IndIanapolIs Zoo annual RepoRt 2011

Beasts and BeautIes
For spring 2011, the Zoo offered visitors
something truly special––the opening of
three new exhibits simultaneously.
Bats took center stage in the Forests Biome.
Two species of the much mythologized and
underappreciated bat are featured, including
straw colored fruit bats and island flying foxes.
Both bats have wingspans that range from two to
four feet. Exotic, yes, but very important, as are all
bats, to the pollination of more than 130 families
of plants worldwide and to the control of insect
populations. Wrapped inside their winged capes,
our bats help tell the story of how bats in the
wild are threatened by loss of habitat, pesticides,
parasites, climate change, and disease.
The newest additions to the Plains Biome are
African warthogs, a very sturdy variety of pig that
bears only a passing resemblance to its domestic
cousin. Covered in bristly hairs and knotty wartlike
projections on its face, the warthog’s most
fearsome weapons are its razor sharp curved
tusks and overall nasty disposition. This is not an
animal to confront if it can be avoided, a good
rule of thumb to also follow if you encounter its
companions in the exhibit––the African crested
porcupines. Far larger and more dangerous than
the North American variety of porcupine, our pair
of father and daughter quilled porcupines proved
to be the surprise hit of the spring, entertaining
visitors with their near constant exploring,
chewing, and digging of massive holes.
Meanwhile, over in White River Gardens, the Hilbert
Conservatory was filled with exotic specimens from
the world’s largest family of flowering plants––the
orchids. OMG! Orchids (that’s odd, magical and
gorgeous orchids) represented a new collaboration
between the Indianapolis Zoo and Ball State
University, home to the renowned Wheeler
Orchid Collection. Representative plants from the
university’s collection of more than 1,800 orchids
took turns as the featured flowers, wowing visitors
with their diversity and floral charm.
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