International Chimpanzee Complex is planned to open in May 2024.

Biomes and exhibits

The Indianapolis Zoo is organized around the concept of

biome A biome () is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader ...

s, or areas of the planet with similar climates, plants, and animals. Animals at the Indianapolis Zoo are clustered in groups with similar habitats, which define each biome. The "‡" symbol denotes animals that are part of the zoo's

captive breeding program Captive breeding, also known as captive propagation, is the process of plants or animals in controlled environments, such as wildlife reserves, zoos, botanic gardens, and other conservation facilities. It is sometimes employed to help species that ...

, as recognized by the

Species Survival Plan The American Species Survival Plan or SSP program was developed in 1981 by the (American) Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the ...

Deserts

Indianapolis Zoo - May 2009 - Quinn Dombrowski 33

, the Deserts biome contains the following: Deserts Dome * Blue-tongued skink (''Tiliqua multifasciata'') *

Burmese star tortoise The Burmese star tortoise (''Geochelone platynota'') is a critically endangered tortoise species, native to the dry, deciduous forests of Myanmar (Burma). It is close to extinction in Myanmar, as it is eaten by the native Burmese. Description ...

(''Geochelone platynota'')‡ *

Central bearded dragon The central bearded dragon (''Pogona vitticeps''), also known as the inland bearded dragon, is a species of agamid lizard found in a wide range of arid to semiarid regions of eastern and central Australia. Taxonomy ''Pogona vitticeps'' was fir ...

(''Pogona vitticeps'') * Colorado River toad (''Incilius alvarius'') *

Common chuckwalla ''Sauromalus ater'', also known as the common chuckwalla, is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. It inhabits the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its range extends from eastern Ca ...

(''Sauromalus ater'') *

Desert tortoise The desert tortoise (''Gopherus agassizii''), is a species of tortoise in the Family (biology), family Testudinidae. The species is native to the Mojave Desert, Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexic ...

(''Gopherus agassizii'') * Eastern snake-necked turtle (''Chelodina longicollis'') * Egyptian tortoise (''Testudo kleinmanni'')‡ * Grand Cayman blue iguana (''Cyclura lewisi'')‡ *

Jamaican iguana The Jamaican iguana (''Cyclura collei''), also known commonly as Colley's iguana, is a large species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. The species is endemic to Jamaica. It is critically endangered, even considered extinct between 1948 and 1990. ...

(''Cyclura collei'')‡ *

Leopard tortoise The leopard tortoise (''Stigmochelys pardalis'') is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. It is the only extant member of the genus ''Stigmochelys'', althoug ...

(''Stigmochelys pardalis'') * Mali spiny-tailed lizard (''Uromastyx dispar'') *

Meerkat MeerKAT, originally the Karoo Array Telescope, is a radio telescope consisting of 64 antennas in the Meerkat National Park, in the Northern Cape of South Africa. In 2003, South Africa submitted an expression of interest to host the Square Ki ...

(''Suricata suricatta'')‡ * Northern bobwhite (''Colinus virginianus'') * Radiated tortoise (''Astrochelys radiata'')‡ * Rhinoceros iguana (''Cyclura cornuta'') * Spider tortoise (''Pyxis arachnoides'')‡ * Sudan plated lizard (''Broadleysaurus major'') Size, Speed & Venom: Extreme Snakes *

Aruba Island rattlesnake :''Common names: Aruba rattlesnake,U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. . Aruba island rattlesnake,Klauber LM. 1997. Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mank ...

(''Crotalus unicolor'')‡ * Banded rock rattlesnake (''Crotalus lepidus klauberi'') *

Black mamba The black mamba (''Dendroaspis polylepis'') is a species of highly venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. It is native to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. First formally described by Albert Günther in 1864, it is the second-longest ...

(''Dendroaspis polylepis'') * Brazilian rainbow boa (''Epicrates cenchria'') *

Burmese python The Burmese python (''Python bivittatus'') is one of the largest species of snakes. It is native to a large area of Southeast Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Until 2009, it was considered a subspecies of the Indian pytho ...

