Indianapolis Zoo
Zoo entrance
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| Date opened | April 18, 1964 |
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| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Coordinates | 39°46′1″N 86°10′37″W / 39.76694°N 86.17694°WCoordinates: 39°46′1″N 86°10′37″W / 39.76694°N 86.17694°W |
| Land area | 64 acres (26 ha) |
| Number of animals | 3,800 |
| Number of species | 320 |
| Memberships | AZA,AAM |
| Website | www |
The Indianapolis Zoo is located in White River State Park, in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.
The Indianapolis Zoo is an institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium, and as a botanical garden. The zoo is a private non-profit organization, receiving no tax support and is supported entirely by membership fees, admissions, donations, sales, grants, and an annual fundraiser.
In 1944, thoughts of the Indianapolis Zoo first came to mind by a newspaper columnist named Lowell B. Nussbaum. He began to write his opinions of wanting a zoo through his column "Inside Indianapolis." It was his writing that inspired the Indianapolis people and in October 1944 the "Articles of Incorporation for the Indianapolis zoological society, INC" emerged. Soon the members of this group had outlined the future plans of their zoo, one thing that the group members were adamant about; "the zoo will rely on admissions, in-park sales, contributions and memberships to support the zoo." It first opened to the public in 1964.
The Indianapolis Zoo opened on April 18, 1964, at its original location on East 30th St. The official opening was two decades after the Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc. was formed and planning for the zoo started. 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. At this point, it was determined that the zoo needed a new location where it could continue to expand.
In 1982, international zoo, aquarium, and wildlife authorities gathered to determine goals for establishing the new zoo. It was determined that a zoo should not only be a place to see animals, but an institution of conservation and education. That same year, White River Gardens was declared 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.
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Wikipedia