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Penguins Aid in Hurricane Katrina Recovery
It’s been almost three years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, but little things still mean a lot to the residents of New Orleans. And two black-footed penguins from the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo just made Tom Dyer’s day. “I am head over heels in love,” said the Senior Aviculturist at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans upon meeting the birds. “We are so incredibly thankful for this.” The two Fort Wayne penguins traveled to New Orleans in March to help revitalize the Aquarium of the Americas. In the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane, the aquarium lost nearly 10,000 fish and evacuated surviving animals to zoos around the country. The penguin flock went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California while the Aquarium of the Americas remained closed for an entire year. “I used to think that the penguins were mine, but after the storm, I realized they belonged to the whole city,” Dyer said. “People followed their every move when they were evacuated to Monterey, and [some] actually made trips to see them out there.” The Fort Wayne penguins have interesting stories of their own. Teal Black, a male, came to Fort Wayne from the Baltimore Zoo as an egg in April 2001. When he hatched a few days after arriving, two members of the Fort Wayne flock took him in and fostered him. Tank, a female, hatched here in August 2006 and with her sweet personality, soon became a crew favorite. Keepers hope that Tank and Teal Black will mate and reproduce in their new home, where most of the surviving penguins are over 20 years old – too old for breeding. “This chance to have babies is unbelievable,” said Dyer. “We are so grateful to everyone in Fort Wayne.” Sheep get a spring makeoverEveryone loves to shed their winter coat at the first sign of spring, and the zoo’s sheep are no exception. So last week, the Indiana Family Farm crew grabbed the electric shears and trimmed the animals’ wooly coats. Jerry, the male, and Roxy, the female, were mildly sedated during their shearing to ensure their cooperation. The result? A new slimmed-down style that’s perfect for summer! Stop by the big red barn on your next visit to the farm.
Birthday Parties now available!
Your child can have the wildest party in town when you schedule a birthday party at the zoo! Our unique party package includes a Personal Party Keeper, zoo admission, tableware, personalized ice cream cake, invitations, goodie bags, and a special t-shirt for the birthday child. Available Saturdays and Sundays in June, July, and August at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Click here for party details and to print a reservation form. Prices start at $225 for members and $294 for non-members for 15 people. Payment is due at time of registration. Contact the Zoo Education Department at 260-427-6808 or education@kidszoo.org to reserve your party today!
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Hours The zoo is open everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $9.50 for adults, $6.50 for children age 2-14 and $8.50 for seniors age 60 and over. Babies age one and under and Zoo Society Members are admitted free. For more information visit our web site. |
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