Jim Anderson, Director of the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is my 10th interview for the blog.  In June, Fort Wayne opened their biggest addition in zoo history.  Funny thing is African Journey is not an original new exhibit, rather a revamp. But, for anyone that had visited the old African Veldt at Fort Wayne, the new African Journey brought a big, pleasant surprise and an entirely new experience.  Here is the updated zoo map showing the expansive African Journey addition.   Jim touches on:

• African Journey
• his path to Zoo Director
• future projects at the zoo
• the prospect of Tasmanian devils coming back to Fort Wayne
• and more!

Zoo #76 – Zoo Montana.  It’s not everyday that I can make it to a new zoo, so you can imagine my excitement to be in a new state AND a new zoo.  Just like on all my family vacations, I dragged the rest of the gang to the zoo.  Merely an hour after touchdown in Billings, we were at the entrance gates.  Despite being the hottest day of our Western adventure, we all thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  Zoo Montana doesn’t have a huge animal collection, but the exhibits for the animals they do have are really well done.  Much of the small size is due to the zoo’s relative newness.  The 70 acre site only opened in 1993!  What impressed me was the beauty of the zoo grounds.  Set in a forest, there is ample shade along the outdoor trail plus lots of wildflowers and grassland to offset the towering conifers.   Four gardens are also along the trail, providing a serene atmosphere to sit and enjoy flowers.  The coolest part is a mule deer fawn walked up the neighboring ravine and ate while I sat at the Children’s Garden.

Inside the entrance building, two separate rooms showcase native reptiles and amphibians and other small creatures.  Several terrariums are dedicated to the Wyoming Toad, a species Zoo Montana is helping to re-introduce into the wild in an attempt to boost numbers.  Other animals include green tree python, chinchilla, and an owl.

Homestead House is Zoo Montana’s take on a Children’s Zoo, and replicates a turn of the century western farmhouse.  Inside are huge rabbits, sheep, pigs, and horses.  Peacocks, which have the freedom of the entire zoo tend to hang out over here as well.  Surrounding the House are cut out boards (great picture opportunity), old farm equipment, and a pond inhabited by native wildlife.

Two injured eagles perch by the Children's Playground

The zoo houses hardy animals, able to withstand the cold Montana winters.  This helps the zoo stay open all year round.  Amur tigers, red pandas, and sika deer make up the Asian corner at the back of the trail.  Wolves, porcupines, otters, waterfowl, and bighorn sheep are found in the middle of the zoo after crossing Canyon Creek.   Almost all of the exhibits have multiple viewing stations making it easier to spot animals.  Zoo Montana is also one of only a handful of American zoos to house wolverines, which based on their size most people would have no idea the punch they pack.

Next door to the wolverines is the main attraction at the zoo – Bruno the grizzly bear.  Bruno lives in the zoo’s best exhibit, the aptly named Bear Meadows.  At 2 acres, Meadows, which opened in 2008 is much larger than most bear exhibits around the country.  And it’s full of stuff for both bear and man to enjoy.  Inside the exhibit, Bruno can meander through tall grass, relax in a deep pool, climb on trees, play with balls, and one his favorite activities is helping to squeegee the windows.

Bruno likes to help clean the windows

Much like the rest of the zoo grounds, the visitor path is surrounded by wildflowers, and in this case colorful poppies.  If Bruno happens to be away from the windows, visitors can walk up to an elevated overlook just in front of a big shady tree.

Wildflowers are all over the zoo.

Zoo Montana isn’t going to take you a whole day to stroll through.  But it’s a beautiful setting, great for photography (both the animals and surroundings), has some interesting animals, and is unique when compared to Midwestern zoos of similar size.  It’s definitely worth a stop if you need a break driving through the enormous state which is Montana or if you fly into Billings and have a couple of hours.  If you can’t make the trip (it took me a while), keep up to date with Zoo Montana’s news on their blog.

A new philosophy on Children’s Zoos popped up in 2001 .  Since then, several zoos have created their own version of an interactive play filled space for kids to learn and have fun at the same time.  Nature’s Neighborhood, opened June 19th is Toledo Zoo’s answer to building a strong connection between next generation’s adults and the natural world.

Dr. Anne Baker, executive director of the Ohio institution answered a few questions about Neighborhood and everything else going on at Toledo this year.  As always, I ask about her favorite animal currently at the zoo and on the wish list and Dr. Baker had an interesting take on the question.  Don’t miss her intriguing answer.

Male bustard strutting his stuff

Is there a more recognizable individual rhino in America? Hard to miss that horn.

Kids can strap these on and make animal tracks in the sand

Underwater viewing allows for great views of these skilled swimmers

Kids can put on costumes and pretend to be bees in Nature's Neighborhood

Saturday June 27th was a busy day at southern Michigan’s Binder Park Zoo.  The annual 5K Cheetah Chase had eager runners passing giraffes early in the morning and later in the afternoon I made a presentation about America’s Best Zoos with a signing afterward.  Fortunately, the weather was near perfect and lacked the humid bite so often a daily requirement for Midwestern summers.

In between the events were plenty of visitors enjoying the beautiful day the best way possible – touring the excellent zoo!  Battle Creek, Michigan is hardly on the short list of places expected to see a well executed re-creation of an African savanna, but the fictional Zuri National Park serves as the medium to transport guests from an American forest to an open East African plain.  On top of the 18 acre main antelope filled expanse, winding paths stroll past monkeys, birds, wild dogs, and African farm.  Got lots of great pictures, especially of the giraffe-human interaction, so here’s a few.

P.S.  Forgot two blog links last time.  Even though they are in my blogroll, I think they deserve a noteworthy mention.  First, Paul Becker is working on a project examining the sociology of zoos.  As he and his wife Cathy visit zoos, they write about each experience with insightful and honest observations.  Read them here – Animal Ruminations.
Second, who doesn’t love baby animals?  I mean seriously, is it even possible to say “ugly” and “baby animal” in the same sentence?  For all the cute and cuddly faces Zoo Borns is the place to be.

Wild Africa's Monkey Valley is home to colobus and black mangabeys

Cooled rocks, plenty of shade, and several misters keep the cold weather cats cool in the summer

Many zoos now offer giraffe feedings, but only a couple are in the same league as Binder Park's

An impressive set of horns awaits at the African farm

The Peoria Zoo was not featured in America’s Best Zoos, but a big change has put the small Illinois zoo into national attention this year.  The opening of Africa! on June 6th is by far the largest ever project at the zoo.  Peoria’s director, Yvonne Strode took a few minutes to discuss the new addition and helps familiarize us with the rest of the zoos’ offerings.

Mixing species can bring more active animals

Young playful lions

Mom, wife, aunt. These three lucky ladies joined me in Peoria

Smallest foxes have biggest ears

Mike Crowther, CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo is my latest interview guest.  Komodo dragons dominate the zoo news in Indy, as a pair of the giant lizards are the newest residents, so we talk about the intended visitor impact.  As always we delve into the personal journey to zoo head, and other happenings around Indianapolis including:

• Artificial insemination with African elephants
• Opening of cheetah exhibit next year
• Conservation programs in which Indianapolis participates
• the Indianapolis Prize….and more!

One more thing – maybe it’s because I live 15 minutes from the zoo, but Mike and I went a little longer than normal (55 minutes) with the interview.   That should make up for going 2 weeks without posting an interview.

One of two grizzly cubs orphaned in Alaska now living at Indy

These noisy birds were moved to make room for cheetahs.

Summer time brings three daily opportunities to feed sweet potatoes to giraffes

Lemurs are a conservation focus at Indy

Randy Wisthoff, Director of the Kansas City Zoo is my guest for interview #4.  KC celebrated its 100th birthday by opening Tropics on May 1st.  Filled with primates from three continents, Tropics has been a huge hit so far.  Randy talks about the components of the newest addition, as well as other events at the zoo.

The book signing on May 31st was the most successful to date, and I had the pleasure of meeting some great KC Zoo supporters and volunteers.  Wildlife photography is a hobby of mine, so it was a treat when several members of the KC Zoo Photo Club stopped by.  The large open exhibits in Africa present numerous opportunities for great photos.  I posted a few of my own below, but their website has many many more.

Unique viewing of otters and gibbons. Visitors can see otters swim underneath the path and gibbons can swing overhead.

Saki monkeys are in the new Tropics building

Kansas City has 6 elephant cows roaming a long expansive exhibit

Hammerkops are one of many bird species in a walk through African aviary

Warthogs have a dry riverbed exhibit in front of a trio of cheetah sisters

Interview #3 is with Mark Reed, Executive Director of the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas. Among other prestigious accolades, Mark is a former President of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and has lead Sedgwick since 1991.  Mark graciously gave me an extensive tour of every part of the zoo, proudly showing off the wonderful place he’s built.  Having never visited before, I was stunned at the animal collection and quality exhibits for lions, tigers, gorillas, penguins, and birds in a 32 year old rain forest.

Memorial Day Weekend is widely considered to be the beginning of “zoo season” and Sedgwick started it off with a bang.  Slawson Family Tiger Trek, opened May 22nd, brought tigers back to the zoo after a 10 plus year gap.  Red pandas and rare Eld’s deer are tiger neighbors.  Trek is another great addition to Sedgwick, a truly amazing zoo in an unlikely place.

Mark and I discuss:

• the unique features of Tiger Trek
• how the economic downturn has affected the zoo
• the importance of community support and how it has led to Sedgwick’s success
• Mark’s involvement in AZA
• future projects at Sedgwick…..and more!

From an elevated boardwalk, visitors can see the larger of the 2 tiger habitats and one for deer

Tigers may be the main attraction, but this red panda has been a huge hit in Wichita

Sedgwick has a long boat ride passing North American and African animals, including this pelican island.

Inside the Jungle, a colony of fruit bats dangles above visitors.

An otter mom was busy teaching her four pups how to swim.

Conveniently located less than a mile off Interstate 44 in Springfield, Missouri, the Dickerson Park Zoo is not only a great stop for weary travelers, but also an excellent AZA accredited institution well worth a visit for any zoo fan.  Featured in the Best of the Rest section of America’s Best Zoos, Dickerson Park has an excellent collection of animals from every major wildlife laden continent.  South America is extensive, so is Africa, but the jewel of the zoo might be the Missouri Habitats.  Well shaded in a broad leaf forest, black bears and coyotes (together in one exhibit), otters, red fox, bobcats, cougars,  timber wolves, deer and turkeys are all here.  Australia and Asian animals are represented too, with the latters elephant herd breeding success making the zoo famous worldwide.

If you want to keep up with events and news, check out the blog – DPZ Blog.

If you Facebook, Twitter, or frequent You Tube, Dickerson Park has an outlet for all three.

Visitors can get close to a pair of cougars in the Missouri Habitats

Musky maned wolves can be smelled from a mile away!

The Diversity of Life building holds the zoo's colorful reptile and amphibian collection

DPZ has a large (and growing) herd of rarely seen Baringo giraffes.

In addition to Brookfield, I had the pleasure of visiting the wonderful St. Louis Zoo last week as well. I went on a photographic safari with a good friend, and we had success – over 1,500 shots between us! It had been 3 years since my last visit, and it was great to be back. St. Louis has an intimate charm around the grounds, mixing the creative architectural structures of Historic Hill with cutting edge habitats like River’s Edge and Penguin/Puffin Coast. The collection is tough to beat, with only an extensive aquarium missing. We had heard about a few zoo babies and weren’t disappointed. Most, like the kudu, takin, and camel were in the Red Rocks area, but the otter, sifaka, prairie dog, and penguin youngsters were just as cute.

Even better was the opportunity to see both of the zoo’s elephant calves – Maliha and Jade. Both contracted the deadly EEHV virus, a mysterious disease of which the origins are unknown and survival rates are dismal. Amazingly, despite past minimal success in zoos, through intense care and antibiotics, both elephants recovered.

Jade has an especially difficult early life, as first time mom Rani refused nursing. Jade is now growing up with grandma Ellie and her daughter Maliha. When the zoo opened, the elephant area of River’s Edge was off limits, so Jade could be re-introduced to the herd. Keepers had set aside 2 hours for them to once again settle together. It took less than 45 minutes for caretakers to allow visitors to view the re-united pair.

No new exhibits opening this year, but a seasonal stingray touch pool is set near the zoo’s center.  These touch areas have been a temporary treat at many zoos around the country, but not all offer feeding.  Stingrays of Caribbean Cove at St. Louis presents that opportunity and no matter how many times I do it, having a stingray gently suck a shrimp from between my fingers is always exhilarating.  Don’t pass it up if you get the chance!

A few photos from the safari:

River's Edge starts off with an energetic quartet of rarely seen bush dogs

Maliha, Jade, and Ellie in the herd yard

The smallest species of bear, the sun bear

The famous 1904 Flight Cage has been renovated into a lush Cypress swamp

Underwater viewing at Hippo Harbor presents intense photographic opportunities

A huge Reticulated python resides in the Reptile House

We caught feeding time for the penguins!

Monsanto Insectarium has one of the best collections of insects and arachnids around.