Review of the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden
https://meskerparkzoo.com
Regarded as the state of Indiana’s first zoo, the Mesker Park Zoo opened its doors in 1928 in the town of Evansville. A group of businessmen was hoping to find or create something that would draw in crowds and visitors to the city. It was soon decided to build a zoo, and eventually animals like a pair of lions, an elephant, and more were brought in, setting the stage for the new Zoo’s prosperity. In fact, in its first decades of business, it was considered cutting edge for exhibit design, from its moated lion and bear grottos, to the “Monkey Island” designed after the Santa Maria ship. The Zoo has continued to grow over the years, currently yielding around 200 species of animals, consisting of at least 700 residents.
It has long been said that first impressions are everything. They set the tone for what a particular event, day, or attraction has to offer. It is something that one will always remember whenever it is brought up from then on. As much as I do believe in setting a good example and first impression, I am also one to believe in second chances, to provide the opportunity to blossom to full potential. This is especially important to consider when touring various zoos and aquariums. In the case of this review, my visit to this Zoo certainly put these frames of mind to the test…
Penguins of Patagonia – This is the newest section of Mesker Park, opening in the fall of 2021. A colony of Humboldt penguins resides in a very nice, naturalistic shoreline with a little maritime touch to it. In the visitor area, there is a wooden boat for photo-ops, a squishy floor in certain parts, cutouts of the various penguin species, and fishing nets assembled to create protective barriers around the foliage. As for the aquatic birds, while the land area is about average-sized, the pool is fairly big, with varying depths and excellent up-close viewing.
Amazonia: Forest of Riches – Alongside the adjacent entrance gate and plaza, this indoor rainforest complex made its grand debut in 2008. There is a really nice build-up to the main event, as guests gradually wind down a hill, engulfed by tropical ferns and trees stretching out to the main path. Before one knows it, the doors open onto a canopy packed with vegetation, the chorus of free-flying birds (like white-faced whistling duck, troupial, sunbittern, scarlet ibis, and egret), and arboreal creatures. Keel-billed toucans; howler and squirrel monkeys (didn’t see); curassow, white-faced saki and douroucouli (didn’t see); and prehensile-tailed porcupine can all be found scampering up and down the branches of their naturalistic habitats. These are all nicely done, offering a great amount of height and eye-level viewing. Speaking of which, that is one thing I enjoy about this indoor jungle – one must work their way down the layers of the forest throughout the complex, all while encountering the particular animals that make up that layer. After passing the canopy residents, there’s a replica of a research lab adorned with equipment and terrariums for various cold-blooded species such as axolotl and tetras, followed by a dimly-lit wall made up of smaller inhabitants of the understory. As the sun peaks through the foliage, one must peer into the crevices of tree trunks and caves in order to spot several invertebrates (curly-haired tarantula and giant cockroach), reptiles (emerald tree boa, rainbow boa, and collared racerunner), and a trio of bat species. Soon, the first glimpses of the forest floor emerge, where Baird’s tapir (didn’t see as the exhibit was being cleaned) reside in a riverbank-style habitat that looks impressive, with a deep pool that seemingly connects to the rest of the rainforest. However, it is on the small side and the fact that it’s entirely indoors holds it back in my opinion. After passing a narrow space for screaming hairy armadillo (a first for me), the jungle trail ducks below-ground for the final stretch. The building’s last section consists of an impressive dwarf caiman pool, a neat arapaima sculpture, a host of rainforest conservation signage, and a standard-sized and designed indoor room for jaguar (didn’t see). Finally, as one heads outside, the outdoor habitat is lush with a flowing stream into a pond; while not spectacular or enormous, it is a decent space for America’s largest cat. The standout feature for me was the viewing area – in addition to looking through glass and mesh, there is a cage that juts out into the jaguar’s space that visitors can crawl into. This is an example of those that conservationists use to capture and/or relocate the spotted felines, which I found to be a cool educational touch. This rainforest building may not have it in quantity, but it more than makes up for it in overall quality, and is a pretty solid achievement in the small/mid-sized zoo community.
