Miller Park Zoo Miller Park Zoo News

Gremlin, the zoo's only remaining sea lion, left Tuesday for Louisville Zoo.
Goodbye Gremlin! Miller Park Zoo Sea Lion heads to Louisville, KY

 

The carousel has reopened for the year.

 

From Miller Park Zoo's Facebook:
"MILLER PARK ZOO WELCOMES TWO HARBOR SEALS!!!

Miller Park Zoo welcomed two new Harbor Seals earlier this week. One-year-old males Kash and McGraw went on exhibit at the Zoo on Thursday. They occupy the space that used to house California Sea Lion Gremlin, who departed last month for a new home at Kentucky’s Louisville Zoo.

Kash and McGraw arrived at Miller Park Zoo from Sea World in Orlando, FL on Tuesday. After a couple of days of adjustment to their new home at the Zoo, staff are excited to now have them on display. “Kash and McGraw make a great addition to Miller Park Zoo, and we hope the community comes out to welcome them to their new home here,” said Jay Tetzloff, Miller Park Zoo Superintendent, “Kash and McGraw are absolutely adorable, playful and adjusting to their new habitat wonderfully.” The Zoo last displayed Harbor Seals in 2003.

Male Harbor Seals range from 4.5 to 6.5 feet long and can weigh up to 375 pounds. Harbor Seals love cold water and usually live in the coastal waters of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Zookeepers will be able to tell Kash and McGraw apart by their distinct coats, which for Harbor Seals are as unique as human fingerprints. In order to find their food, which usually consists of herring, flounder and perch, harbor seals rely on their sensitive whiskers, especially in deep water or at night. They can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes, and even a two-day old pup can stay under water for up to two minutes.

Zoo Guests can watch the Zookeepers train the new Harbor Seals during demonstrations at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm, daily. These demonstrations are free with paid Zoo admission."

 

To thread hijack is Louisville a zoo considered to be a top zoo for sea lions? Their name just correlates a lot when it comes to Sea Lion transfers,

 

From the zoo's Facebook-
MILLER PARK ZOO WELCOMES NEW KOOKABURRA CHICK

For the first time in the facility’s 122 year history, a Laughing Kookaburra chick has hatched at Bloomington’s Miller Park Zoo. The chick hatched on April 8, and the proud parents are a pair of Kookaburras that were introduced to the Zoo in 2011 (the male) and 2012 (the female). They are currently the number one breeding pair in the country. The family is on display in the Zoo’s Australia exhibit area.

The Kookaburra is the largest of the kingfishers. It has one of the best-known calls in the animal kingdom, a rising “kook-kook-kook ka ka ka” made famous in jungle movies. The bird's cackling calls can be heard over great distances and are usually raised in a loud chorus of crazy "laughter" at dawn and dusk. Kookaburras mate for life and live in extended family groups. They usually occupy the same territory year-round. They nest in hollow trees, termite nests, or nooks and crevices of buildings.

“It’s always exciting to welcome a new animal to the Zoo,” explains Zoo Superintendent Jay Tetzloff. “Since this is the first Laughing Kookaburra chick ever born at Miller Park Zoo, that makes it even more special. I encourage everyone to come out and see the new addition!”

 

A female North American Porcupine named May has gone on exhibit with the Red-Tailed Hawks.
Here's a teaser from the zoo's Facebook:
"The Zoo will be exhibiting a new bird species in the next couple of days. This bird is a master of camouflage and has a native range of Australia and some parts of Southeast Asia. We will post in a couple of days a picture of our newest resident. If you can't wait, come out to the Zoo and post your guess here."
Probably Tawny Frogmouth.

 

The new male Tawny Frogmouth is on exhibit.

 

A new Box Turtle exhibit was opened near the Bald Eagles.
The zoo now has only 2 Red Wolves after sending many away as part of the SSP. Later this year the zoo will request the Red Wolf SSP for new Red Wolves to breed.
A new development director, Jeff Scheirer, is at the zoo.
10 Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks hatched on July 24th.

 

3 Saffron Finches, 1 Red-Capped Cardinal, and 1 Crested Quail Dove were added to the zoo's Tropical Rainforest for breeding.

 

2 Common Wallaroos were born 8 months ago.

 

Officials wonder about funding zoo master plan

 

Full AZA-accreditation status has returned to the zoo.
Bloomington zoo gets full accreditation

 

A little bit late to share this with the Halloween theme, but it's still worth sharing.
Boo! Miller Park Zoo adds bat exhibit

 

North American River Otter pups are on display.
River otter pups on display at Miller Park Zoo | WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois | Top Stories

 

A $700,000 grant was gifted to the zoo for a monkey exhibit, renovations to the entrance, and a new parking lot.
Big Grant for Miller Park Zoo - CIProud

 

A Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, 6 Tammar Wallabies, and a family of Green Woodhoopoes are now on display.
Miller Park Zoo welcomes more new residents

 

Zoo's flamingos, monkey projects approved

 

The Zoo's last tiger, Rojo, has died from cancer.

Rojo, Miller Park Zoo tiger, dies

 

I just uploaded 50 new photos of Miller Park Zoo into the gallery.

 

A male Red Wolf named Elohi and an unnamed female are now on exhibit. The female's name can be voted upon here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MPZRedWolf