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Coordinates: 41°31′10″N 93°37′27″W / 41.519318°N 93.624206°W / 41.519318; -93.624206
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===David Kruidenier Australia Adventure===
===David Kruidenier Australia Adventure===


Completed in July 2011, this Australian-themed section of the zoo is the newest section at the zoo. Australia adventure brings you into the great Australian outback, which includes an Australian themed barn, and many Australian animals including:
Completed in July 2011, this Australian-themed section of the zoo brings you into the great Australian outback, which includes an Australian themed barn, and many Australian animals including:
* [[Double-wattled Cassowary]]
* [[Double-wattled Cassowary]]
* [[Red-Necked Wallaby]]
* [[Red-Necked Wallaby]]

Revision as of 23:23, 15 September 2012

Blank Park Zoo
Wied's Marmoset in the Discovery Center.
Map
41°31′10″N 93°37′27″W / 41.519318°N 93.624206°W / 41.519318; -93.624206
Date openedMay 8, 1966[1]
LocationDes Moines, Iowa, USA
Land area22 acres (8.9 ha)[1]
No. of animals1,500
No. of species200
Annual visitors400,000+
MembershipsAZA[2]
Major exhibitsAfrican Boardwalk, Australia Trails, Discovery Center, Hub Harbor Pinniped Pavilion, Ghrist Big Cat Complex, Kids Kingdom
Websitewww.blankparkzoo.com

Blank Park Zoo is a 22-acre (8.9 ha) zoological park on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa near historic Fort Des Moines. The zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is the only accredited zoo in Iowa. The mission of the Blank Park Zoo is to inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education and recreation.[citation needed]

History

In 1963, Mr. A.H. Blank donated $150,000 for the construction of a children's zoo on decommissioned Fort Des Moines property. The Des Moines Children’s Zoo was officially opened on May 8, 1966. It was originally designed around nursery rhymes and included a castle with moat, a replica of Noah's Ark, petting zoo and miniature railroad.

Over the next 16 years the city failed to make improvements to the zoo and was on the verge of closing until in 1981 a group of civic minded business leaders formed the Blank Park Zoo Foundation to help save the zoo. The Foundations number one goal was to provide financial support for capital improvements, animal acquisitions and promotional and marketing activities.

The Foundation succeeded by forming a partnership with the City of Des Moines that resulted in a $1.8 million dollar bond referendum, as well as an additional $1.4 million dollars from the community. Finally at the end of 1982 the zoo closed for some much needed renovations.[1]

On May 17, 1986 the zoo reopened, featuring geographic themed exhibits with spacious, naturally landscaped environments. In 1987 the zoo was accredited by the AZA.[1]

In 1995 the Blank Park Zoo Foundation purchased 25.3 acres (10.2 ha) of additional historic Fort Des Moines property and 9 historic buildings for future growth and expansion of the Zoo. It also began a capital campaign to build a new great cats exhibit and a 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) indoor Discovery Center exhibit.

On May 1, 1999 the Tom and Jo Ghrist Great Cats exhibit opened and on September 1, 2001, the Blank Park Zoo opened the Myron & Jackie Blank Discovery Center. On July 1, 2003 the Blank Park Zoo Foundation officially accepted all responsibility of the management and operations of the zoo from the City of Des Moines. In October 2003 the first Zoo hired its first CEO, Terry Rich.[1]

Major Exhibits

The Blank Park Zoo contains a variety of wildlife in several various exhibits:

Discovery Center

The Discovery Center is an entirely enclosed area you encounter first when you enter the zoo and contains many different types of animal and plant life. The Discovery Center itself is broken down into separate sections to create a unique viewing experience:

Alpine Trail - This section of the Discovery Center is home to the zoo's Red Pandas. The exhibit is home to three Red Pandas; 1 boy, Razz, who will be on exhibit in October. Two females named Berry and Kitar will also share the exhibit.

The Cave - This exhibit contains most of the zoos nocturnal animals as well as some enclosed reptile exhibits such as:

Free Range Aviary - The Discovery Center is home to a number of Tropical forest dwelling species such as:

Enclosed Animal Exhibits in the Aviary are the:

Aquarium of the Discovery Center

The Aquarium of the Discovery Center includes numerous aquatic enviorments from all around the world. A waterfall feature can also be seen above the Amazon River Pool.

Amazon River Pool -

Coral Reef - This part of the Discovery Center Aquarium is home to various species of coral reef fish as well as live coral and sea anemone.

Pacific Northwest Aquarium This aquarium is home to species that are native to the cold waters off British Columbia.

African Boardwalk

The African Boardwalk takes you on an elevated trail through the African Savannah where you can encounter the animals that call Africa home. These animals include:

David Kruidenier Australia Adventure

Completed in July 2011, this Australian-themed section of the zoo brings you into the great Australian outback, which includes an Australian themed barn, and many Australian animals including:

Australian Aviary

Kids' Kingdom

In late June 2007, the Zoo, The Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and hundreds of volunteers around Des Moines built the new Kids' Kingdom playground. It includes 5,600 sq ft (520 m2) of slides, mazes, monkey bars, sand pits, fossil digs and more. Another fun new attraction is the mining sluice. This area also features many "contact animals" that you can feed yourself!

Tom and Jo Ghrist Big Cat Complex

The zoo's cat exhibit opened in 1999 with Snow Leopards, Amur Tigers, & African Lions. Recently, this exhibit got a facelift with new hands on inter-actives and new viewing area rocks.[when?]

Hub Harbor Pinniped Pavilion

The new Seal/Sea Lion pool opened March 17th, 2012. The exhibit features a high rise viewing area, as well as an underwater viewing area where you can view the zoo's two California Sea Lions and three Harbor Seals. The two (youngest) & newest Harbor Seals to come to the zoo are Ross and Meru were orphaned and sent to the zoo in December 2011 from the Vancouver Marine Animal Hospital.

Miscellaneous Animal Exhibits

The following animals are found in individual exhibits located all around the zoo.

Educational Animals

These animals are used in the zoos educational outreach programs.

Conservation Initiatives

Starting in 1997, The Blank Park Zoo Conservation Committee has raised funds for a wide variety of worldwide conservation projects. The primary projects of the Committee must be international, must focus on protecting animals or their natural ecosystems, and must also have some tie to the Blank Park Zoo. Money is collected through various means such as children's face painting, special event raffles, and coin donation buckets.

In 2012, the Conservation Committee participates in these projects:

  • Species Survival Plan - programs set up for endangered species in captivity.
  • The International Snow Leopard Trust - to protect the natural habitat of snow leopards.
  • Greater Prairie Chicken Project - helping restore & sustain Iowa's population of native chickens.
  • Giraffe Conservation Foundation - helping to promote & support Giraffe conservation initiatives.
  • The Great Ape Trust - aimed to rescue orangutans and bonobos in areas of deforestation and poaching.
  • Panamanian Golden Frogs - aimed to sponsor a program to release captive frogs into the wild.

Special Events

  • Night Eyes
  • Tortoise Trot (5K fun run)
  • Zoobilation
  • Campout at the Zoo
  • Santa at the Zoo

Future plans

"Jaama Kwa: Connection to Africa"- the construction for a multi-million dollar, state of the art, African themed exhibit has recently began. The new African exhibit will take the place of the "African Boardwalk" that is currently housing the zoos collection of African animals. The new exhibit will include the following animals as well as the animals that already call the zoo home:

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e "Zoo History". blankparkzoo.com. Blank Park Zoo. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
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