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What's New at the Zoo and Gardens
HOT NEWS!
West Street Closed on Saturday
Please note that West Street will be closed on Saturday at the corner of West and Washington Streets in order to move a crane on the construction site of the new Marriott Hotel complex. This does NOT affect traffic on Washington Street, and you will be detoured around the closure so you can return to Washington Street and enter the Zoo.
Welcome to November!
Fall Zoo hours are now 9am to 4pm Daily. The times and availability of some rides and shows have changed. Off-season admission prices are now in effect. The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Zoo, with cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, animals that are active in the chilly November air, and gorgeous fall foliage everywhere. Come celebrate the colors of autumn at the Zoo!
 Maintenance Work Goes in the Marine Mammals Area
Please be aware that the Dolphin Pavilion will be undergoing some very important upgrades and maintenance this month. The work is expected to last several weeks, during which Zoo visitors will enter and exit only from the east side of the underwater dolphin viewing Dome. We will continue to have either dolphin shows or chats at 10:30am and 2:30pm each day. From time to time, the walrus, sea lions, seals and polar bear may also be off exhibit for period of a few hours or days. We apologize for the inconvenience, but know that you will understand that this work is important to maintaining the high quality environments necessary for the well being of our marine mammals.|
 It's Holiday Party Time at the Zoo!
If you're planning your family or company holiday party, now is the time to check out the unique facilities at the Indianapolis Zoo! You can dine with the dolphins, have a Zoo animal appear at your event, and have all your guests enjoy the holiday magic of Christmas at the Zoo and sensational dining options from Centerplate Catering. We also have special group prices for Christmas at the Zoo tickets that make great gifts for employees, incentives, giveaways, client appreciation and more, even without the party! Make your reservation early to get the best date available! Click here for more information on holiday parties at the Zoo.
 Got a Little Dolphin Trainer or a Little Train Engineer in the Family?
We have two new programs this summer where the little ones get to participate in special Zoo activities. As a Junior Dolphin Trainer, the lucky kids get to sit upfront, work with a real dolphin trainer and get a collectors card for their dolphin, all for only $10.00. Junior Train Engineers ride upfront on the train ride and experience what it's like to tour the Zoo by rail! This program is for children age 5 and up and includes sitting up front with the engineer on the train and a souvenir train conductors cap (Fri-Sun and Holidays only! For more details on both programs, click here.
NEW - Child ID Program presented by Revol Wireless
Thanks to our partners at Revol Wireless, we have a new Child ID Program. When you arrive at the Zoo, or at several locations on Zoo grounds, you may pick up a paper wristband for your child and register the name and your cell phone number with the Zoo. If your child should become separated from you, this program will allow Zoo staff to call you on your cell phone so you can be quickly and safely reunited. Only the child's first name is used. We hope you take advantage of this program, and we thank Revol for their help in providing this new safety program at the Zoo!
 HOW TO AVOID THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON WASHINGTON STREET - There is a large construction site at the corner of Washington and West Streets (the new Marriott Hotel complex), and depending on the time of day, there can be delays on Washington Street both westbound and eastbound, especially for eastbound traffic exiting from the Zoo. We recommend that If you're heading north, that you turn west when you exit the Zoo and use White River Parkway to go north, cutting east on New York Street or 10th Street and back over to West Street. At West Street, go left (north) to access I-65 North and I-70 East, or turn right (south) to access I-65 South and I-70 West. To get to the Parkway, get in the far right hand lane on exiting the Zoo and turn right (north). If you heading south, you may follow that same procedure, then turn south on Capitol or another north/south street, avoiding West Street. Alternately, you can turn south (left) onto the east leg of White River Parkway (the first stoplight east of the Zoo on Washington, stay in the left hand lane) and follow Oliver or Kentucky south and east from there. If you do go east on Washington Street from the Zoo exit, please note that the far left hand lane is blocked - angle to the right. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
 Little Lizards Look Too Cute
The Indianapolis Zoo is pleased to announce the hatching of four chuckwallas - an interesting looking species of lizard found in the desert southwest. These stout - one could almost say they looked a bit "stumpy" - lizards have a short, thick tail and a rounded face. The dad of our cute little lizards is "Itchy," while mom is known simply as "Mom." (That's one of the babies riding on Itchy's back,  left.) The eggs were incubated for 80 days before producing these 4-inch long babies that will eventually grow into their adult size of 16 inches in length and two pounds in weight. Harmless to humans, chuckwallas will run and hide if approached, often wedging themselves into rock crevices where they "inflate" their bodies so they can't be dragged out. Our little lizards will grow a bit behind the scenes before they are eventually released into the hot and dry environment of the Deserts Dome. We think they're pretty darn cute! Zoo Babies are sponsored by Community Health Network.
