Potawatomi Zoo

In 1921, the Potawatomi Zoo was established in Potawatomi Park when a single deer was donated to the park board by Albert Russell Erskine, then president of the Studebaker Corporation."Minutes of the South Bend Board of Park Commissioners, Book 1, 21 May 1921 As the oldest zoo in Indiana, today's 23-acre Potawatomi Zoo is rich in history and building a promising future.

At the end of the Great Depression in 1940, the Works Progress Administration constructed the zoo's Cat House, its first permanent structure. The building still stands, serving as home to Amur leopards and snow leopards, and is the oldest zoo building still standing."Annual Report, Board of South Bend Park Commissioners", 1940

The list of species housed at the zoo in 1947 included a polar bear, African lions, dwarf zebu, rhesus monkeys, peacocks and the less exotic raccoon.

In 1971, the St. Joseph Zoological Society, now called Potawatomi Zoological Society, was formed, with Craig D. McCowan as its first director. In 1981, the zoo began charging admission, to provide an accurate attendance count as well as revenue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/a-look-back-indiana-s-oldest-zoo/article_6cd735e6-8ad3-5146-9140-6c58aeaef43e.html|title=A Look Back: Indiana's oldest zoo|website=South Bend Tribune|language=en|access-date=2019-05-03}}

The zoo was formerly operated and maintained by the South Bend Parks and Recreation Department. Since January 1, 2014, it has been operated and maintained by the Potawatomi Zoological Society,{{cite web|url=http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/zoological-society-to-take-over-management-of-potawatomi-zoo/23520296 |title=Zoological society to take over management of Potawatomi Zoo |last=Lake |first=Rachel |date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908063811/http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/zoological-society-to-take-over-management-of-potawatomi-zoo/23520296 |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |url-status=dead}} while still remaining city owned.

The zoo opened its new front entrance in 2020. This beautiful gateway welcomes members and visitors and also houses the zoo's expanded gift shop.

The Potawatomi Zoo is home to over 400 animals and the zoo participates in over 56 Species Survival Plans.{{cite web|url=http://www.visitsouthbend.com/venue?listingid=7325|title=Visit South Bend|accessdate=20 April 2012}}

The Africa section spans much of the eastern third of the zoo. The Africa section begins with the Old World Monkeys exhibit which is home to black-and-white colobus monkeys and fennec fox (seasonal). In this part of the zoo you will also find southern ground hornbills, lions, plains zebra, Diana monkeys, African wild dogs, Red river hogs, greater kudu, and ostrich. In 2017, Potawatomi Zoo became the first accredited zoo in the state of Indiana to exhibit okapi, an endangered forest-dwelling relative of the giraffe. The zoo is home to two male okapis, which are viewable in an outdoor exhibit as well as in their Okapi Conservation Center indoor habitat. In 2019, the zoo announced the arrival of a male southern white rhinoceros, Masamba, now permanently on exhibit next to the okapi. A new lion exhibit will begin construction in 2021–2022, in the area where chimpanzees were formerly exhibited; the zoo's remaining two chimps moved to Rolling Hills Zoo to live with a larger troop.{{cite web |title=Chimps Move to New Zoo |url=https://www.potawatomizoo.org/chimps-move-to-new-zoo/ |date=September 8, 2020}} Four male Masai giraffes were added to the zoo's collection in 2022.{{cite web |title=Giraffes arrive - Potawatomi Zoo|url=https://www.potawatomizoo.org/giraffes-arrive//|date=December 16, 2021}}

Southern white rhinoceros,

Okapi,

Black-and-white colobus,

Fennec fox,

Trumpeter hornbill,

Serval,

Southern ground hornbill,

Diana monkey,

Greater kudu,

Saddle-billed stork,

Grey-crowned crane,

American flamingo,

African wild dog,

African lion,

Red river hog,

Masai giraffe,

Plains zebra,

Common ostrich,

Marabou stork

The Potawatomi Zoo is home to numerous species that are native to parts of Asia but these exhibits are spread throughout the zoo rather than being in one section. Near the front gate on the east side of the zoo is the Amur tiger exhibit and the Sichuan takins. In 2014, a red panda and muntjac exhibit was added near the front gate on the western side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndinsider.com/red-pandas-now-being-featured-at-potawatomi-zoo-in-south/article_d1a13d0d-13f4-5262-a2f3-01321188c2b5.html|title=Red pandas now being featured at Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend|last=South Bend Tribune|website=Notre Dame Insider|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}}