(''Python bivittatus'') *

Cape cobra The Cape cobra (''Naja nivea''), also called the yellow cobra, is a moderate-sized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa including arid savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert and semi-desert reg ...

(''Naja nivea'') * Cottonmouth (''Agkistrodon piscivorus'') *

Eastern copperhead The eastern copperhead (''Agkistrodon contortrix''), also known as the copperhead, is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper, endemic to eastern North America; it is a member of the subfamily Crotalinae in the family Viperidae. The eastern co ...

(''Agkistrodon contortrix'') * Eastern green mamba (''Dendroaspis angusticeps'') * Eyelash bush viper (''Atheris ceratophora'') * Gaboon viper (''Bitis gabonica'') * Gila monster (''Heloderma suspectum'') *

Jamaican boa The Jamaican boa or yellow snake
a

(''Chilabothrus subflavus'')‡ * Madagascar giant hognose (''Leioheterodon madagascariensis'') * Eastern massasauga (''Sistrurus catenatus'')‡ * Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake (''Crotalus polystictus'')‡ *

Red spitting cobra The red spitting cobra (''Naja pallida'') is a species of spitting cobra native to Africa. Description This medium-sized cobra attains lengths between , but may grow to a maximum length of around in very rare cases. It is often thought of as a ...

(''Naja pallida'') *

Reticulated python The reticulated python (''Malayopython reticulatus'') is a python species native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the world's longest snake, and is among the three heaviest. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List because of its ...

(''Malayopython reticulatus'') * Santa Catalina Island rattlesnake (''Crotalus catalinensis'')‡ * Taylor's cantil (''Agkistrodon taylori'') * Timber rattlesnake (''Crotalus horridus'')

Flights of Fancy

, Flights of Fancy contains the following: Budgie and Lorikeet Aviaries *

Blue-bellied roller The blue-bellied roller (''Coracias cyanogaster'') is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across Africa in a narrow belt from Senegal to northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is resident, apart from some local seasonal ...

(''Coracias cyanogaster'')‡ *

Budgerigar The budgerigar ( ; ''Melopsittacus undulatus''), also known as the common parakeet or shell parakeet, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot usually nicknamed the budgie ( ), or in American English, the parakeet. Budgies are the only spe ...

(''Melopsittacus undulatus'') *

Cockatiel The cockatiel (; ''Nymphicus hollandicus''), also known as weiro (also spelt weero), or quarrion, is a medium-sized parrot that is a member of its own branch of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. They are prized as household pets and c ...

(''Nymphicus hollandicus'') *

Crested coua The crested coua (''Coua cristata'') is a common medium sized bird member of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. It is endemic to Madagascar, mainly found in the coastal regions of the island. The crested coua is a weak flyer, so it will often be obser ...

(''Coua cristata'')‡ * Crested wood partridge (''Rollulus rouloul'')‡ * Eastern yellow-billed hornbill (''Tockus flavirostris'') * Green-naped lorkeet (''Trichoglossus haematodus'') *

Green wood hoopoe The green wood hoopoe (''Phoeniculus purpureus'') is a large, up to long, near-passerine tropical bird native to Africa. It is a member of the family Phoeniculidae, the wood hoopoes, and was formerly known as the red-billed wood hoopoe. Descri ...

(''Phoeniculus purpureus'')‡ * Helmeted guineafowl (''Numida meleagris'') *

Indian peafowl The Indian peafowl (''Pavo cristatus''), also known as the common peafowl, and blue peafowl, is a peafowl species native to the Indian subcontinent. It has been introduced to many other countries. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and ...

(''Pavo cristatus'') * Rainbow lorikeet (''Trichoglossus moluccanus'') * Red lory (''Eos bornea'') *

Superb starling The superb starling (''Lamprotornis superbus'') is a member of the starling family of birds. It was formerly known as ''Spreo superbus''. Distribution This species has a very large range and can commonly be found in East Africa, including Ethio ...

