EVANSVILLE, Ind. — With the arrival of spring, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is preparing for its busiest season of the year. Though the zoo remains open year-round, certain attractions and exhibits were closed during the winter months, as the area faced a harsh season, including a disruptive ice storm.
Blake Shockley, the zoo’s Marketing Director, explained that the winter storm caused significant setbacks, with crews still working on cleanup. However, with warmer weather on the horizon, the zoo is coming back to life.
“Animals are starting to become a little bit more lively. Plants are coming back. It’s exciting to see some of that spring life here at the zoo,” Shockley told 44News.
Zoo officials say the shift in temperature is especially beneficial for some animals that have been waiting for milder weather. One of the most notable changes is the Lemur Forest, which is now fully active after being closed during colder months due to the lemurs’ sensitivity to temperatures below 50 degrees.
In addition, the Penguins of Patagonia, which thrive in warmer climates, are once again out and about after the recent cold snap. “Our penguins are back out after that cold snap we had,” Shockley noted.
Berta, the 58-year-old grey gibbon, has also made a return to the sunny areas of the zoo. Berta, known for basking in the sunlight, is one of the zoo’s beloved residents.
Springtime visitors will also find several new faces at the zoo. Among the most exciting additions is Bandhu, a rhinoceros who is settling in well. The zoo has also welcomed several new babies in recent months, including a colobus baby, a howler monkey, and two langur monkeys.
To celebrate the season, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden is offering a spring break lineup of events and activities. On Wednesday, the Children’s Museum of Evansville will present a Caterpillar Life Cycle Program from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the YMCA will host an exercise class at 11:30 a.m. Thursday will feature Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck, which will be on site from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Kona Ice will set up shop at the zoo on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The zoo is also offering a 10% discount on new and renewed memberships through March 20.
For those looking to explore the zoo, it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admission at 4 p.m. Admission prices for the spring and summer months are $11 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-12, and free for children under 2.
As the weather warms and the zoo comes alive, there’s no better time to visit and enjoy all the exciting new exhibits and animals on display.
