The first three months of 2012 have been record-breakers for Evansville's Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. Park officials believe mild weather and spring break schedules contributed to the increased attendance.

Zoo Officials believe that many factors, including the unseasonable warm weather, Orchid Escape, and spring breaks have helped Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden achieve the highest January, February, and March attendance in Zoo history. During the course of January, 2,699 guests visited the Zoo, February attendance was a record breaking 6,342 visitors, and March boasted 27,612 visitors. In comparison, these numbers topped the previous January record by 26%, February record by 9% and March record by 59%.

According to Amos Morris, Zoo Director, “The first quarter of the year is always a challenge for zoos. We are always dreaming up ways to boost attendance and generate excitement. We thank you for your support and we hope the weather and continued Zoo events keep you coming back throughout the year.”

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is open 365 days a year from 9 AM – 5 PM, entry gate closes at 4 PM. Admission for adults is $8.50 and children ages 3-12 are $7.50. Children 2 and under are free. In recognition of their support, Vanderburgh County residents receive $1 discount. Please visit www.meskerparkzoo.com for information regarding yearly memberships or other Zoo services.

Source: Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=53078

 

The Zoo’s most popular event is just around the corner! Enjoy a safe Halloween and visit the creatures of the night in our newly renovated Nocturnal exhibit, as well as AMAZONIA, all at the same time! Visitors will trick or treat throughout the zoo visiting more than a dozen candy stations, plus enjoy craft activities, a giant inflatable, a Mad Scientist, murals, face painting, creepy critters, games and of course, our Amazing Magician Don Baggett! Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite costume. Visitors of all ages will have a frightfully good time and enjoy an adventuresome Halloween, leaving the Zoo with a bag full of goodies!

Date: October 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, 30 - 2011

Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: Mesker Park Zoo address:1545 Mesker Park Drive Evansville, IN 47720

Price: $8-General Admission; $6-Zoo Members; 1 and under - Free

 

For the second time in three months there is a proud new mama monkey at Mesker Park Zoo.

A Francois' Langur (FRANZ-wah LANG-ur) monkey gave birth to a female on February 8th, but the baby was just put on display.

Another feamle gave birth to a male baby in November.

Francois' Langur Monkeys are leaf-eating monkeys native to Vietnam, Laos, and China.

They usually sleep in caves, and the babies have bright orange fur that turns brown as they mature.

There are only 73 Francois Langur Monkeys in captivity in the U.S., eight of those are in Evansville.

Source: http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=260386

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in Evansville reports 2009 was a record year for attendance and revenue. More than 202,000 people visited the zoo, compared to nearly 181,000 in 2008. Revenue was $1.4 million, up from $1.2 million the previous year.

(EVANSVILLE, IN)-2009 shattered attendance and revenue records set in 2008 at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. Attendance in 2009 was 202,224, a 12% increase over 2008 (180,857). Revenue in 2009 was $1,456,627 which was 20.7% higher than in 2008 ($1,206,645).

“It is rewarding to see how much interest the Zoo is attracting. We had high hopes for AMAZONIA when it opened in 2008 and it has certainly lived up to those expectations,” said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “It is especially gratifying to have such a good year when other state attractions did not fare as well.”

Zoo staff set a goal of breaking 200,000 visitors in 2009. They were aided in that effort by a free admission day on December 26th which was underwritten by Toyota. 3,766 people took advantage of the free admission; it also brought out some visitors who hadn’t been to the Zoo in years.

“In addition to the idea of doing a free day to reach our mark, the day represented a good marketing tool for individuals who would not visit the Zoo otherwise and we look forward to them coming back to visit this summer when the zoo and botanical areas are in full splendor,” said Amos Morris, Zoo Director

The opening of AMAZONIA, Forest of Riches helped boost numbers and revenue in 2008. The Zoo also began operating its own gift shop. Attendance in 2009 was increased again by the popularity of AMAZONIA, which now has its own new attraction – 2 new female jaguar cubs named Zimba and Maya. In 2009, the Zoo also welcomed a new Indian rhino, Mechi, and unveiled the newly renovated nocturnal exhibit in the Kley Building.

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is open 365 days a year from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the entry gate closes at 4:00 p.m. Reduced winter admission rates for adults are $6.50 and children ages 3 -12- are $5.50. Children under three are free. In recognition of their support, Vanderburgh county residents receive a $1 discount. Please visit www.meskerparkzoo.com for more information regarding yearly memberships or other zoo services.

Source: Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden & Inside INdiana Business http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=39559

We don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet, but a zebra has been born at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden and is on display with its parents in the zoo’s lower zebra area.

Zoo spokeswoman Charlotte Roesner said the foal's birth occurred early Thursday.

She said zookeepers won’t be able to examine the young zebra for several days, giving the animal time to bond with its mother.

And until they know the gender, they aren’t tossing out names.

“Sometimes the zookeeper who discovers (the birth) gets to name the baby and sometimes the zoo staff comes up with one,” said Roesner.

In the meantime, she said the youngster “is up and running around and nursing off its mother.”

Zebra foals typically weigh about 55 pounds at birth and are a fuzzy, light-brown color, with the black stripes coming later, said Roesner.

The baby’s 25-year-old mother is named Press after the city’s evening newspaper which closed in the late 1990s; the 21-year-old father is Courier in honor of the morning daily.

This brings the zoo’s zebra population to five.

The West Side attraction is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (entry gates close at 4 p.m.)

Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for ages 3-12, with Vanderburgh County residents receiving a $1 discount.

Visit http://www.meskerparkzoo.com for more information.

Source: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/aug/21/yikes-stripes-zebra-born-evansvilles-zoo/