(''Lamprotornis superbus'') *

Taveta golden weaver The Taveta weaver (''Ploceus castaneiceps''), also known as the Taveta golden weaver, is a species of bird in the weaver family, Ploceidae. It is found on the African savannah in Kenya and Tanzania. The name of the bird comes from the unique m ...

(''Ploceus castaneiceps'') *

Vulturine guineafowl The vulturine guineafowl (''Acryllium vulturinum'') is the largest extant species of guineafowl. Systematically, it is only distantly related to other guineafowl genera. Its closest living relative, the white breasted guineafowl, ''Agelastes ...

(''Acryllium vulturinum'') *

White-cheeked turaco The white-cheeked turaco (''Menelikornis leucotis'') is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae. It is found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. A mid-sized species, it measures about in length, including a tail of , and weighs about . ...

(''Menelikornis leucotis'') Flamingo Pool * Caribbean flamingo (''Phoenicopterus ruber'')‡ * Chilean flamingo (''Phoenicopterus chilensis'')‡ Other animals *

Arctic fox The Arctic fox (''Vulpes lagopus''), also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, is a small fox native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. It is well adapted to living in ...

(''Vulpes lagopus'') *

Great horned owl The great horned owl (''Bubo virginianus''), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air"), or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extre ...

(''Bubo virginianus'') *

Hoffmann's two-toed sloth Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (''Choloepus hoffmanni''), also known as the northern two-toed sloth is a species of sloth from Central and South America. It is a solitary, largely nocturnal and arboreal animal, found in mature and secondary rainf ...

(''Choloepus hoffmanni'')‡ * Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (''Choloepus didactylus'')‡ *

Red-tailed hawk The red-tailed hawk (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a bird of prey that breeds throughout most of North America, from the interior of Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies. It is one of the most common members wit ...

(''Buteo jamaicensis'') *

Rock hyrax The rock hyrax (; ''Procavia capensis''), also called dassie, Cape hyrax, rock rabbit, and (in the King James Bible) coney, is a medium-sized terrestrial mammal native to Africa and the Middle East. Commonly referred to in South Africa as the ...

(''Procavia capensis'')‡ *

Southern ground hornbill The southern ground hornbill (''Bucorvus leadbeateri''; formerly known as ''Bucorvus cafer'') is one of two species of ground hornbill, both of which are found solely within Africa, and is the largest species in the hornbill order worldwide. It ...

(''Bucorvus leadbeateri'')‡

Forests

Indianapolis Zoo - 2011-08-12 - Becker1999 07

, the Forests biome contains the following: Alligators & Crocodiles: The Fight to Survive *

American alligator The American alligator (''Alligator mississippiensis''), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two extant species in the gen ...

(''Alligator mississippiensis'') *

Orinoco crocodile The Orinoco crocodile (''Crocodylus intermedius'') is a critically endangered crocodile. Its population is very small, and they can only be found in the Orinoco river basin in Colombia and Venezuela. Extensively hunted for their skins in the 1 ...

(''Crocodylus intermedius'') Kangaroo Crossing * Citron-crested cockatoo (''Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata'') * Goffin's cockatoo (''Cacatua goffiniana'') * Little corella cockatoo (''Cacatua sanguinea'') *

Major Mitchell's cockatoo Major Mitchell's cockatoo (''Lophochroa leadbeateri''), also known as Leadbeater's cockatoo or the pink cockatoo, is a medium-sized cockatoo that inhabits arid and semi-arid inland areas of Australia, though it is seen regularly in other climat ...

(''Lophochroa leadbeateri'') * Red kangaroo (''Osphranter rufus'') * Salmon-crested cockatoo (''Cacatua moluccensis'') * Sulphur-crested cockatoo (''Cacatua galerita'') * Yellow-crested cockatoo (''Cacatua sulphurea'') Magnificent Macaws *

Blue-and-yellow macaw The blue-and-yellow macaw (''Ara ararauna''), also known as the blue-and-gold macaw, is a large South American parrot with mostly blue top parts and light orange underparts, with gradient hues of green on top of its head. It is a member of the l ...

