Indianapolis Zoo: touch a shark, feed a giraffe, have a blast!
Published: Apr 4, 2009
With attractions such as the world’s only underwater dolphin viewing dome, one of the country’s largest shark touch pools, giraffe feeding and a growing herd of African elephants, it's no surprise that the Indianapolis Zoo draws up to 1 million visitors per year.
Now zoo visitors can expect even more to see and do.
New features coming in 2009 include the Plains Biome (a biome is a habitat), where a new Komodo dragon home is being constructed is scheduled to be unveiled on Memorial Day weekend across from what has been the Australian Plains areas.
In addition, construction on a new Cheetah exhibit will begin this year, with opening expected some time in 2010.
The zoo, which opened in 1964, s also host to an aquarium and botanical gardens. It divides its primary areas into five biomes, each of which attempts to replicate the inhabitants' natural habitat as closely as possible.
About 360 species of animals and 1,700 species of plants live in the simulated natural habitats — some of which have won international awards for their contribution to conservation and breeding programs. The areas include:
• The Forests Biome, featuring the endangered Amur tiger of Siberia, as well as Asian otters, eagles, ravens, vultures and Alaskan brown bears;
•The Oceans Biome, which includes sharks (you can touch some of them), moray eels, polar bears, California sea lions, and harbor seals and gray seals;
• Tthe Desert Biome, among the most popular parts of the zoo, which includes extremely rare versions of the iguana and a visitor favorite, the Meerkat;
• The Plains Biome, which features kudu, zebras, ostriches, vultures, cranes, marabou, lions, wild dogs and baboons;
• And the Encounters Biome, where visitors can interact one-on-one with a few more human-friendly types, such as a pony, pygmy goat or llama.
Zoo hours change with the seasons. Click here for a full breakdown of operating days and hours throughout the year.
- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro
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