Ice, Ice Baby: Blank Park Zoo releases its spring and summer lineup for 2012
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DES MOINES — Iowa’s only accredited zoo has announced its spring and summer lineup that includes an Ice Age Mammals exhibit, the grand opening of the new seal and sea lion pool, watusi cattle, a new entrance and park as well as many new events.
“There will be more going on at the zoo than ever before,” said Mark Vukovich, CEO of Blank Park Zoo. “We are having a ton of events, new exhibits and, of course, lots of fun. You’ll want to ‘Do the Zoo’ many times this summer.”
The kick-off of the season will be the grand opening of the seal and sea lion pool, the entrance and new drive and the opening of Ice Age Mammals on March 17.
Blank Park Zoo also will make field trips extremely affordable this spring by continuing $2 per child admission on K-12 field trips.
“Field trips are usually one of the first things eliminated during education budget cuts,” Vukovich said. “The zoo wanted to show our commitment to the importance of educating children about animals and conservation.”
Here’s a list of happenings at the Blank Park Zoo this spring/summer:
• Ice Age Mammals — The unbelievably mild winter will be followed by a spring full of ice! Well, artificial ice for sure. Blank Park Zoo is bringing in an Ice Age Mammals exhibit. These animatronic wonders will be chillin’ it old school in the ZooPlex this spring. Experience a woolly mammoth, a smilodon family and more amazing creatures from the past. Free with regular zoo admission from March 17 through June 10.
• New Seal & Sea Lion Pool — This new $1.3 million pool is a huge improvement to the zoo and features underwater viewing, a new observation deck, a bigger island for training demonstrations and two new seal pups. Grand opening March 17.
• Front Entrance and Park — This new, safer entrance to Blank Park Zoo has a new sign, new pond and waterfall as well as a new shelter house, playground and picnic area for the community to enjoy. Grand opening March 17.
• Watusi —This African longhorn cattle breed is known as the “cattle of kings” and will be sure to amaze with their impressive horns.
• Japanese Macaque exhibit —The Japanese macaque exhibit needed an extreme exhibit makeover, so this winter the zoo added a new mesh exhibit containment system and a new interactive tunnel where visitors can now go into the exhibit and see the macaques up close and personal. Expected completion date in May.
• Squirrel Monkey — A new animal to Blank Park Zoo will make its home at the former clock tower circle. This South American primate will amaze you with its silly antics.
• King Vulture — This central and South American bird will take up residence with the squirrel monkeys near the penguins and sea lion pool. “Long live the king vulture.”
• New Parakeet Feeding Area — Due to popular demand, Blank Park Zoo will be opening a permanent parakeet feeding exhibit in the David Kruidenier Australia Adventure.
• Pacific Reef — As we bid farewell to the jellyfish, Blank Park Zoo has converted the circular aquarium into a northwest Pacific reef aquarium, featuring Starfish and other colorful cold water fish from the northwest.
• Miniature Zebu Cattle — Joining the Kids’ Kingdom contact area of the Zoo this spring will be miniature Zebu cattle that the public can feed.
• Roller Pigeons — Also joining Kids’ Kingdom will be a unique acrobatic pigeon called a roller pigeon.
• Australia Adventure — This exhibit opened last July to popular reviews. The exhibit tells the story of Australia with an Australian Station, bouncing wallabies, emus, kookaburras, rare cassowary and more. Now open.
• New Interactives- Thanks to John Deere Foundation, the Discovery Center and Kids’ Kingdom exhibits are going to be equipped with all-new interactive displays.
• Expanded Zoo Hours — Due to popular demand, Blank Park Zoo will be expanding its summer hours and opening an hour earlier every day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m in May through September.
For more information about special events during the upcoming season, www.blankparkzoo.com.
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