(''Ara ararauna'') * Blue-throated macaw (''Ara glaucogularis'')‡ *

Great green macaw The great green macaw (''Ara ambiguus''), also known as Buffon's macaw or the great military macaw, is a Central and South American parrot found in Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador. Two allopatric subspecies are rec ...

(''Ara ambiguus'') * Hyacinth macaw (''Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus'')‡ *

Military macaw The military macaw (''Ara militaris'') is a large parrot and a medium-sized macaw that gets its name from its predominantly green plumage resembling a military parade uniform. It is native to forests of Mexico and South America and though conside ...

(''Ara militaris'') * Red-and-green macaw (''Ara chloropterus'') * Scarlet macaw (''Ara macao'') Other animals *

Aardvark The aardvark ( ; ''Orycteropus afer'') is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Unlik ...

(''Orycteropus afer'')‡ * Alaskan brown bear (''Ursus arctos middendorffi'') *

Bald eagle The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche as ...

(''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') *

Golden eagle The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird ...

(''Aquila chrysaetos'') * Lar gibbon (''Hylobates lar'')‡ *

Red panda The red panda (''Ailurus fulgens''), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle ...

(''Ailurus fulgens'')‡ Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center *

Bornean orangutan The Bornean orangutan (''Pongo pygmaeus'') is a species of orangutan endemic to the island of Borneo. Together with the Sumatran orangutan (''Pongo abelii'') and Tapanuli orangutan (''Pongo tapanuliensis''), it belongs to the only genus of great ...

(''Pongo pygmaeus'')‡ *

Sumatran orangutan The Sumatran orangutan (''Pongo abelii'') is one of the three species of orangutans. Critically Endangered, and found only in the north of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, it is rarer than the Bornean orangutan but more common than the recentl ...

(''Pongo abelii'')‡ Tiger Forest * Amur tiger (''Panthera tigris altaica'')‡

Oceans

Quantum Leap Field Trip to the Indianapolis Zoo - 36866807225

, the Oceans biome contains the following: Aquaria *

Angelfish Angelfish may refer to: *Several groups of fish: **Freshwater angelfish, tropical cichlids of the genus ''Pterophyllum'' **Marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae **Atlantic pomfret (''Brama brama''), sold by fishmongers as "angelfish" in Sou ...

Butterflyfish The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae; the bannerfish and coralfish are also included in this group. The approximately 129 species in 12 genera are found mostly on the reefs of the Atlan ...

* Cardinalfish *

Clownfish Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Thirty species of clownfish are recognized: one in the genus '' Premnas'', while the remaining are in the genus '' Amphiprion''. In the wild, t ...

Coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and se ...

* Cownose ray (''Rhinoptera bonasus'') *

Dusky smooth-hound The dusky smooth-hound (''Mustelus canis''), also called the smooth dogfish or the dog shark, is a species of houndshark in the family Triakidae. This shark is an olive grey or brown in color, and may have shades of yellow or grayish white. Femal ...

(''Mustelus canis'') *

Green moray eel The green moray (''Gymnothorax funebris'') is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey, Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, at depths down to . Its length is up to . The common ...

(''Gymnothorax funebris'') *

Pot-bellied seahorse The big-belly seahorse (''Hippocampus abdominalis'') or pot-bellied seahorse is one of the largest seahorse species in the world, with a length of up to , and is the largest in Australia. Seahorses are members of the family Syngnathidae, and ar ...

(''Hippocampus abdominalis'')‡ * Red lionfish (''Pterois volitans'') * Sea anemones *

Southern stingray The southern stingray (''Hypanus americanus'') is a whiptail stingray found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to southern Brazil. It has a flat, diamond-shaped disc, with a mud brown, olive, and gre ...

(''Hypanus americanus'') *

Starfish Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish a ...

Surgeonfish Acanthuridae are the family of surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 86 extant species of marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and popular in a ...

* Unicornfish Ascension St. Vincent Dolphin Pavilion *

Common bottlenose dolphin The common bottlenose dolphin or Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (''Tursiops truncatus'') is a wide-ranging marine mammal of the family Delphinidae. The common bottlenose dolphin is a very familiar dolphin due to the wide exposure it gets in captiv ...

(''Tursiops truncatus'') Penguin Hall * Gentoo penguin (''Pygoscelis papua'')‡ *

King penguin The king penguin (''Aptenodytes patagonicus'') is the second largest species of penguin, smaller, but somewhat similar in appearance to the emperor penguin. There are two subspecies: ''A. p. patagonicus'' and ''A. p. halli''; ''patagonicus'' ...

(''Aptenodytes patagonicus'')‡ *

Southern rockhopper penguin The southern rockhopper penguin group (''Eudyptes chrysocome''), is a species of rockhopper penguin, that is sometimes considered distinct from the northern rockhopper penguin. It occurs in subantarctic waters of the western Pacific and Indian ...

(''Eudyptes chrysocome'')‡ Pinniped Shore *

California sea lion The California sea lion (''Zalophus californianus'') is a coastal eared seal native to western North America. It is one of six species of sea lions. Its natural habitat ranges from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, including the Gulf of Ca ...

(''Zalophus californianus'')‡ * Gray seal (''Halichoerus grypus'')‡ Sharing One World: Long-Tailed Macaques * Long-tailed macaque (''Macaca fascicularis'') Walrus Complex *

Walrus The walrus (''Odobenus rosmarus'') is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the fami ...

(''Odobenus rosmarus'')

Plains

Indianapolis Zoo - 2009-05-19 - Bradley Buhro 07

, the Plains biome contains the following: * Addra gazelle (''Nanger dama'')‡ *

African bush elephant The African bush elephant (''Loxodonta africana'') is one of two extant African elephant species and one of three extant elephant species. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with bulls reaching a shoulder height of up to and a body ...

(''Loxodonta africana'')‡ *

African lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large cat of the genus '' Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adu ...

(''Panthera leo'')‡ *

Cape porcupine The Cape porcupine (''Hystrix africaeaustralis''), Cape crested porcupine or South African porcupine, is a species of Old World porcupine native to central and southern Africa. Description left, 180px, head Cape porcupines are the second larg ...

(''Hystrix africaeaustralis'')‡ *

Cheetah The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being , and as such has evolved specialized ...

(''Acinonyx jubatus'')‡ *

Common ostrich The common ostrich (''Struthio camelus''), or simply ostrich, is a species of flightless bird native to certain large areas of Africa and is the largest living bird species. It is one of two extant species of ostriches, the only living members ...

(''Struthio camelus'') *

Common warthog The common warthog (''Phacochoerus africanus'') is a wild member of the pig family (Suidae) found in grassland, savanna, and woodland in sub-Saharan Africa. In the past, it was commonly treated as a subspecies of ''P. aethiopicus'', but today th ...

(''Phacochoerus africanus'')‡ *

East African crowned crane The grey crowned crane (''Balearica regulorum''), also known as the African crowned crane, golden crested crane, golden crowned crane, East African crane, East African crowned crane, African crane, Eastern crowned crane, Kavirondo crane, South ...

(''Balearica regulorum'')‡ * Eastern white-bearded wildebeest (''Connochaetes taurinus'')‡ * Eastern yellow-billed hornbill (''Tockus flavirostris'') * Grant's zebra (''Equus quagga boehmi'')‡ * Greater kudu (''Tragelaphus strepsiceros'')‡ *

Guinea baboon The Guinea baboon (''Papio papio'') is a baboon from the Old World monkey family. Some (older) classifications list only two species in the genus ''Papio'', this one and the hamadryas baboon. In those classifications, all other ''Papio'' specie ...

(''Papio papio'') *

Reticulated giraffe The reticulated giraffe (''Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata'' or ''G. reticulata''), also known as the Somali giraffe, is a subspecies or species of giraffe native to the Horn of Africa. It lives in Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern K ...

(''Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata'')‡ * Rüppell's griffon vulture (''Gyps rueppelli'')‡ *

Southern white rhinoceros The southern white rhinoceros or southern white rhino (''Ceratotherium simum simum'') is one of the two subspecies of the white rhinoceros (the other being the much rarer northern white rhinoceros). It is the most common and widespread subspecie ...