Cheetah Construction Underway
.jpg) The new Cheetah: The Race for Survival exhibit, in partnership through a conservation education gift from The Tony Stewart Foundation, and through the generosity of Polly Hix and Tony Fair, will open next Memorial Day weekend, and in the interim, there is much work to be accomplished. Because construction is going on more or less in the middle of all the action, some changes are necessary. In the large mixed species yard (where the zebra are located) we now have our Marabou stork and Ruppell's Griffon vultures on exhibit, but the crowned cranes (the ones with the "poof ball" head feathers) and the free-roaming Guinea fowl will not go out at all this year. These birds are easily frightened, and we don't want to take any chances that they might get hurt. From time to time, you may notice other changes in this area as construction heats up, particularly later this fall. We appreciate your understanding as we prepare for the Cheetah: The Race for Survival - this will be one of the most exciting and dynamic exhibits we've ever had!
 Bear Cubs Nearly November Update!
Here's the lates t update from Forest Biome Area Manager Cheryl Lent: Our two bears are really packing on the pounds in preparation for winter. Male Ket'nu is up to 483+ pounds, an increase of more than 40 pounds just since his last weigh-in. Female Kiak is up to 379+ pounds, a gain of more than 30 pounds. They are quite "round" in appearance and are getting nice heavy fur coats. Cheryl hopes that doesn't presage a bad winter (and we agree!). The weight gain is partially due to instinct telling them to get moving to store fat for winter, and partially due to the cooler weather just being more pleasant for them. They are still active and moving around - no sign of any hibernation activity. If they are up and active when it happens, the keepers can’t wait to see them in the first snow of the winter. Last year’s tobogganing will hopefully be repeated! In the photo to the right by Mike Crowther, that's K'etnu on the left getting the "evil eye" from sister Kiak. Cheryl also reports that Kiak can be a little devil when she wants to be! In the photo to the left by Fred Cate, a stick becomes a play toy for one of the cubs.
Indianapolis Zoo Named One of the Nation's Top Ten Zoos!
 The very popular travel web site, TripAdvisor, has named the Indianapolis Zoo as one of the top ten zoos in America for 2008. "These aquariums and zoos offer wonderful learning experiences about animals and their habitats, and truly let travelers take a walk on the wild side," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. The Indianapolis Zoo is proud and honored to be included on this exclusive list, which also includes the San Diego Zoo, the St. Louis Zoo, the Miami Metrozoo and the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, among others. For more information on TripAdvisor, click on the logo.
 Experience Dolphins Up Close and Very Personal
Is there a person who you care about who cares about dolphins? One of the best ways to show your appreciation for that special person in your life is to give them a Dolphin In-Water Adventure – their personal opportunity to get in the water with dolphins and experience them as close as a human can get! For information on this unique and very special program, click here. You can book a Dolphin In-Water Adventure online with a specific date for yourself or someone else, or if you prefer, you can purchase a gift certificate by calling (317) 630-2076. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
 You Can Support Conservation by Recycling Your Cell Phone!
The Indianapolis Zoo is working with Eco-cell on a program to recycle old cell phones. The Indianapolis Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) receives money from every cell phone that is turned in at our front gate to support their programs in animal conservation and research. So save the environment, save the animals and recycle your phone! Click here for the details.
Photo by Kerrie Best
 Zoo Tickets Available Online!
You can purchase your Indianapolis Zoo tickets online! In addition to the convenience of printing your tickets at home in advance or at the ticket kiosk at the Zoo entrance when you arrive, you have the bonus opportunity to reserve your spot at one of our popular Dolphin Adventure shows! TO BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW, CLICK HERE!
Photo by Susan Lang
Nereus Update
If you've missed seeing the Animal Planet special program, "Growing Up Walrus," featuring our young male walrus, Nereus, the program re-airs from time to time; please check their web site for new information. To update those of you who have seen the show, Nereus contines to do very well! From the time he arrived in Indianapolis in 2003 at barely 130 pounds, he has grown to approximately 840 pounds and has his own small tusks! He is having a great time growing up with our adult walruses, Brutus and Aurora. When you're at the Zoo, be sure to check out the underwater viewing area for the walruses. Both Brutus and Nereus enjoy interacting with the guests through the window, especially children. In this newest photo, Nereus is showing off one of the many behaviors he has learned! Nereus continues to be a favorite with Zoo staff and visitors!
Photo by Jason Wright
Check out the interactive CD course on Plant Propagation
from the Purdue University Extension!
Get some valuable hints for a great visit to the Zoo!
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