North America – There are only two habitats nestled within the woods here. Up first is a roomy, dirt-filled display for leopard tortoises that had some interesting up-close views. In addition to two windows, there are also a couple bubbles that jut out above the exhibit. Did this use to hold another species like prairie dogs? Down the trail, a pair of Mexican gray wolves was found prowling a magnificent, roomy, and hilly forest habitat, which I found to be among the facility’s best displays beyond the front section. It’s a very brief area of the Zoo, but at least it makes the most of it.
African Rift – The highlight of this complex is a lush, hilly pasture dedicated to the Zoo’s herd of sitatunga and white storks. Long ago, this particular habitat was famous for being possibly the only walkthrough antelope experience in the nation. This hasn’t been the case for a while now, yet the path that cuts through is still intact. All that’s left from this era is a small staff-monitored plaza, allowing guests to view the aquatic hoofstock up-close but not share the same space. Also in this plaza is a small space for African spurred tortoises, but I couldn’t get a closer look due to the plaza’s closure. Across the path, there is a pair of paddocks shared by giraffes and plains zebras. Both are on the small side, have minimal details, and the main enclosure is entirely dirt substrate and dry-looking. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find the secondary exhibit offered fresh green grass. Is this paddock a new addition?
Discovery Center – A wood and brick building that opened in 1992. I might as well get the most notable component of this complex out of the way: the general atmosphere. From the dominating brick infrastructure, to the old-school style approach to its exhibitry, it was fascinating in a historical sense to stroll through this structure. As neat as it was to see how animals were displayed back then though, some of this is not as successful when translated into today’s modern standards. To begin with, a quartet of mammal cages are functional yet rather basic in design, with little more than grass and a climbing apparatus; these house a red panda, Francois langurs, an ocelot (a new male named Joaquin) and ring-tailed lemur. Heading inside, the hallway is made up primarily by terrariums for several species, from lesser hedgehog tenrec and Panamanian golden frog, to Egyptian tortoise and red-eyed tree frog. The exhibit quality is okay, but nothing too out of the ordinary. The last room offers up two more animal enclosures – one is a narrow, but nicely designed cage for Prevost’s squirrel and crested wood partridge, the other is a neat hellbender lab. There is signage galore explaining the Zoo’s research and conservation efforts for the amphibians, and other interactive bits for guests such as a height/length comparison chart. Apparently, my height is the length of 2 ½ to 3 hellbenders!
Lemur Forest – A trio of lemur species (ring-tailed, red ruffed, and Coquerel’s sifaka to be precise – but I only saw ring-tailed on my visit) share this mesh-enclosed pair of habitats, which opened in 1999. The whole area is a lush sea of green, from the surrounding trees and bamboo along the visitor paths, to the vegetation within the enclosures, adding a nice sense of immersion. The lemurs can also climb and bounce along some branches that have been formulated into some climbing structures, adding a little variety to the space. Other than the pathways being so narrow to the point of feeling constricting, I don’t really have any complaints about this section. It’s easily the Zoo’s best complex after the front area.
Kley Building – Once the home of many former famous residents, such as Bunny the Asian elephant (who left the Zoo for the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary in 1999) and Donna the Nile hippo (who at the time of her death was the oldest of her kind at age 60), this 1954 two-story structure has undergone some substantial changes. To start off with, the bottom floor has been renovated to accommodate a single male Indian rhinoceros. The armored pachyderm (a new arrival named Bandhu) has a trio of stalls to roam through, all of which are quite tiny. Two of them have a layer of mulch, while the third still has the pool outlined within – a relic from when hippos resided here. I’m not sure if the rhino has access to this too, but it would be a sweet bonus during the winter. Heading outside, one half of Bandhu’s space consists of two very small pens that are mostly dominated by water moats, and the other half appears to be a newer expansion called “Rhino Reserve,” and is clearly more impressive. While on the small side, it’s actually pretty nice with a shaded, grassy clearing in the middle of the forest – complete with a mudhole.
