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Zoo Opens Saturday, April 18

Get ready for miles of smiles when the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opens for its 45^th season on Saturday, April 18.

“This is going to be an exciting summer for the zoo,” says Zoo Director Jim Anderson. 

The highlight of the season will be the grand opening of the African Journey on June 6.  This $9 million project has been four years in the making and is the zoo’s largest project ever.  Lions, hyenas, zebras, leopard, ostrich, monkeys, and wildebeest will be joined by some rare and unusual African animals, including honey badgers, great white pelicans, and bat-eared foxes.  “We can’t wait for zoo guests to see the African Journey,” says Anderson.  “They are going to be amazed by what we’ve done.”  The entire African Journey was funded by donations, using no tax dollars.

Zoo guests can get an aerial view of the new African Journey from the Sky Safari ride, which will be available when the zoo opens on April 18. 

New animals and baby animals are always popular.  This year, the black-footed penguin flock has grown this winter, with a chick hatching in October.  The zoo’s wallabies have new babies to show off:  The Bennett’s wallabies have a joey who is almost ready to leave mom’s pouch, and the Parma wallabies in the Australian Adventure have a joey, too. 

New birds in the Australian Adventure Walkabout Aviary include bronzewing pigeons and wonga pigeons, two colorful Australian species.  Also new in the Indonesian Rain Forest is the dead leaf mantid, an insect so well camouflaged that it may be difficult to find in its exhibit!

The Wild Things Gift Shop has new décor and hundreds of new products, including a Specialty Candy Shop with unusual candies like gummy crocodiles and scorpion lollipops; an African Bazaar with exotic beaded bags and handicrafts; earth-friendly products like bamboo t-shirts; a Wild Girls sections with unique items for tween girls; and a Junior Zookeeper section with safari clothing and toys for young animal lovers.

Exciting visitor amenities will be available this season, including live animal shows, keeper talks, on-site birthday parties, and professional face painting.. 

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the area’s major attractions and was named one of the country’s “Ten Best Zoos for Kids” by Parents magazine in April. 

The zoo is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from April 18 until October 11.  Admission is $12.00 for adults, $8.00 for children age 2-14 and $10.00 for seniors over age 60.  Babies age 1 and under and Zoo Society Members are admitted free.

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