Potawatomi Zoo - South Bend, Indiana - oldest zoo in Indiana


Opened in 1902, the Potawatomi Zoo was originally called the South Bend Zoo and was little more than a duck pond in Leeper Park. Just ten years later, the zoo was gaining in popularity, so it moved to a location at Potawatomi Park, and they began housing animals such as deer, buffalo, oxen, big cats, and bears. The zoo got more and more popular, and today it is home to hundreds of animals.

One of the newest exhibits at Indiana's oldest zoo is called Butterflies in Living Color, and this exhibit features butterflies from around the world. First opening in 2008, this exhibit is only available during the summer, and the species of butterflies included changes throughout the season. The zoo also offers a Breakfast with the Butterflies tour, which includes a continental breakfast in the garden, a talk with one of the zookeepers, a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility, and the opportunity to release butterflies into the exhibit.

Another popular area of the zoo is the Zoo Farm, which has been in operation since 1988. This exhibit features goats, horses, donkeys, alpacas, turkeys, and a number of other domesticated farm animals from the United States, Africa, Asia, and South America. In the goat pen, children can pet the animals and otherwise interact with them, and there are pony rides available for children for a small fee.

There are many areas of the zoo the whole family can enjoy, however. The Red Panda Forest has rare pandas, many of which have been successfully bred at the zoo. Nearby, the lion exhibit features Tango and Onyo, the zoo's two lions, in a large, grassy enclosure. There's also the Australian Walk-a-Bout, which has kangaroos, wallabies, and birds, as well as the Old World Monkey Exhibit, a building that is home to colobus monkeys, which are part of the zoo's logo. The leopard exhibit has both Amur leopards and snow leopards, both of which are rare to find in the wild, and the tiger exhibit gives guests the chance to see both Amur tigers and white Bengal tigers. Other animals found at the zoo include prairie dogs, bats, chinchillas, hissing cockroaches, American alligators, Chinese alligators, rabbits, frogs, giant anteaters, toucans, bison, DeBrazza monkeys, zebras, warthogs, and African wild dogs. A number of the animals at the zoo are part of national Species Survival Plans, and the zoo is working to ensure that these animals are around for future generations to enjoy.

The Potawatomi Zoo offers a number of classes and educational programs for the whole family. There are also summer camps for children, as well as mobile outreach programs, which brings animals to the classroom or organization meetings.

Admission to the zoo costs $5.50 for children up to age 14 and seniors, with adult prices set at $7.50 per ticket. Children under two can be admitted for free, and zoo membership comes with free unlimited admission and discounts to camps, classes, and zoo gift shop purchases. The Potawatomi Zoo is open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, weather permitting, with the last admission at 4:30 PM every day.

1
Cassidy Birmingham
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May 16, 2010 @ 6:18 pm
I've never been to Indiana but know I really want to go to this zoo. It sounds like a lot of fun. I live in Benicia California so I've never been to Indiana. My dad used to live in Indiana until he was 5. I was doing research for my state project and I chose Indiana. We have to make a suitcase for the project. It is super hard but fun. Your website gives good information. I got to work know but I hope you liked my comment.

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