On the top floor, the highlight would have to be “Creatures of the Night,” a miniature nocturnal section with dimly-lit enclosures surrounding a tree-filled common area for guests. Sadly, I think I saw this part on an off-day because not only were almost all the electronic signs turned off, but only one exhibit appeared to be occupied. Sand cats and ringtails were the only species signed, and I only saw a single cat dozing on its rocky wall. It’s a shame because the exhibits and setting look good, but it would benefit from having more animals to seek out amongst the darkness. Moving on, there is also “Komodo Cove,” which held a single Komodo dragon in an average-sized habitat. Despite being all-indoors, it’s fairly naturalistic with a number of ferns, substrate, and even a pool, but the immense condensation made it rather difficult to see into. The building finishes off with terrariums of various designs for herps like rhinoceros iguana, red-tailed green rat snake, and McCord’s box turtle (another first I believe).
Children’s Enchanted Forest – I found this children’s zoo (opened in 2003) to have an interesting approach. Set on a winding, downhill trail, the complex gives the illusion of a storybook via signage and interactive elements, from a book about animal evolution, to a series of signs about land preservation. Some of these features are also interwoven with the exhibits to help connect children with how certain animals use similar adaptations to survive in the wild. For example, they can climb around a play area or cross bridges next to monkeys, or crawl through an underwater tunnel alongside dipping and diving otters. The animals on display are solid choices, with colobus monkey, Cape porcupine, river otter, budgies (in a walkthrough feeding aviary that opened in 2019), scarlet macaw, binturong, goats, and miniature horses making up the roster – a good mix of more second tier, but still charismatic and attention-grabbing creatures. This complex has some solid features in its favor to make for a fascinating destination for kids that stands out from the crowd. However, one major element holds it back from being as successful as it could be, and that is the quality of the animal habitats. These displays range from being mostly on the small side, to being more old-school in presentation (binturong and porcupine), to being rather basic or run-of-the-mill (macaws), to having minimal naturalism (otters). The only exception is the colobus monkey habitat, which I felt was okay in size, and had a good amount of branches to climb around. The concept, selection of animals, and some elements are certainly enchanting, if only I could say the same for the overall exhibit quality.
Asia – I feel like I hit a stroke of bad luck with this complex because likely due to the excessive heat and humidity, I saw very few animals here. Granted, there was a decent number of no-shows prior (some of which I noted), but it was most noticeable here. The species on display include Sichuan takin, muntjac, Sumatran tiger (a new female named Luna)*, Mueller’s gray gibbon*, Chacoan peccary, Bactrian camel (including an adolescent calf)*, and Jacob’s sheep, with those seen marked with an asterisk. As for the habitat quality, it’s a mixed bag. The hoofstock paddocks are big, grassy, and even have the occasional natural features, like the takins’ rock outcrops, or the peccaries’ shrubs; the tiger has access to two lushly planted, but rather small mesh cages that are connected via tunnel (a 2021 addition that I’ll admit was cool); and the single gibbon I saw had a cage that was half natural, half mock-rock.
African Panorama – This 1987 section consists of a single grassy paddock situated on a steep slope. Guests can either gaze up the hill through chain-link fencing, or look down on the inhabitants from a couple of tiny lookout points at the top. Either way, I can imagine viewing for this habitat can sometimes be difficult, especially if the animals are congregated by their holding area. On the plus side, the habitat is at least of nice quality with some other natural furnishings and a couple large trees. Species list: greater kudu, ostrich, crowned crane, and Abyssinian ground hornbill.
Other Habitats – Scattered around the Zoo, there’s a few animal enclosures that aren’t part of any specific complex. Starting up front along the top ridge of African Panorama, there’s a pair of long habitats. The first is a grassy one for giant anteater and Patagonian mara, and the other is a more shaded space that turkey vulture and blue duiker (interesting mix
) share. Across from the entrance to the Children’s Enchanted Forest, a pair of little button quails occupy a round cage with some furnishings, while Aldabra tortoises reside in an exhibit across from them.
