Niabi Zoo News

Niabi Zoo to host one of the Quad Cities largest Earth Day celebrations April 21-22

Niabi and ten other local environmental organizations will be in attendance.

COAL VALLEY, Ill. (April 16, 2018) – Celebrate Earth Day and learn how individual actions can make a big difference for wildlife and wild places during Niabi Zoo’s Earth Day celebration weekend, April 21 and April 22.

The two-day celebration will feature family friendly, educational activities about actions everyone can take to better care for the Earth.

“Humans have contributed to many problems for the Earth's vast ecosystems and its tremendous biodiversity. The good news is that we also have the power to correct many of these problems,” said Lee Jackson, zoo director. “We can all do our part and learn that global preservation efforts start in our own backyards.”

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 21 and April 22, Niabi’s education and volunteer staff along with ten local environmental organizations are setting up booths and taking part in hands-on activities and presentations to raise awareness about conservation and provide a path to conservation action.

The organizations include:

·        Native American Coalition of the Quad Cities

·        Quad City Botanical Center

·        Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA)

·        Sierra Club – Eagle View Group

·        Keep Moline Beautiful

·        Dorrance Park

·        Indian Bluff Golf Course & Forest Preserve

·        llliniwek Forest Preserve

·        Loud Thunder Forest Preserve

·        Martin Conservation Area

Earth Day activities are included in the regular admission price for the zoo.

In addition, Niabi will host a “Breakfast with the Earth” event on Saturday, April 21 at 8:30 a.m. The breakfast will feature a presentation about what Niabi is doing to help people become more in tune with Nature and will feature some very special animal friends up close and personal. To attend the breakfast, advance registration is required and can be done online https://conta.cc/2GzliyL.

“At Niabi we provide many educational opportunities for our visitors to learn about real issues in conservation, veterinary medicine, ecology, animal behavior, horticulture and more,” said Jackson. “The zoo plays a vital role in educating visitors about our environment, wild animals, and their related conservation issues.”

Among the education programs the zoo offers is the new Conservation & Science Speaker Series, Niabi Zoo2U, Animal Adventure classes, Zoo Camps, field trips, Zoo Naturalists and more.

Annual membership costs range from $45 to $110 based on family size and various additional perks. Visit NiabiZoo.com/Become-a-Member.aspx to learn more about becoming a member.

Niabi Zoo is now open for the 2018 season. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m.

About Niabi Zoo

Niabi Zoo offers an opportunity to explore more than 40 acres that encompass 200 animal species while enjoying the countryside of Rock Island county. This exploration guides guests through the discovery of more than 600 animals from around the world. The Zoo places great emphasis on educating both children and adults about the importance of conservation and how they can play a part in saving species and their ecosystems for future generations. The educational center is an important part of their mission to connect the community with the natural world through conservation leadership and engaging educational experiences. Niabi Zoo strives to instill a sense of care and understanding for wild animals in each and every visitor as they work in the community.

For more information about the Zoo, visit NiabiZoo.com, or visit Facebook.com/NiabiZoo.

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Niabi Zoo opened for the 2018 season on April 14th with never-seen-before indoor and outdoor exhibits

COAL VALLEY, Ill. (April 13, 2018) – Niabi Zoo will debut many new species and habitats during opening weekend, April 14 and April 15.

“We’ve been challenged with an unseasonably cold start to Spring,” said Lee Jackson, director of Niabi Zoo. “There’s a ton of new things to see and do at Niabi and our team is excited to welcome zoo-goers back for another great season.”

Jackson emphasizes that Niabi’s indoor experiences have grown – making for a great inside/outside experience.

“If the weather doesn’t turn out in our favor there are plenty of places to escape the elements,” said Jackson. “The Reptile House, Biodiversity Hall and Oceans are all inside and have plenty of new species for guests to experience.”

Indoor experiences

Reptile House

  • A brand new anaconda exhibit has been added.

  • New veiled chameleons are also new to the Reptile House.

Biodiversity Hall

  • The Asian water monitor has moved from the Reptile House to a brand new habitat in Biodiversity Hall which has much better guest visibility.

  • A flock of Taveta weavers have been introduced to a growing multi-species exhibit in Biodiversity Hall, now sharing a home with the rock hyrax and African-crested porcupine.

  • Longhorn cowfish have been moved from Oceans to Biodiversity Hall.

  • The Binturong has moved to Biodiversity Hall.

  • The Seba’s short-tailed bat “night” habitat was new at the end of the 2017 season and will be a first for many in 2018. Using technology, night and day have been reversed in the habitat so when guests are at the zoo during the day, the bats think it’s night and are active and alert.

Oceans

  • In the summer of 2017, the new aquatic-themed exhibit “Oceans” was introduced, featuring over 50 aquatic species including a giant Pacific octopus. As part of a planned rotating exhibit space, this is the last year Oceans will be at Niabi.

Outdoor experiences

Pallas Cat

Pallas cats, also known as Manul, are small wild cats from Central Asia that are highly adaptable and inhabit grassland to high-altitude mountainous areas. The cats are categorized as a “near threatened” species and are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP). Animals that are part of the SSP are preserved and bred in captivity. If their numbers in the wild drop too low, they can be replenished from the zoological breeding programs that are created as arks for that reason.

“There are only fifteen zoological institutions in the United States focusing on 35 individual pallas cats,” said Jackson. “Niabi Zoo is honored to be part of this dedicated Species Survival Plan to contribute to the sustainability of this species.”

Yellow-backed Duiker

The yellow-backed duiker is a forest dwelling antelope that inhabits wooded areas in Central and Western Africa, ranging from Senegal to Western Uganda. Due to uncontrolled hunting and habitat loss, the yellow-backed duiker is also considered a “near threatened” species.

“With the weather the way it’s been, the pallas cats and duikers have just recently moved into their new outdoor habitats,” said Jackson. “They might be shy for a few weeks as they get acclimated.”

Domestic Animal Area

  • New San Clemente Goats in this area. This unique breed of domestic goat is incredibly rare with less than 750 individuals remaining in the world.

  • An ewe and her lambs, which are just a few weeks old, are new to the domestic animal crew.

“We’re very excited for visitors to see our new animals and upgraded facilities,” said Jackson. “Beyond that, we want visitors to understand their individual actions can make a global impact. Our Earth Day celebration will help drive that message home.”

The weekend following opening, April 21 and April 22, Niabi will host an Earth Day event for the public. During the two-day celebration, Niabi’s education and volunteer staff, along with ten local environmental organizations, are setting up booths and taking part in hands-on activities and presentations to raise awareness about conservation and provide a path to conservation action.

More details on Earth Day can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/782173248650948/.

Annual membership costs range from $45 to $110 based on family size and various additional perks. Visit NiabiZoo.com/Become-a-Member.aspx to learn more about becoming a member.

For more information on Niabi Zoo visit NiabiZoo.com or Facebook.com/NiabiZoo.

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