The Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana

The Indianapolis Zoo first opened its doors in 1964, and is currently located in White River State Park, where it has been since 1988. The zoo is the only institution in America that is licensed as a zoo, botanical garden and an aquarium by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums. The zoo is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations, grants, membership fees and admissions to support itself. The Indianapolis Zoo is devoted to conservation and research and is the first zoo to successfully artificially inseminate an African elephant.

The zoo is organized around biomes, which are climactically and geographically defined areas of similar conditions. The animals in the Indianapolis Zoo are clustered together in groups with similar habitat conditions, which is how biomes are defined. Each of the individual biome participates in research, conservation and breeding programs.

The zoo has different biomes that guests can visit when at the Indianapolis Zoo. The Forest Biome features the rare an endangered Amur tiger from Siberia, small-clawed otters from Asia and Kodiak bears from Alaska. The Oceans is an exhibit that first opened in 2007, and the highlight is the dogshark touch pool, which is the largest in the country. Also included are three species of penguins; king, gentoo and rockhopper. The display has transparent floors in which people can see the penguins swimming from one side of the exhibit to the other. Around the exit are of the Oceans building are several exhibits that features a wide variety of marine animals and inside there are underwater views of sea lions, seals, polar bears, walrus and bottlenose dolphins.

Inside the Deserts Dome, are transparent geodesic domes which allow animals to bask in natural sunlight all year round, the domes contain heated rocks and air vents that regulate temperatures. Inside the Desert Dome people can view meerkats, reptiles and birds, along with "Drop Dead Gorgeous Snakes''. The plains exhibit was designed to be similar to African conditions; it is called the Plains Biome. Upon entering, guests can visit exhibits that showcase kudu, zebras, ostriches, vultures, white rhinos, giraffes, elephants, cranes, storks, lions, wild dogs, baboons and a collection of lorikeets.

The Encounters Biome is a special area of the zoo where guests are invited to interact with the animals. The display connects the zoo animals and plants together, by learning and doing, not just observing. Critter Corner is where zoo keepers interact with visitors in a one-on-one environment to present animals such as snakes, lizards and cockroaches, which can be touched. Outside of the Encounter Biome are exhibits with monkeys, donkeys, goats, llamas and rabbits.

The zoo also has an Underwater Dolphin Dome, the Marsh Dolphin Theater and Dolphin In-Water Adventure, which is the only program in the Midwest that allows guests to interact with dolphins in their exhibits. Every year the zoo welcomes over 1.4 million visitors and provides a wonderful, inviting environment for guests who wish to partake in a unique zoo experience.