(''Ceratotherium simum simum'')‡

White River Gardens

* Hellbender (''Cryptobranchus alleganiensis'')

Other attractions

The Indianapolis Zoo offers several seasonal amusement rides, animal feedings, rotating exhibits, and presentations for zoo visitors. , general admission costs cover seven "featured attractions" at the zoo, including zookeeper-led presentations highlighting the zoo's dolphins, macaws (''Magnificent Macaws''), and African elephants (''Tembo Camp''); Shark/Ray Touch Pool; Kangaroo Crossing; Alligators & Crocodiles: The Fight to Survive; and Race A Cheetah. Tickets purchased at additional cost permit visitors to feed flamingos, budgerigars, lorikeets, or giraffes; and enjoy four rides, including the Endangered Species Carousel (

carousel A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (international), roundabout (British English), or hurdy-gurdy (an old term in Australian English, in SA) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular pl ...

); Kōmbo Family Coaster (

roller coaster A roller coaster, or rollercoaster, is a type of amusement ride that employs a form of elevated railroad track designed with tight turns, steep slopes, and sometimes inversions. Passengers ride along the track in open cars, and the rides are ...

); Skyline (

gondola lift A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate ...

); and the White River Junction Train (

train ride A train ride or miniature train consists of miniature trains capable of carrying people. Some are considered amusement rides and some are located in amusement parks and municipal parks. Backyard railroads and ridable miniature railways run on ...

Events

Since 1986, Zoobilation has served as the Indianapolis Zoo's annual

black tie Black tie is a semi-formal Western dress code for evening events, originating in British and American conventions for attire in the 19th century. In British English, the dress code is often referred to synecdochically by its principal element f ...

fundraiser. The outdoor event takes place each June on the zoo grounds, featuring live music and food and beverages from area restaurants. The 2010 event drew about 4,500 attendees and raised more than $1 million to support the zoo's animal care and conservation efforts. The Indianapolis Zoo hosts popular holiday events throughout the year, notably ZooBoo and Christmas at the Zoo. Held annually each October, the Indianapolis Zoo is decorated in recognition of Halloween; ZooBoo encourages guests to wear costumes for

trick-or-treating Trick-or-treating is a traditional Halloween custom for children and adults in some countries. During the evening of Halloween, on October 31, people in costumes travel from house to house, asking for treats with the phrase "trick or treat". The ...

and special programming. Christmas at the Zoo, held from November through December, is credited as the first holiday lights display at a U.S. zoo, having begun in 1967.

Conservation and research

Quantum Leap Field Trip to the Indianapolis Zoo - 36695977072

The Indianapolis Zoo has a multifaceted approach in its conservation and research efforts. The zoo participates in the Species Survival Plans (SSPs) and conservation programs of the

, the national zoo membership organization of the U.S. 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 research projects both in situ and ex-situ on selected species. The Indianapolis Zoo also participates in three conservation and research foundations: the International Elephant Foundation (IEF), the International Iguana Foundation (IIF), and the

International Rhino Foundation The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) is a Texas-based charity focused on the conservation of the five species of rhinoceros: the White Rhinoceros and Black Rhinoceros in Africa, and the Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros and Sumatran Rhinoce ...

(IRF). The Hix Institute also supports the Tarangire Elephant Project in

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

to protect migration corridors from Tarangire National Park to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The zoo has a second partnership with the IUCN – The World Conservation Union, a conservation network. The Indianapolis Zoo, in partnership with the

MacArthur Foundation The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private foundation that makes grants and impact investments to support non-profit organizations in approximately 50 countries around the world. It has an endowment of $7.0 billion and p ...

, is supporting the IUCN's project documenting the known

effects of climate change The effects of climate change impact the physical environment, ecosystems and human societies. The environmental effects of climate change are broad and far-reaching. They affect the water cycle, oceans, sea and land ice ( glaciers), sea le ...

on wildlife habitats. In March 2019, two female African elephants at the Indianapolis Zoo died from an outbreak of

elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHV) or ''Elephantid betaherpesvirus 1'' (ElHV-1) is a type of herpesvirus, which can cause a highly fatal hemorrhagic disease when transmitted to young Asian elephants. In African elephants, related for ...

(EEHV3 strain). Mainly associated with Asian elephants, the EEHV outbreak was a rare instance of the virus infecting elephants of the African species, drawing national interest from researchers. In February 2020, the Indianapolis Zoo hosted a conference convening veterinarians, scientists, and zookeepers from across the U.S. to learn from the case and advance research to benefit conservation efforts.

Indianapolis Prize

The biennial

was established in 2004 to recognize conservationists who have made substantial contributions toward the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. Recipients are awarded the Lilly Medal and US$250,000.

Notable animals

Azy

Azy, a male

, has resided at the Indianapolis Zoo since 2010. Born on December 14, 1977, at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., Azy was a participant in the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Found ...

's Orangutan Language Project, providing researchers and the public insight into great ape language. Dr. Robert Shumaker, current president and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Zoo, has worked with Azy in cognitive learning since 1984.

Rocky

Rocky, a male orangutan, has resided at the Indianapolis Zoo since 2010. Rocky has been noted for his unique vocal demonstrations and ability to "speak". In 2017, Rocky's interactions with a zoo guest were captured in a

viral video A viral video is a video that becomes popular through a viral process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites such as YouTube as well as social media and email.Lu Jiang, Yajie Miao, Yi Yang, ZhenZhong Lan, Alexander H ...

. The guest had recently suffered a burn and had a large bandage covering a portion of her arm and shoulder. The video captures Rocky expressing interest in the bandage, gesturing to it, and seemingly requesting she remove the bandage. The guest did so, and Rocky is seen inspecting her burn.

Tahtsa

Tahtsa, a female

polar bear The polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the largest extant bear spec ...

, resided at the Indianapolis Zoo from 2006 to 2009. Born at the Denver Zoo on November 20, 1974, Tahtsa lived at the Louisville Zoo from March 1976 to October 2006, before her transfer to Indianapolis. Tahtsa died on August 12, 2009, at the age of 34. At the time of her death, she was the oldest polar bear known to be living in captivity or in the wild.

Incidents and controversy

Since the introduction of

common bottlenose dolphin The common bottlenose dolphin or Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (''Tursiops truncatus'') is a wide-ranging marine mammal of the family Delphinidae. The common bottlenose dolphin is a very familiar dolphin due to the wide exposure it gets in captiv ...

s to its collection in 1989, the Indianapolis Zoo has faced criticism from

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevit ...

advocates, including the Indiana Animal Rights Alliance and the Dolphin Project, founded by activist Ric O'Barry. Concerns about the health of the captive mammals, their use in entertainment, and the results of the zoo's dolphin breeding program have been chief among advocates' complaints. Zoo officials have maintained that the dolphins are cared for in accordance with best practices set forth by the

and serve as "ambassadors for their counterparts in the wild" by educating the public. On January 11, 1993, a

wallaroo Wallaroo is a common name for several species of moderately large macropods, intermediate in size between the kangaroos and the wallabies. The word "wallaroo" is from the Dharug ''walaru'', and not a portmanteau of the words "kangaroo" and "wal ...

named Mookie escaped his enclosure and cleared the zoo's perimeter fence. Mookie roamed downtown Indianapolis for about 20 minutes before being recaptured unharmed by zoo officials. On November 8, 1998, a zookeeper cleaning a holding area for Cita—one of the zoo's African elephants—was "slammed" repeatedly by the elephant's trunk, knocking the zookeeper unconscious and breaking several ribs. The zookeeper was hospitalized in critical condition and was later upgraded to fair. Another incident involving the zoo's African elephants occurred on July 18, 2003. Ivory struck and injured a trainer upon reacting to a call from her calf, Ajani. A zoo spokesperson said Ivory was "suffering from separation anxiety during training," as Ajani was in another holding area. The trainer underwent surgery to repair an injury to their lower left leg. On July 17, 2005, a pack of stray dogs breached the zoo's Australian Plains exhibit, killing two

black swan The black swan (''Cygnus atratus'') is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Within Australia, the black swan is nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon ...

s, three

magpie geese The magpie goose (''Anseranas semipalmata'') is the sole living representative species of the family Anseranatidae. This common waterbird is found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. As the species is prone to wandering, especially ...

