Indianapolis Zoo

Indianapolis Zoo
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39°46′1″N 86°10′37″W / 39.76694°N 86.17694°W / 39.76694; -86.17694
Date openedApril 18, 1964; 60 years ago (1964-04-18) (Washington Park site)
June 11, 1988; 36 years ago (1988-06-11) (current site)
LocationWhite River State Park, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Land area64 acres (26 ha)[1]
No. of animals1,416[3]
No. of species235[3]
Annual visitors1.2 million[2]
MembershipsAZA,[4] AAM,[5] WAZA[3]
Major exhibitsDeserts, Flights of Fancy, Forests, Oceans, Plains, Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, White River Gardens
OwnerIndianapolis Zoological Society[1]
DirectorDr. Robert W. Shumaker (President & CEO)[1]
Public transit accessLocal Transit IndyGo 8
Websitewww.indianapoliszoo.com

The Indianapolis Zoo is a 64-acre (26 ha) non-profit zoo, public aquarium, and botanical garden in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Incorporated in 1944, the Indianapolis Zoological Society established the first zoo at George Washington Park in 1964. The current zoo opened in 1988 at White River State Park near downtown Indianapolis. It is among the largest privately funded zoos in the U.S.[6][7]

The institution is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and American Alliance of Museums and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.[3] It was the first in the U.S. to receive triple accreditation as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden.[7] The zoo is a leader in animal conservation and research, recognized for its biennial Indianapolis Prize and as home to the Global Center for Species Survival through its partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[8][9]

In 2020, the zoo housed more than 1,400 animals of 235 species while the adjoining White River Gardens contained more than 50,000 plants of nearly 3,000 species, respectively.[3] The Indianapolis Zoo is a significant economic driver in the city and among its most visited attractions. In 2021, the zoo employed 700 people and welcomed 1.2 million guests, contributing nearly $60 million annually to the city's economy.[2]

  1. ^ a b c Shuey, Mickey (December 20, 2019). "Incoming zoo CEO seeks to continue momentum". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Shuey, Mickey (December 1, 2022). "Zoo announcing $53M campaign to fund chimp exhibit, welcome center and more". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "2020 Indianapolis Zoo Annual Report". Indianapolis Zoo. pp. 18, 21–22, 28, 138. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference aza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference aam_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Hurst, Richard M.; Hillier-Geisler, Megan (2021) [1994]. "Indianapolis Zoo". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Indianapolis Zoo Achieves Accreditation Through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums" (Press release). Indianapolis: Indianapolis Zoological Society. October 25, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Hillier-Geisler, Megan (March 2021). "Indianapolis Prize". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "Indianapolis Zoo gets $4M grant to establish global center for species survival". Indianapolis Business Journal. IBJ Media. October 18, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2022.