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Recreation
Visitors Flock To McLean County Zoo
In existence since 1891‚ Bloomington’s Miller Park Zoo is home to hundreds of animals‚ ranging from New Guinea Singing Dogs (Superintendent John Tobias’ favorites) to pallas cats‚ part of the Animals of Asia exhibit. Though they’re the size of house cats‚ you won’t find any of these in a home. “They’re small cats with a big attitude‚” says Tobias‚ who has been zoo superintendent for 15 years.
Excitement at the zoo reached new heights in the summer‚ when a wild American eagle stopped by and Beauty‚ one of two resident eagles‚ laid two eggs. Although the eggs did not hatch‚ it was “an exciting‚ interesting time‚ and it revived people’s interest in wildlife and the zoo‚” says Tobias‚ noting that the zoo’s Web site with its “eagle cam” had more than a million hits during the period. Meanwhile‚ attendance is up; the 10-year average exceeds 103‚000 annually.
The most popular exhibit is the sea lions‚ which are fed at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day in a narrated routine‚ although the reindeer are in big demand in December. The Tropical America Rainforest‚ the zoo’s newest exhibit‚ features plants and animals native to the rainforests of Central and South America. It is filled with colorful birds in free flight‚ three mammal exhibits and viewing areas with feeders that are surrounded by tropical flowers‚ a waterfall and bridge.
Expanding from almost three acres to more than eight‚ nearly a half-dozen major exhibits have been added during the past decade. The zoo moves from the expected to the exotic‚ with a variety of snakes‚ bugs and birds to wallabies‚ sunbears‚ lemurs‚ Sumatran tigers and red pandas.
The Miller Park Zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For hours and admission information‚ visit www.millerparkzoo.org.
Story by Betsy Williams
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