Indianapolis Zoo Indianapolis Zoo news 2025

I will say multiple animal care staff members have been extremely unhappy with the recent exec decisions and those that have yet to be announced. There are multiple structural problems in a handful of exhibits that upper management doesn't appear to be addressing in favor of building new complexes for animals that weren't popularly received. I won't say much further to avoid singling out specific departments or people, but the concerns with upper management continue to be a recent affair as well.
 
pachyderm pro said:
With all due respect, I'd advise against gossiping about any behind-the-scenes turmoil that isn't public. It doesn't reflect well on the forum regardless of if its true or not.
Click to expand...
Fair point and I agree, I only bring up the management concerns as to ensure that no one brings the keepers and other lower-ranking staff into their criticism. I know people who work there and I'd hate for them to be dragged through the mud for things they aren't adding to.
 
News for 2026:
Honestly I didn’t know what everything new was going to happen this year, but there is construction at the temporary giant tortoise enclosure but it doesn’t say what is to come.

Furthermore from what I’ve heard, more animals will be in the botanical pavilion, I know sloths will get a permanent enclosure and I overheard Guinea pigs (but hopefully not)
 
Per IndyStar, the Indianapolis Zoo will be removing the Kōmbo Family Coaster and the Skyline overhead tram (which I've read was fairly problematic) in Q1 2026 to make way for future developments (the zoo's statement suggests the space will be used for new and/or expanded animal habitats, although it's not confirmed for certain).

This popped up in my Reddit feed, so I thought I'd share.
 
The coaster definitely has gotten less popular within recent years, the most I see people on it is the zoo’s camps or volunteers having fun with each other. But the space is most definitely needed.

I also think it’s funny how they are removing the coaster for animal space when the original plan had an animal exhibit right next to it
 
Bactrian Deer said:
News for 2026:
Honestly I didn’t know what everything new was going to happen this year, but there is construction at the temporary giant tortoise enclosure but it doesn’t say what is to come.

Furthermore from what I’ve heard, more animals will be in the botanical pavilion, I know sloths will get a permanent enclosure and I overheard Guinea pigs (but hopefully not)
Click to expand...

I remember guinea pigs a long time ago. Like, mid-90s. I believe they were part of the old petting zoo.
 
Astrotom3000 said:
Per IndyStar, the Indianapolis Zoo will be removing the Kōmbo Family Coaster and the Skyline overhead tram (which I've read was fairly problematic) in Q1 2026 to make way for future developments (the zoo's statement suggests the space will be used for new and/or expanded animal habitats, although it's not confirmed for certain).
Click to expand...
Well, this is a surprise. I'm glad I took the chance to ride the Skyline when I visited, and I did get to see (still from a great distance) one of the orangutans at the height. It was a cool experience to see the orang that way but the whole thing does take up a lot of space and if it's not still generating interest or profit, more exhibits is the better choice. Ditto for the rollercoaster but I had no personal experience with that.
 
JVM said:
Well, this is a surprise. I'm glad I took the chance to ride the Skyline when I visited, and I did get to see (still from a great distance) one of the orangutans at the height. It was a cool experience to see the orang that way but the whole thing does take up a lot of space and if it's not still generating interest or profit, more exhibits is the better choice. Ditto for the rollercoaster but I had no personal experience with that.
Click to expand...

It was cool to see the Orangutans from the Skyline! I liked that too. I imagine that it's a money pit because it's constantly breaking down. There have been multiple occasions where it broke down and the fire department had to bring everyone down.

I don't think I've been on that roller coaster since summer camp field trips in like 2002. It seemed to be closed more than it was open.
 
Amandiana said:
It was cool to see the Orangutans from the Skyline! I liked that too. I imagine that it's a money pit because it's constantly breaking down. There have been multiple occasions where it broke down and the fire department had to bring everyone down.

I don't think I've been on that roller coaster since summer camp field trips in like 2002. It seemed to be closed more than it was open.
Click to expand...
I don’t think it’s that it’s more closed than open, it’s just no one ever goes to that part of the zoo as it doesn’t have any eye catching things over there
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
I will say multiple animal care staff members have been extremely unhappy with the recent exec decisions and those that have yet to be announced. There are multiple structural problems in a handful of exhibits that upper management doesn't appear to be addressing in favor of building new complexes for animals that weren't popularly received. I won't say much further to avoid singling out specific departments or people, but the concerns with upper management continue to be a recent affair as well.
Click to expand...

really? Idk if it’s just me but when I went to Indy I got the vibe that the place was well designed and no exhibit really gave me any icks. Some exhibits definitely felt utilitarian - but nothing that seemed indicative of poor wellbeing and I didn’t even find any exhibits to be unattractive in appearance. The orangutan exhibit is kinda weird but i don’t think its ugly or indicative of poor welfare - at least at first glance

Are there any exhibits / species that you’d be able to share with us about? because this genuinely caught me by surprise.
 
J-K said:
really? Idk if it’s just me but when I went to Indy I got the vibe that the place was well designed and no exhibit really gave me any icks. Some exhibits definitely felt utilitarian - but nothing that seemed indicative of poor wellbeing and I didn’t even find any exhibits to be unattractive in appearance. The orangutan exhibit is kinda weird but i don’t think its ugly or indicative of poor welfare - at least at first glance

Are there any exhibits / species that you’d be able to share with us about? because this genuinely caught me by surprise.
Click to expand...
I would rather not as to avoid outing any specific care teams!
 
As Miami Seaquarium closes down, animal transfers (physical and/or ownership) are taking place. A proposal for ownership of 2.2 bottlenose dolphins to Indianapolis Zoo for what appears to be a donation. The dolphins are currently at the Miami facility and would be transferred to Indianapolis Zoo.

Dolphins are:
Cayman (1.0) (DOB 10/05/2011)
Cobalt (1.0) (DOB 03/19/2010)
Denise (0.1) (DOB 09/20/1999)
Gemini (0.1) (DOB 09/06/2014)

https://veritaglobal.net/dolphinco/...Ol5_ZYbdzGpiQ4hudQ_aem_TtTkS58vOXMC42UGimupiQ
 
This would definitely be exciting to have more dolphins, but I don’t know if the zoo would accept due to some… circumstances.

With dolphins, the zoo tries to say the least amount possible due to such backlash, and with organizations already claiming the exhibit is too small, they might not accept these. There is also other factors that can’t I can’t share but it’d be fun to work with them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top