After opening an African section in 2009 the zoo is set to open a new Australian Walkabout area on Aug. 14 it will include emus and wallabies and a walk through aviary will have 250 budgerigars. Peoria Zoo setting its sights on Australia - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com The zoo also will open a new entrance which will have new gift shop and concession stand, two places to purchase tickets, restrooms and office space.
Four amur tiger cubs (two females and two males) were born recently they are the first cubs to be born at this zoo in more than 30 years. Tiger at Peoria Zoo gives birth to 4 cubs - AP State Wire News - The Sacramento Bee
Added some more photos. Actually saw the Conservation building, then forgot to go into it! The Australian walk-through was closed for maintenance. Only saw one tiger... do they still have three? Also, does anyone know where the spear-nosed bats came from? I have never heard of that species in captivity before.
The last sea lion in residence, Rosa, passed away at age 31. Because the exhibit no longer meets today's standards for sea lions, the Zoo is looking at potentially housing penguins instead. Peoria Zoo's last sea lion passes away | WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois | Top Stories
Three female lion cubs were born to parents Lizzie and Arthur. Their brother died after birth. The girls are being hand reared. Peoria Zoo welcomes three female lion cubs | WEEK News 25 - News, Sports, Weather - Peoria, Illinois | Top Stories
Vaska, the male Amur tiger, died at age 16. http://www.pjstar.com/news/20161214/peoria-zoos-male-tiger-vaska-dies-at-age-16
Vaska, the male Amur tiger, died at age 16. http://www.pjstar.com/news/20161214/peoria-zoos-male-tiger-vaska-dies-at-age-16
Patrick the takin has died. Younger brother Bert remains. Peoria Zoo's Patrick, the Chinese takin, dies
Finely, the almost two-year-old giraffe, has moved to Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Peoria Zoo moves juvenile giraffe to Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago
A question regarding the mole rats at the Peoria Zoo. While looking through the galleries for photos of blesmols, I see photos of both Mechow's (mechowi) and Zambian (amatus) from this zoo. E.g. Mechow's: 2013: Peoria Zoo | ZooChat by @Giant Eland in 2013 Sign for Zambian: Zambian Giant Mole Rat Sign | ZooChat by @jusko88 also in 2013 Apart for the sign specifically calling them amatus I have seen numerous articles about that species (albeit only using the common name) being imported. So did the zoo also have mechowi or are those photos mislabelled? Or was there some sort of re-identification issue?
After some digging around in the internet, I think I worked this out. Confusingly, mechowi is also known as the Zambian (Giant) Mole Rat, including on WAZA. The zoo was only listing on ISIS as holding/breeding mechowi and the zoos which obtained animals from Peoria also had/have then as mechowi. I think whoever made the sign for the exhibit at Peoria (in the photo linked above) just stuffed it up by googling "Zambian Giant Mole Rat" and getting the wrong scientific name.
Lioness sisters Nia, Zuri, and Kali have moved to New Orleans for their upcoming new exhibit. Three Peoria Zoo Lions Move to New Orleans