Mesker Park’s layout is predominantly based around a hilly loop, with a few off-shoots to some of the animal complexes. In most cases, the pathways are easily accessible with more gradual slopes or winding trails, but there are a few that can be quite steep. A couple of these are essentially dead-ends, which doesn’t exactly help. I’ll also add that some of these trails are surprisingly narrow – almost to the point where guests either walk in a single file line, or at most two next to each other. As a result, navigating this Zoo can sometimes be a bit challenging. Back on a lighter note, the grounds are a pretty sight to take in for the most part. The main setting is in a lush forest that encircles the scenic “Lake Victoria” in the center. On top of that, the establishment lives up to its “Botanic Garden” name with a number of gardens dotted across the landscape. A couple notable examples include the “Family Garden,” which includes a scavenger hunt for various flower and pollinator species, and the “Jungle Garden,” the welcome wagon to Amazonia. Lastly, this is a Zoo that embraces its history; this is most evident with the “Monkey Ship” still being on display. Long ago, until around the 1990’s, monkeys lived on this unique take on the usual Monkey Island exhibits that dominated the zoo world. Until a few years ago, the iconic structure was a bumper boat attraction; now it sits empty with only an informative sign detailing its story. It was pretty cool to gaze upon this fascinating piece of the past.
I will also note two of the Zoo’s older buildings, the Discovery Center and Kley Building, still mostly maintain the mid-20th century aesthetic. While it makes them look a bit more tired, it was still neat to walk through and imagine what these would’ve been like in their prime.
For a mid-sized zoo (about 45 acres), there is a fair number of amenities for guests. To start off, the main entrance (opened in 2008 alongside Amazonia) makes for a grand first impression – the structure is sleek and modern, the Zoo’s logo is positioned up high as guests file through the turnstiles, the gift shop is very nice with a good variety of souvenirs, and the outdoor plaza is spacious and great for congregating. As for attractions, visitors can pay a small fee to enjoy a carousel, a tram that zooms along the Zoo’s path, and paddleboats on “Lake Victoria.” Next, there is a relatively new playground called “Donna’s Playground,” which is named after the famous former hippo resident. Lastly, the one shock I found was that the only eatery on-grounds is located up front. This was kind of surprising considering the terrain and size of the facility. Several vending machines are situated throughout the grounds too, but it would be beneficial if another restaurant or concession stand were set up on the other side of the property.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: Even with several animals either absent or down for the count due to the intense humidity and high temps, one stand-out animal was the ocelot. He was surprisingly active, patrolling both his outdoor cage and indoor room without stopping, allowing for some good photo opportunities and nice views. Normally, small cats are notoriously difficult to view out of shyness, so it’s always a treat to have a closer look at these felines for once. Ocelots are a little bigger than I recall!
OVERALL: Mesker Park Zoo starts out well with an excellent entrance plaza, penguin habitat, and a small-but-mighty rainforest building. However, once visitors go down the hill towards the rest of the property, it is a rather mixed bag. The animal collection is more limited (not to mention the numerous no-shows slightly tainting my experience), some animal complexes would benefit from a quality boost, and the layout, while very pretty, can be challenging to navigate at times. On the plus side, the animal habitats that are successful are a nice highlight (Lemur Forest for instance), the historical flare is intriguing, and there is a good variety of interactive elements and amenities. While the establishment faces competition from several other major or mid-sized zoos, there is a good foundation to build upon, and I can only hope that is taken advantage of. I did have an enjoyable tour of this historic zoo, and I feel families can get a nice half-day out of it, but in my opinion, I can think of some more successful zoological alternatives.
Last I heard and read, the Zoo wants to upgrade its giraffe area, specifically build a brand-new barn for year-round viewing. The Zoo seems to be having a little trouble getting the project off the ground though. Hopefully this and future plans successfully pull through…
https://meskerparkzoo.com
Regarded as the state of Indiana’s first zoo, the Mesker Park Zoo opened its doors in 1928 in the town of Evansville. A group of businessmen was hoping to find or create something that would draw in crowds and visitors to the city. It was soon decided to build a zoo, and eventually animals like a pair of lions, an elephant, and more were brought in, setting the stage for the new Zoo’s prosperity. In fact, in its first decades of business, it was considered cutting edge for exhibit design, from its moated lion and bear grottos, to the “Monkey Island” designed after the Santa Maria ship. The Zoo has continued to grow over the years, currently yielding around 200 species of animals, consisting of at least 700 residents.
It has long been said that first impressions are everything. They set the tone for what a particular event, day, or attraction has to offer. It is something that one will always remember whenever it is brought up from then on. As much as I do believe in setting a good example and first impression, I am also one to believe in second chances, to provide the opportunity to blossom to full potential. This is especially important to consider when touring various zoos and aquariums. In the case of this review, my visit to this Zoo certainly put these frames of mind to the test…
Animal Habitat Complexes
Penguins of Patagonia – This is the newest section of Mesker Park, opening in the fall of 2021. A colony of Humboldt penguins resides in a very nice, naturalistic shoreline with a little maritime touch to it. In the visitor area, there is a wooden boat for photo-ops, a squishy floor in certain parts, cutouts of the various penguin species, and fishing nets assembled to create protective barriers around the foliage. As for the aquatic birds, while the land area is about average-sized, the pool is fairly big, with varying depths and excellent up-close viewing.
Amazonia: Forest of Riches – Alongside the adjacent entrance gate and plaza, this indoor rainforest complex made its grand debut in 2008. There is a really nice build-up to the main event, as guests gradually wind down a hill, engulfed by tropical ferns and trees stretching out to the main path. Before one knows it, the doors open onto a canopy packed with vegetation, the chorus of free-flying birds (like white-faced whistling duck, troupial, sunbittern, scarlet ibis, and egret), and arboreal creatures. Keel-billed toucans; howler and squirrel monkeys (didn’t see); curassow, white-faced saki and douroucouli (didn’t see); and prehensile-tailed porcupine can all be found scampering up and down the branches of their naturalistic habitats. These are all nicely done, offering a great amount of height and eye-level viewing. Speaking of which, that is one thing I enjoy about this indoor jungle – one must work their way down the layers of the forest throughout the complex, all while encountering the particular animals that make up that layer. After passing the canopy residents, there’s a replica of a research lab adorned with equipment and terrariums for various cold-blooded species such as axolotl and tetras, followed by a dimly-lit wall made up of smaller inhabitants of the understory. As the sun peaks through the foliage, one must peer into the crevices of tree trunks and caves in order to spot several invertebrates (curly-haired tarantula and giant cockroach), reptiles (emerald tree boa, rainbow boa, and collared racerunner), and a trio of bat species. Soon, the first glimpses of the forest floor emerge, where Baird’s tapir (didn’t see as the exhibit was being cleaned) reside in a riverbank-style habitat that looks impressive, with a deep pool that seemingly connects to the rest of the rainforest. However, it is on the small side and the fact that it’s entirely indoors holds it back in my opinion. After passing a narrow space for screaming hairy armadillo (a first for me), the jungle trail ducks below-ground for the final stretch. The building’s last section consists of an impressive dwarf caiman pool, a neat arapaima sculpture, a host of rainforest conservation signage, and a standard-sized and designed indoor room for jaguar (didn’t see). Finally, as one heads outside, the outdoor habitat is lush with a flowing stream into a pond; while not spectacular or enormous, it is a decent space for America’s largest cat. The standout feature for me was the viewing area – in addition to looking through glass and mesh, there is a cage that juts out into the jaguar’s space that visitors can crawl into. This is an example of those that conservationists use to capture and/or relocate the spotted felines, which I found to be a cool educational touch. This rainforest building may not have it in quantity, but it more than makes up for it in overall quality, and is a pretty solid achievement in the small/mid-sized zoo community.
North America – There are only two habitats nestled within the woods here. Up first is a roomy, dirt-filled display for leopard tortoises that had some interesting up-close views. In addition to two windows, there are also a couple bubbles that jut out above the exhibit. Did this use to hold another species like prairie dogs? Down the trail, a pair of Mexican gray wolves was found prowling a magnificent, roomy, and hilly forest habitat, which I found to be among the facility’s best displays beyond the front section. It’s a very brief area of the Zoo, but at least it makes the most of it.
African Rift – The highlight of this complex is a lush, hilly pasture dedicated to the Zoo’s herd of sitatunga and white storks. Long ago, this particular habitat was famous for being possibly the only walkthrough antelope experience in the nation. This hasn’t been the case for a while now, yet the path that cuts through is still intact. All that’s left from this era is a small staff-monitored plaza, allowing guests to view the aquatic hoofstock up-close but not share the same space. Also in this plaza is a small space for African spurred tortoises, but I couldn’t get a closer look due to the plaza’s closure. Across the path, there is a pair of paddocks shared by giraffes and plains zebras. Both are on the small side, have minimal details, and the main enclosure is entirely dirt substrate and dry-looking. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find the secondary exhibit offered fresh green grass. Is this paddock a new addition?
Discovery Center – A wood and brick building that opened in 1992. I might as well get the most notable component of this complex out of the way: the general atmosphere. From the dominating brick infrastructure, to the old-school style approach to its exhibitry, it was fascinating in a historical sense to stroll through this structure. As neat as it was to see how animals were displayed back then though, some of this is not as successful when translated into today’s modern standards. To begin with, a quartet of mammal cages are functional yet rather basic in design, with little more than grass and a climbing apparatus; these house a red panda, Francois langurs, an ocelot (a new male named Joaquin) and ring-tailed lemur. Heading inside, the hallway is made up primarily by terrariums for several species, from lesser hedgehog tenrec and Panamanian golden frog, to Egyptian tortoise and red-eyed tree frog. The exhibit quality is okay, but nothing too out of the ordinary. The last room offers up two more animal enclosures – one is a narrow, but nicely designed cage for Prevost’s squirrel and crested wood partridge, the other is a neat hellbender lab. There is signage galore explaining the Zoo’s research and conservation efforts for the amphibians, and other interactive bits for guests such as a height/length comparison chart. Apparently, my height is the length of 2 ½ to 3 hellbenders!
Lemur Forest – A trio of lemur species (ring-tailed, red ruffed, and Coquerel’s sifaka to be precise – but I only saw ring-tailed on my visit) share this mesh-enclosed pair of habitats, which opened in 1999. The whole area is a lush sea of green, from the surrounding trees and bamboo along the visitor paths, to the vegetation within the enclosures, adding a nice sense of immersion. The lemurs can also climb and bounce along some branches that have been formulated into some climbing structures, adding a little variety to the space. Other than the pathways being so narrow to the point of feeling constricting, I don’t really have any complaints about this section. It’s easily the Zoo’s best complex after the front area.
Kley Building – Once the home of many former famous residents, such as Bunny the Asian elephant (who left the Zoo for the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary in 1999) and Donna the Nile hippo (who at the time of her death was the oldest of her kind at age 60), this 1954 two-story structure has undergone some substantial changes. To start off with, the bottom floor has been renovated to accommodate a single male Indian rhinoceros. The armored pachyderm (a new arrival named Bandhu) has a trio of stalls to roam through, all of which are quite tiny. Two of them have a layer of mulch, while the third still has the pool outlined within – a relic from when hippos resided here. I’m not sure if the rhino has access to this too, but it would be a sweet bonus during the winter. Heading outside, one half of Bandhu’s space consists of two very small pens that are mostly dominated by water moats, and the other half appears to be a newer expansion called “Rhino Reserve,” and is clearly more impressive. While on the small side, it’s actually pretty nice with a shaded, grassy clearing in the middle of the forest – complete with a mudhole.
On the top floor, the highlight would have to be “Creatures of the Night,” a miniature nocturnal section with dimly-lit enclosures surrounding a tree-filled common area for guests. Sadly, I think I saw this part on an off-day because not only were almost all the electronic signs turned off, but only one exhibit appeared to be occupied. Sand cats and ringtails were the only species signed, and I only saw a single cat dozing on its rocky wall. It’s a shame because the exhibits and setting look good, but it would benefit from having more animals to seek out amongst the darkness. Moving on, there is also “Komodo Cove,” which held a single Komodo dragon in an average-sized habitat. Despite being all-indoors, it’s fairly naturalistic with a number of ferns, substrate, and even a pool, but the immense condensation made it rather difficult to see into. The building finishes off with terrariums of various designs for herps like rhinoceros iguana, red-tailed green rat snake, and McCord’s box turtle (another first I believe).
Children’s Enchanted Forest – I found this children’s zoo (opened in 2003) to have an interesting approach. Set on a winding, downhill trail, the complex gives the illusion of a storybook via signage and interactive elements, from a book about animal evolution, to a series of signs about land preservation. Some of these features are also interwoven with the exhibits to help connect children with how certain animals use similar adaptations to survive in the wild. For example, they can climb around a play area or cross bridges next to monkeys, or crawl through an underwater tunnel alongside dipping and diving otters. The animals on display are solid choices, with colobus monkey, Cape porcupine, river otter, budgies (in a walkthrough feeding aviary that opened in 2019), scarlet macaw, binturong, goats, and miniature horses making up the roster – a good mix of more second tier, but still charismatic and attention-grabbing creatures. This complex has some solid features in its favor to make for a fascinating destination for kids that stands out from the crowd. However, one major element holds it back from being as successful as it could be, and that is the quality of the animal habitats. These displays range from being mostly on the small side, to being more old-school in presentation (binturong and porcupine), to being rather basic or run-of-the-mill (macaws), to having minimal naturalism (otters). The only exception is the colobus monkey habitat, which I felt was okay in size, and had a good amount of branches to climb around. The concept, selection of animals, and some elements are certainly enchanting, if only I could say the same for the overall exhibit quality.
Asia – I feel like I hit a stroke of bad luck with this complex because likely due to the excessive heat and humidity, I saw very few animals here. Granted, there was a decent number of no-shows prior (some of which I noted), but it was most noticeable here. The species on display include Sichuan takin, muntjac, Sumatran tiger (a new female named Luna)*, Mueller’s gray gibbon*, Chacoan peccary, Bactrian camel (including an adolescent calf)*, and Jacob’s sheep, with those seen marked with an asterisk. As for the habitat quality, it’s a mixed bag. The hoofstock paddocks are big, grassy, and even have the occasional natural features, like the takins’ rock outcrops, or the peccaries’ shrubs; the tiger has access to two lushly planted, but rather small mesh cages that are connected via tunnel (a 2021 addition that I’ll admit was cool); and the single gibbon I saw had a cage that was half natural, half mock-rock.
African Panorama – This 1987 section consists of a single grassy paddock situated on a steep slope. Guests can either gaze up the hill through chain-link fencing, or look down on the inhabitants from a couple of tiny lookout points at the top. Either way, I can imagine viewing for this habitat can sometimes be difficult, especially if the animals are congregated by their holding area. On the plus side, the habitat is at least of nice quality with some other natural furnishings and a couple large trees. Species list: greater kudu, ostrich, crowned crane, and Abyssinian ground hornbill.
Other Habitats – Scattered around the Zoo, there’s a few animal enclosures that aren’t part of any specific complex. Starting up front along the top ridge of African Panorama, there’s a pair of long habitats. The first is a grassy one for giant anteater and Patagonian mara, and the other is a more shaded space that turkey vulture and blue duiker (interesting mix
) share. Across from the entrance to the Children’s Enchanted Forest, a pair of little button quails occupy a round cage with some furnishings, while Aldabra tortoises reside in an exhibit across from them.Visitor Experiences
Mesker Park’s layout is predominantly based around a hilly loop, with a few off-shoots to some of the animal complexes. In most cases, the pathways are easily accessible with more gradual slopes or winding trails, but there are a few that can be quite steep. A couple of these are essentially dead-ends, which doesn’t exactly help. I’ll also add that some of these trails are surprisingly narrow – almost to the point where guests either walk in a single file line, or at most two next to each other. As a result, navigating this Zoo can sometimes be a bit challenging. Back on a lighter note, the grounds are a pretty sight to take in for the most part. The main setting is in a lush forest that encircles the scenic “Lake Victoria” in the center. On top of that, the establishment lives up to its “Botanic Garden” name with a number of gardens dotted across the landscape. A couple notable examples include the “Family Garden,” which includes a scavenger hunt for various flower and pollinator species, and the “Jungle Garden,” the welcome wagon to Amazonia. Lastly, this is a Zoo that embraces its history; this is most evident with the “Monkey Ship” still being on display. Long ago, until around the 1990’s, monkeys lived on this unique take on the usual Monkey Island exhibits that dominated the zoo world. Until a few years ago, the iconic structure was a bumper boat attraction; now it sits empty with only an informative sign detailing its story. It was pretty cool to gaze upon this fascinating piece of the past.
I will also note two of the Zoo’s older buildings, the Discovery Center and Kley Building, still mostly maintain the mid-20th century aesthetic. While it makes them look a bit more tired, it was still neat to walk through and imagine what these would’ve been like in their prime.For a mid-sized zoo (about 45 acres), there is a fair number of amenities for guests. To start off, the main entrance (opened in 2008 alongside Amazonia) makes for a grand first impression – the structure is sleek and modern, the Zoo’s logo is positioned up high as guests file through the turnstiles, the gift shop is very nice with a good variety of souvenirs, and the outdoor plaza is spacious and great for congregating. As for attractions, visitors can pay a small fee to enjoy a carousel, a tram that zooms along the Zoo’s path, and paddleboats on “Lake Victoria.” Next, there is a relatively new playground called “Donna’s Playground,” which is named after the famous former hippo resident. Lastly, the one shock I found was that the only eatery on-grounds is located up front. This was kind of surprising considering the terrain and size of the facility. Several vending machines are situated throughout the grounds too, but it would be beneficial if another restaurant or concession stand were set up on the other side of the property.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: Even with several animals either absent or down for the count due to the intense humidity and high temps, one stand-out animal was the ocelot. He was surprisingly active, patrolling both his outdoor cage and indoor room without stopping, allowing for some good photo opportunities and nice views. Normally, small cats are notoriously difficult to view out of shyness, so it’s always a treat to have a closer look at these felines for once. Ocelots are a little bigger than I recall!
OVERALL: Mesker Park Zoo starts out well with an excellent entrance plaza, penguin habitat, and a small-but-mighty rainforest building. However, once visitors go down the hill towards the rest of the property, it is a rather mixed bag. The animal collection is more limited (not to mention the numerous no-shows slightly tainting my experience), some animal complexes would benefit from a quality boost, and the layout, while very pretty, can be challenging to navigate at times. On the plus side, the animal habitats that are successful are a nice highlight (Lemur Forest for instance), the historical flare is intriguing, and there is a good variety of interactive elements and amenities. While the establishment faces competition from several other major or mid-sized zoos, there is a good foundation to build upon, and I can only hope that is taken advantage of. I did have an enjoyable tour of this historic zoo, and I feel families can get a nice half-day out of it, but in my opinion, I can think of some more successful zoological alternatives.
Last I heard and read, the Zoo wants to upgrade its giraffe area, specifically build a brand-new barn for year-round viewing. The Zoo seems to be having a little trouble getting the project off the ground though. Hopefully this and future plans successfully pull through…