The sounds of penguins and peacocks echo through the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo on a cool, April morning, signaling the close start of the 2019 season.
New animal additions to the zoo include a baby South African Penguin named Zuko. Giant groupers, Yindi and Miki are also being welcomed this spring to the Australian Reef, where they will live among the zoo’s sharks .
The new Monkey Island and North American River Otter exhibits are officially complete, with the river otter exhibit boasting an underwater viewing tunnel, where visitors can have a firsthand look at swimming otters.
Staff members said they’re excited for the new season to get underway and share the completed projects with visitors. But they're also excited to share updates on current zoo favorites, like Asmara the 4-year-old orangutan.
Emily Morton who oversees the river otters, among other animals, said she’s really excited for them to be introduced to their new habitat.
“It’s different. The old one was very vertical, I think they’ll really enjoy this one,” she said. Morton said the enclosure is big enough for two more otters.
The zoo lost two California sea lions, Grits and Fishbone, recently. Both were with the zoo for 16 seasons. Morton said the zoo is still mourning the loss of the sea lions, but there are no plans to replace them any time soon. There are still two sea lions at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo.
According to officials, the zoo cares for more than 1,400 animals and participates in 63 cooperative species survival plans.
The 2019 season will kick off on Saturday, April 27, and be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours until 7 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
