Indianapolis Zoo Former Species at the Indianapolis Zoo

Bactrian Deer

Bactrian Deer

Well-Known Member
Hello, if you probably couldn’t tell from my postings, I fancy the Indianapolis Zoo. I have always wondered what species have been kept but are no longer present. Keep in mind that these species are only AFTER they moved to White River Gardens. If you have any comments, feel free to answer them. Now I shall get started.

Plains:
  • Emu
  • Topi
  • Common Eland
  • African Wild Dog
  • White Stork
  • Marabou Stork
  • Speke’s Gazelle
  • Egyptian Goose
  • Whistling Tree Duck
  • Thomson’s Gazelle
  • Ruddy Shelduck
  • Black Swan
  • Magpie Goose
Forests
  • Koala
  • Red Ruffed Lemur
  • Bats? Unknown species
  • Asian Small-Clawed Otter
  • Indian Peafowl
  • Reeve’s Muntjac
  • Sloths? Unknown species
Deserts
  • Javan Sparrow
  • Northern Bobwhite
  • Komodo Dragon
Flights of Fancy
  • Southern Ground Hornbill
  • Pheasant?
Encounters (Closed)
  • Llama
  • Toucans?
  • Armadillos
  • Turtles
  • Snakes
Oceans
  • False Killer Whale
  • Harbor Seal
  • Polar Bear
  • Bonnethead Sharks
  • Caimans
  • Pirhanas
  • Wetland Birds
  • Scarlet Ibis
  • Native Pond?
 
I can confirm a few things / add others:

Forest had Patagonian Cavies and Golden Lion Tamarins at one point. Also Snow Leopards where the secondary tiger exhibit is now.

Encounters had a variety of domestic yards. I remember pot-bellied pigs, goats, and domestic yaks.

Oceans previously had giant pacific octopus, chambered nautilus, a native pond area, and an Amazon complex consisting of three tanks: one for caimans (sp?), one for anacondas (sp?), and a fairly standard Amazon tank with catfish and rays, maybe some other stuff.

These are childhood memories so I don’t always have the detail you might want.
 
I also completely forgot about commons, which has been taken over by the IOC and the ICC, these species include:
  • Ring-Tailed Lemur
  • Collared Brown Lemur
  • Red-Ruffed Lemur
  • Blue-Eyed Black Lemur
  • Aldabra Giant Tortoise
  • Chilean Flamingo (moved to Flights)
  • Black-Necked Swan
Some Species missed from Deserts:
  • Double-barred Finch
  • Gambel's Quail
  • Gouldian finch
  • Orange-cheeked Waxbill
  • Red-billed Fire-finch
Plains:
  • Bat-Eared Fox
 
When the zoo first opened I think that the Plains area had an Australian zone with kangaroos, emus, and maybe some other species.
 
I’ve compiled a list of ambassador animals that don’t have exhibits
  • Frilled Lizard (Used in Events)
  • Baja Blue Rock Lizard
  • Stella Agama
  • Woma Python
  • Spotted Python
  • African Pancake Tortoise
  • Spotted Turtle
  • Madagascan Hissing Cockroach
  • Honduran Milk Snake
  • Toco Toucan
  • American Crow
Also, one species has not been mentioned
Oceans:
  • Moon Jelly
 
Some more animals I came across;
Oceans:
Wobbegong Shark

Deserts:
Shaft Tail Finch
Malaysian Blood Python
Ball Python
Black-Headed Python
Grey-Banded Kingsnake
Florida Pine Snake
Red Spitting Cobra
West African Gaboon Viper
Eyelash Viper
Mexican Rosy Boa
Everglades Rat Kingsnake
Hummingbird sp.

Encounters:
BUGs
Reindeer (although exhibited during Christmas)

Plains:
Lorikeet Aviary
Elephant Rides (replaced by camels to be replaced by a roller coaster)
 
They used to have walrus too.

The only reason that I know this is because an orphaned walrus calf from Alaska was re-homed to the Indianapolis Zoo in August, 2003. His name was Nereus. His rescue from the wild and subsequent integration into the Indianapolis Zoo's walrus herd was covered in a series called Growing Up.

It was a series about, well, young wild animals growing up in captivity. There were 28 episodes in all, each episode was about an hour long and followed the baby animal that was the focus for roughly the first year of their life. It was a documentary style series and aired from 2001 to 2007. Apparently DVDs of it exist if you look around hard enough for them.

I was a massive fan of this series as a kid and watched each episode religiously whenever one would come on, lol.

:( Nereus died on October 21st, 2010.
 
Spike said:
At least one from a couple years ago but it was bts but I don’t know if your counting it.
They recently lost ring tailed lemurs
According to @snowleopard ’s post from 2012 the zoo held Straw Colored Fruit Bats and Island Flying Fox Bats Exhibit - ZooChat
The zoo also held Speke’s gazelle in the giraffe exhibit at one point
Giraffe Exhibit Species List - ZooChat
Click to expand...
The first and last have already been listed
Wisp O' Mist said:
They used to have walrus too.

The only reason that I know this is because an orphaned walrus calf from Alaska was re-homed to the Indianapolis Zoo in August, 2003. His name was Nereus. His rescue from the wild and subsequent integration into the Indianapolis Zoo's walrus herd was covered in a series called Growing Up.

It was a series about, well, young wild animals growing up in captivity. There were 28 episodes in all, each episode was about an hour long and followed the baby animal that was the focus for roughly the first year of their life. It was a documentary style series and aired from 2001 to 2007. Apparently DVDs of it exist if you look around hard enough for them.

I was a massive fan of this series as a kid and watched each episode religiously whenever one would come on, lol.

:( Nereus died on October 21st, 2010.
Click to expand...
They are remolding the exhibit currently, they still plan to have walrus
 
Wisp O' Mist said:
I was aware of that. But I reckon that since Indianapolis Zoo doesn't have walruses in residence right now, that they count as a former species.
Click to expand...
We actually do still have walrus ! They are teenage boys are messed up their enclosure lol they even get to go on walks you can hear them roaring sometimes by oceans
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top