, and three emus. Indianapolis Police Department officers responded to the scene and attempted to corral the dogs, eventually capturing one but fatally shooting four, while a sixth dog escaped. It was not clear how or where the dogs were able to enter the grounds. On August 9, 2006, a truck carrying a shipment of 24 penguins, an octopus, and several exotic fish from the Indianapolis Zoo overturned near

Marshall, Texas Marshall is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat of Harrison County and a cultural and educational center of the Ark-La-Tex region. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population of Marshall was 23,392; The population of the Greate ...

en route to

Moody Gardens Moody Gardens is an educational tourist destination, with a golf course and hotel in Galveston, Texas which opened in 1986. The non-profit destination uses nature to educate and excite visitors about conservation and wildlife. Moody Gardens featu ...

Galveston, Texas Galveston ( ) is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a population of 47,743 in 2010, is the county seat of surrounding G ...

. Four penguins and several fish died in the crash. On November 10, 2007, a fire in the zoo's Critter Corner building killed at least three turtles, two birds, an armadillo, and a snake. Following the incident,

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA; , stylized as PeTA) is an American animal rights nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. PETA reports that PETA entities hav ...

called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate. An internal inspection the month prior identified no violations, corroborated by the USDA's post-fire inspection. The likely cause of the fire was attributed to combustible bedding that had been moved too close to a heat lamp. On January 19, 2009, 15 bonnethead sharks in the zoo's Oceans exhibit died after staff failed to reopen a valve regulating ozone while the tank was undergoing routine maintenance. The incident prompted zoo officials to reevaluate staff training, repair procedures, and life-support system design. Since its debut in 2014, the zoo's Skyline

has experienced various technical malfunctions that have stranded passengers in midair on a number of occasions. None of the incidents resulted in injuries. On September 6, 2015, a

cheetah The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being , and as such has evolved specialized ...

named Pounce escaped his enclosure, prompting a one-hour lockdown of the zoo facility. Officials subdued Pounce with a tranquilizer dart before the animal was able to enter a publicly accessible area. No zoo staff or visitors were harmed in the incident. In the months following the incident, fencing was added to the cheetah exhibit as part of the zoo's ongoing investments in enclosure safety.

Public art collection

The Indianapolis Zoo's public art collection is composed of several pieces, including ''

American Bison The American bison (''Bison bison'') is a species of bison native to North America. Sometimes colloquially referred to as American buffalo or simply buffalo (a different clade of bovine), it is one of two extant species of bison, alongside the ...

'', '' North American Plains Animals'', and '' Traditional Chinese Lions''. Dedicated in 1999, artist Andrew Reid's ''Midwestern Panorama'' is a cylindrical mural located inside the Bud Schaefer Rotunda of White River Gardens. Artist Arthur Kraft's '' Wynkin, Blynkin and Nod'' are three bronze penguin statues with a silver ball located in the zoo's Oceans building. Originally displayed at Glendale Town Center from October 1960 to July 2016, the sculptures were loaned to the zoo by owner Kite Realty Group. On December 14, 2017, an

Indiana limestone Indiana limestone — also known as Bedford limestone in the building trade — has long been an economically important building material, particularly for monumental public structures. Indiana limestone is a more common term for Salem Limestone, ...

sculpture of Azy (by artist David Petlowany) was unveiled near the zoo's entrance in honor of the resident orangutan's 40th birthday.

References

External links

* {{authority control Zoos in Indiana Non-profit organizations based in Indianapolis White River State Park Protected areas of Marion County, Indiana Tourist attractions in Indianapolis Amusement parks in Indiana Zoos established in 1964 1964 establishments in Indiana Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums