• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Saturday, May 21, 2022
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

New Indiana zoo exhibit will have lions, servals

Carole by BCR
September 27, 2006
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
26
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

By Kevin Kilbane
kkilbane@news-sentinel.com
Posted on Tue, Sep. 26, 2006

Imagine walking through a concrete tunnel and emerging in an African oasis of tall grasses, small pools of water and a jungle of plants.

From there, the trail meanders across what appears to be an East African savannah, where you encounter new animals around every turn. Along the way, young explorers can crawl through tunnels in the rocks, try on warthog tusks, report animal activity on a database or use remotely controlled video cameras to study lions and zebras.

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo’s new African Journey exhibit will engage visitors in a way they never have been before when it opens in spring 2009, zoo Director Jim Anderson said.

“It’s all those little things and a lot of interactive things that pay off for kids and families,” added Anderson, who announced details of the $7 million project Tuesday afternoon.

The highlight of the announcement was that the zoo already has raised $5.4 million of the estimated cost, capital campaign chairman Mark Hagerman said. The largest contribution has come from Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, which pledged $1.1 million.

“Lincoln is very proud to have a part in helping the zoo continue its tradition of being the very best it can be,” said Jon Boscia, Lincoln Financial Group chairman and chief executive officer. Lincoln Financial has now donated $2.4 million to the 38-acre zoo since it opened in 1965 in Franke Park off Sherman Boulevard.

The zoo plans to continue seeking donations from foundations, businesses and other large donors during the winter, Anderson said. The public will be invited to help beginning this spring.

Transforming the existing African Veldt area, which opened in 1976, into the new African Journey exhibit will be a two-year process, Anderson said. Demolition work will begin after the zoo closes Oct. 15. The area will be closed to visitors during construction, but the zoo hopes to arrange sneak peaks at the area as opportunities present themselves, he said.

The basic form of the current African Veldt area will be preserved, but the contents of the 26-acre exhibit will change dramatically, a written description of the exhibit said.

Instead of walking along the current raised boardwalk around the main veldt area, visitors will travel at ground level along the Savannah Trail. The path will wander along a small stream through grasslands, woodlands and ponds to outcroppings of massive boulders, called kopjes in East Africa.

As in Africa, the kopjes will be home to many different animals, such as deerlike dik diks, hyenas and large birds known as bustards. The fake rock outcroppings also will form the skins around zoo service buildings, making them nearly invisible to visitors, Anderson said.

Large, fake boulders also will frame the lion exhibit, where visitors can get face-to-face with lions through 2-inch-thick secure glass. Youngsters also can peer into the lions’ den by operating a remotely controlled video camera.

The lion exhibit will be large enough to house three adult lions, or a pair of lions and their cubs, said Mark Weldon, zoo animal curator. It will occupy land located approximately where the current African wild dog exhibit stands, Weldon said. The dogs will be sent to another zoo and will not be part of the African Journey exhibit.

Around the lion exhibit, visitors also will be able to see hyenas, vultures, servals and honey badgers. The zoo exhibited the cat-like serval in the 1980s, Weldon said.

The zoo has decided not to display cheetahs, Weldon said, as an exhibit description the zoo presented to prospective large donors earlier this year stated.

The zoo also hasn’t decided whether to display meerkats or the banded mongoose, Weldon said. The zoo also is debating whether to continue exhibiting warthogs, which tend to lie around a lot, or to replace them with Red River hogs, Weldon said. Red River hogs look somewhat like warthogs, but have reddish-orange fur and weigh about 100 to 250 pounds.

The African Journey exhibit also will expand the zoo’s giraffe population, with a new exhibit area and barn designed for seven or eight adults as well as babies, Weldon said. Visitors will be to stand on a platform to hand-feed giraffes with snacks, such as carrots.

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/ news/nation/15615082.htm

Tags: News World
Previous Post

Vietnamese tiger-raiser keeps it in the family

Next Post

Canada: Report highlights need for zoo reform

Carole

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

News World

Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE!

May 7, 2022
72
Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down
News World

Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down

October 20, 2021
9k
Vanessa Hudgens Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

September 12, 2021
5.9k
Snow Leopard
News @ BCR

Save Snow Leopards

April 17, 2021
4.5k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
530
Next Post

Canada: Report highlights need for zoo reform

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Film May 9, 2022
  • Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE! May 7, 2022
  • Enrichment May 7, 2022

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Shop
  • Wish List
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Version

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • About BCR
  • News @ BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist