It’s finally here – the zoo opens for its 48th season on Saturday, April 21!  Don’t miss these highlights as you enjoy hours of family fun at the zoo:

All seven dingo pups will be on exhibit on Opening Day!

Seven playful dingo puppies have been making headlines since they were born on January 30.  All seven pups should be in the exhibit for opening weekend, but after that they’ll take turns on display.

At least seven kangaroo joeys are exploring the Australian Adventure.  Born last May or June, the joeys have only recently been out of their mothers’ pouches.

Look for the northern tree shrew in Dr. Diversity’s Rain Forest Research Station.

Always a fan favorite, the prairie dogs are back!

After a four-year hiatus, a guest favorite is back:  prairie dogs return to the zoo in the former Egg Walk area.  The climb-in eggs are now in the African Village.

An unusual new creature, the northern tree shrew, moved into the Indonesian Rain Forest.  Though they look like squirrels, tree shrews are closely related to primates.

Two male kunekune pigs named Elvis and Pugsley arrived in the Indiana Family Farm.  Small, friendly, and very vocal, these pigs are perfect for our farm.

Enjoy tasty food and snacks from our remodeled concession stands this season.

The zoo’s reticulated giraffe herd grew to eight animals with the addition of 2-year-old male giraffe Ezeji, who arrived from the Indianapolis zoo over the winter.  Ezeji and Jelani, the herd’s bull giraffe, will take turns on exhibit with the females.

The black-footed penguin and Aldabra giant tortoise exhibits received new landscaping, fencing, and signage.

The zoo’s new food service partner, Service Systems Associates, now offers pizza by the slice, whole pizzas, wraps, and salads. In keeping with the zoo’s conservation-minded practices, concessions will use biodegradable plates, cups, and utensils.

“We can’t wait to share the new zoo babies – and all our new features – with our half-million guests in 2012,” says Anderson.  “It’s going to be a great season at the zoo!”

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Snuggling down in my sleeping bag, I glanced up. Sharks – yes, real sharks — swam a few feet above me. Nearby, children seem unconcerned about the creatures floating above them as they chat. The kids’ parents keep watch while struggling to stay awake. It is almost midnight.

We are part of a Sleep With the Sharks event at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. This overnight experience gives children ages 5 and over and accompanying adult a chance to sleep at the zoo and get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on when the gates are closed and the stars come out. During the Sleep With the Sharks event, children go eye-to-eye with a shriek owl, touch a hermit crab, and stand next to a 550-lb. tortoise as he eats a large pan of food, including watermelon rind.

Sleep with the Sharks gives children the chance to sleep at the zoo and get a behind-the-scenes look.

The 2012 Sleep With the Sharks nights are April 27, May 12 (Mother’s Day weekend), September 14, October 6. Other overnight opportunities are available with the Group Wild Nights. Schedule an overnight trip with your family at the zoo. It will be a night you’ll never forget! For more information about the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo you can visit them online.

The zoo’s season is April 21- October 14, 2012.
Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM daily

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
3411 Sherman Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808
260.427.6800

Cost for regular admission;
Adults: $13.50
Kids (2-14): $8.50
Overnight events have a separate cost.

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There have been moments in my life and I’m sure yours, when we gaze in awe at the magnificent beauty this earth has to offer.  The captivating sunset over the Pacific Ocean, or the grand depth and enormity of the Grand Canyon. If you’ve been one of the few to witness the brilliant display of the Northern Lights (take it from me, a native northern Minnesotan, it’s truly amazing) you realize how blessed we are to live on this planet.

What better way to celebrate the Earth and what it offers then with a “Party for the Planet” at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. The party takes place on “Earth Day” April 22.  Known as one of the nation’s Ten Best Zoos for kids, you can be sure that The Children’s Zoo sure knows how to put on a party!

Celebrate Earth April 22nd during the "Party for the Planet" at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo.

While at the zoo visiting different continents and being surrounded by a variety of animals, you will have a chance to participate in six stations celebrating Earth.

Make your teachers (or former teachers) proud by guessing the right answers to “Earth Trivia.” Learn about recycling and composting and help keep those awe moments alive for years to come.  Also, while you’re there, enjoy learning about endangered and common species.

Other stations include: “Do Something Green,” which teaches ways to save on energy, like turning off a light and learning ways to make earth a better place to live. After all this learning make sure you save energy for “Planet Dance.” If you’re worried about looking goofy, then you haven‘t seen the monkeys at the zoo.

And, with Mother’s Day not to far of, you can bring back the feeling of sweetness while watching new dingo puppies and kangaroo joeys because most of us know they grow up fast.

“Party for the Planet” is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and free with zoo admission.  Admission is adult $13.50, over 60 $10.50, 2-14 $8.50, and under one year are free.

Learn more online.

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It’s that time of year again. Just as folks in the Midwest are starting to enjoy warmer weather and leave their winter hibernation behind — so are the animals at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, which opens this year on Saturday, April 21.

Don’t miss an opportunity to be one of the first to see the Eastern Grey Kangaroo joeys, born last year, but just recently leaving their mothers’ pouches to say “hello.” The zoo is northeast Indiana’s largest tourist attraction and will be the highlight during your next family trip to Fort Wayne.

The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $13.50 for adults, $8.50 for children ages two to 14, and $10.50 for seniors (60 and older).  Children under age one and under are admitted free. In addition, the zoo offers free parking.

After seeing the new zoo babies, children can enjoy a multitude of interactive and colorful displays and exhibits while mingling with more than 1,500 animals including giraffes, hyenas, pandas and more! Keeper chats and free animal shows are also offered daily at the zoo. For visitors and locals alike, it’s not an attraction to be missed!

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is located at 3411 Sherman Blvd., on the near north side of the city in Franke Park. Questions? Call the zoo at 260.427.6800, find details online about daily events, and keep in touch by following the zoo on Facebook and Twitter.

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With the warm weather upon us, we are all getting ready for the opening of the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. This year, come armed with some insider information to wow your friends and family . . .

Wing bands with colored beads identify each penguin in the flock.

Wondering how zoo keepers can identify each character in our flock of 17 nearly identical black-and white birds?

Specially-made penguin wing bands do the trick.  Worn like a bracelet on the upper wing, the bands contain colored beads that are unique to each bird.

Males and females who have paired up as mates have matching colored wing bands.  The male penguin wears his band on the left wing; the female wears hers on the right.

Penguin pairs sport matching wing bands - females wear their bands on the right, males on the left.

A few of the penguins have nicknames bestowed on them by keepers, but most are referred to by their wing band color and placement.  For example, if you hear keepers talking about “the Pinks,” they’re discussing Left Pink (male) and Right Pink (female).  The Pinks are one of the zoo’s most well-established penguin pairs, and have produced many chicks over the years.  Their offspring all have one pink bead on their wing band to signify their parentage.

See if you can identify penguin pairs when you visit the zoo on opening day, April 21!

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