It’s a Whole New Attraction

Two of the exhibits will allow our guests to actually walk in the habitats and experience the animals up close! A large outdoor stage has also been constructed for the zoo staff to present educational and entertaining programs throughout the day.

One of the biggest highlights of the new zoo is the variety of animals that have been added to the collection.

One of the biggest highlights of the new zoo is the variety of animals that have been added to the collection. Guests will recognize some returning animals, like the alpacas, chickens, goats, pigs, and donkeys, but there will also be fun new additions like South American coatis—as well as the four Aldabra tortoises we received from the Emerald Coast Zoo in Florida.

Aldabra tortoises are the second-largest species of tortoise in the world—they can reach up to 670 pounds and live up to 200 years! Our little tortoises currently weigh in at a whopping two pounds at two years old, but they are growing quickly! Zoo staff named the tortoises after nuts because of their shells. You will be able to view Peanut, Macadamia, Cashew, and Pistachio in the wallaby walkabout.

The recent acquisitions also include a new Bennett’s wallaby joey named Jane. Jane joins the zoo from a facility in Florida and has brought lots of fun and wallaby-raising experience to the zoo staff! Another joey, Kitty, joined the zoo in early June and is growing like a weed. Both Jane and Kitty are being hand-raised by the staff to ensure that they are comfortable around guests since their home will be in the wallaby walkabout habitat.

We also have a new giant anteater and king vulture! Quinn is a 2.5-year-old giant anteater who enjoys playing in sprinklers and eating the ants she finds in her habitat. (Quinn is short for Cosequin, in thanks for the generous support of Nutramax Laboratories in funding our animal presentation stage. Cosequin is the #1 vet-recommended joint supplement produced by Nutramax Laboratories.) She is very curious, and the zoo team is looking forward to beginning training with her. Augustus, aka Auggie, is a young male king vulture. Right now, Auggie has his juvenile feathers, but once he reaches maturity, he will be black and white with beautiful coloration on his face and beak. Auggie is very curious, and zoo staff are enjoying interacting with him and providing him enrichment that he loves to destroy! These amazing vultures are found in Central and South America and can live into their forties.

The zoo is just one part of our new Eden Teaching Center, which also features a state-of-the-art conservatory with four climate-controlled glass greenhouses. The conservatory, which is scheduled to open in the fall, will include a self-guided tour and a clear presentation of the gospel. Really, this large area with the zoo and conservatory is like a whole new attraction within the Creation Museum grounds.

The second phase of the zoo construction, dependent on funding, will consist of a Butterfly House and Creepy Crawly House, and there are several more animal additions coming soon, so be on the lookout for more announcements!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.