Right in Our Region
Visitors Enjoy Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
A larger space for red pandas is under construction at the zoo with expected completion in 2023.
By Peggy Werner
A
fter a short season in 2020 due to the pandemic, 2021 was a can Saki Monkey and Red Rumped Agouti. Those animals have record-breaking year for attendance, membership and funbeen relocated to a larger space across from the River Otters, draising at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Now the zoo is enjoying where they’ll have more room to show off their unique behava busy summer season. iors, Kemp says. Their relocation will make room for a new Red “People just wanted to get outside and enjoy being with Panda Ridge exhibit that’s expected to be complete in mid-2023. friends and family, and the zoo is the perfect place to do that,” The Saki Monkey is small, with a large bushy tail and a says Communications Director Bonnie Kemp. naked face surrounded by a hood of dark fur. In the wild, this The zoo saw 670,000 guests last year through October, species lives in the trees of the rainforest, mainly in northern about 20,000 more than in any previous year. and central South America. The Agouti also is a native of South Kemp expects another good season, as the zoo works to American rainforests. It’s a member of the rodent family and make its exhibits even more exciting. Most construction and somewhat resembles a large guinea pig. exhibit changes take place offseason, when the zoo is closed. The zoo is home to one Red Panda, named Anne, but hopes An exception this year will be construction in one of the oldest to have more pandas by the time the exhibit opens. The small areas of the zoo, near a ridge that was home to the South Amerimammal is native to the East Himalayas and Southwest China. 16 To Advertise Call 260-212-8968 Smart Living Fort Wayne June 2022 • II
