Binder Park Zoo facts for kids
| Date opened | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Location | Battle Creek, Michigan, United States |
| Land area | 433 acres (175 ha) |
| Coordinates | 42°14′47.26″N 85°09′18.08″W / 42.2464611°N 85.1550222°W |
| No. of animals | 500 |
| No. of species | 140 |
| Memberships | AZA, WAZA |
| Major exhibits | Wild Africa |
The Binder Park Zoo is a huge zoo covering 433 acres near Battle Creek, Michigan, in the United States. It first opened its doors in 1977. This zoo is one of the biggest in Michigan! It's home to many different animals and plants, including the amazing Wild Africa Exhibit. When you visit, you can enjoy a fun train ride, a tram, a carousel, and even a Wildlife Discovery Theatre.
Binder Park Zoo is a special place. It is a trusted member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It also belongs to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). This means the zoo meets high standards for animal care and conservation. The zoo is open every year from mid-April to mid-October.
Contents
Discover the Animals at Binder Park Zoo
Binder Park Zoo is home to over 500 animals from 140 different species! You can see creatures from all over the world. The zoo works hard to care for these animals. They also help protect endangered species.
Exploring the Main Zoo Area
The main part of the zoo has many cool animal homes. Near the entrance, you can find animals from Australia. Look for the dingo, red kangaroo, and red-necked wallaby. You might also spot a wallaroo, a cockatoo, or a Cape Barren goose.
In the northeast part of the zoo, you can see the North American black bear. There is also the exciting Smith Snow Leopard Encounter. Don't miss the Canada lynx and the Przewalski's wild horse. A nature trail starts here too, with a special exhibit for the majestic bald eagle.
Fun at the Miller Children's Zoo
At the center of the main zoo is the Miller Children's Zoo. This area is perfect for younger visitors. Here you can see friendly animals like highland cattle and miniature donkeys. You can also meet llamas, miniature horses, and rabbits. Look for pot-bellied pigs and gopher tortoise too!
Unique Animals and Conservation
Just outside the children's zoo, you can find red pandas and playful prairie dogs. Listen for the calls of different owls. There is also a special lemur exhibit. It houses both ring-tailed lemur and ruffed lemur.
The Binda Conservation Center is another must-see spot. It features interesting birds like the laughing kookaburra. You can also see the Patagonian mara and a sleepy sloth. This center also has many different reptile and amphibian species. These include the reticulated python and colorful poison dart frogs.
Near the train station, you can visit the Mexican gray wolf exhibit. Also, look for the unique Abyssinian ground hornbill. The main zoo area also has a gift shop and a restaurant. You can walk along the 0.8-mile (1.3 km) Swamp Adventure boardwalk. Don't forget to ride the new Conservation Carousel!
The Conservation Carousel
The Conservation Carousel opened in 2007. It features many popular zoo animals. You can ride a polar bear, a tiger, or even a bronco. The bronco is a nod to the nearby Western Michigan University.
Journey to Wild Africa
The Wild Africa Exhibit is a truly special part of the zoo. It features many animals that live in Africa. This amazing exhibit lets animals roam freely. It's like an 18-acre (7.3 ha) savanna, just like their natural homes.
To see the animals up close, you can take a 0.8-mile (1.3 km) loop trail. The trail starts and ends in a small African-themed village. Here you can buy souvenirs and snacks. The path feels like you are exploring an African national park. You'll even see a ranger station!
Feeding Giraffes at Twiga Overlook
Along the trail, you can feed giraffes at the Twiga Overlook. You stand on a raised platform. This puts you at eye level with these tall animals. You can buy romaine lettuce leaves. Hold them in your hand, and the giraffes will gently take them with their 18-inch (460 mm) tongues.
Other animals you might see near the giraffes include ostrich, plains zebra, and addax. Look for waterbuck, bontebok, addra gazelle, marabou stork, and black vulture.
More Wild Africa Animals
Further along the trail, you'll find smaller exhibits. These are home to cheetahs and red-capped mangabeys. You can also see Aldabra tortoises and colobus monkeys. Don't miss the black mangabey and the red river hog. There's also an aviary with different African birds. These include hornbills, guineafowl, and rollers.
You can also visit a small African farming village area. Here you can see watusi cattle, Guinea hog, and Miniature Zebu. Recently, the zoo added an exhibit for its African wild dog group. They also have a brand new home for their lions!
The Wild Africa Exhibit is a bit away from the main zoo. You can get there by a free zebra-patterned tram. Or, you can enjoy a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) walk on a special path.
Special Visitors and New Arrivals
Binder Park Zoo sometimes hosts special animal guests. In 2003, two koalas visited from the San Diego Zoo. Their visit included fun games and activities about Australian culture.
In 2006, a very old and large alligator snapping turtle named Crunch was on display. Crunch was 150 years old and weighed 165-pound (75 kg)! He was cared for by the Blackwater Turtle Refuge.
The zoo has also celebrated many new births. In the summer of 2008, several endangered species had babies. A female snow leopard cub was born in June. Three trumpeter swan cygnets also hatched. In August, a female addra gazelle was born. These births are very important for protecting these animals.