Amur tiger,

Sichuan takin,

Snow leopard,

Amur leopard,

Red panda,

Reeve's muntjac

Until 2020, the zoo had an Australian Outback exhibit in the center of the zoo that allowed zoogoers to walk among emus, red kangaroos, eastern and western grey kangaroos, and Bennett's wallabies. This exhibit also included a yellow-crested cockatoo, a brush-tailed bettong, honeyeaters, laughing kookaburras, and black swans. The Australian Outback was replaced by a giraffe's African savannah exhibit opening in Spring 2022.{{cite web|date=|title=Big and Loud Campaign|url=https://www.potawatomizoo.org/bigandloud/|website=Potawami Zoo}} Kangaroos and emus have relocated to a new exhibit in the southwest corner of the zoo across from the alligator habitat. The laughing kookaburras and blue-faced honeyeaters are housed in nearby aviaries. The lesser sulfur-crested cockatoo is now an ambassador animal. The wallbies and swans moved to other zoos.

Red kangaroo,

Western grey kangaroo,

Emu,

Yellow-crested cockatoo

The zoo's Cat House was its first permanent structure built during the Great Depression as part of the Works Progress Administration. The Cat House includes outdoor exhibits for a snow leopard and Amur leopards. The birth of [https://web.archive.org/web/20161024222519/https://potawatomizoo.org/news/amur-leopard-cubs-born-at-potawatomi-zoo rare Amur leopard cubs] in the summer of 2016 was a big Zoo. Nowadays it is also known as the "Leopard House", or the "Leopard Path"

Amur leopard,

Snow leopard

The Learning Center is located at the front of the zoo. It is home to many smaller animals and the Zoo's Admissions & Membership Department. Species on exhibit include genet, sand cat, two-toed sloth, golden lion tamarin, cotton-top tamarin, white-faced saki monkey, red-rumped agouti, squirrel monkey, green iguana, banded mongoose, treeshrew, Madagascar hissing cockroach, Texas brown tarantula, Goliath bird eating tarantula, Chilean tarantula, Emperor scorpion, Malaysian scorpion, vinegaroon, as well as various turtles, snakes, geckos, frogs, skinks and other reptiles and amphibians.

The western half of the zoo is home to exhibits representing North and South America. A key feature of the Americas section includes the bison yard which is home to three American bison. In 2011, the zoo added a North American river otter exhibit in the Americas section. The otter exhibit utilizes a green roof, the first of its kind to be used on a municipal building in South Bend.{{cite web | last=South Bend On | title=Zoo’s river otters get first municipal green roof | url=http://www.southbendon.com/news/innovation-government/zoo%E2%80%99s-river-otters-get-first-municipal-green-roof | accessdate=20 April 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Americas also includes Chacoan peccaries, bobcats, red fox, Eastern screech owl, red-tailed hawks, prairie dogs, American alligators, capybaras, giant anteaters, crested screamers, blue-and-yellow macaw, and green-winged macaw, and soon will include Spectacled bear.

Pet and feed the animals in the Zoo Farm. Animals at the Zoo Farm include alpacas, goats, sheep, Jersey cow, donkeys, turkeys, chickens, and a pot-bellied pig.

The zoo breeds endangered animals and participates in over 56 Species Survival Plan programs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.potawatomizoo.org/conservation/|title=Conservation Efforts|last=Potawatomi Zoo|website=Potawatomi Zoo|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03}} The zoo has had a number of successes including the breeding Chacoan peccaries,{{cite news |last1=Semmler |first1=Ed |title=New Babies at Potawatomi Zoo... |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/local/2021/05/10/ew-babies-at-potawatomi-zoo-include-chacoan-peccaries-and-an-armadillo/44392435/ |publisher=South Bend Tribune |date=May 10, 2021}} Southern three-banded armadillos, and Amur leopards. Since 2007, Pearl (female amur leopard) has had nine cubs with the most recent two being born in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Amur-leopard-cubs-Behind-the-scenes-at-Potawatomi-Zoo-395622861.html|title=Amur leopard cubs: Behind the scenes at the Potawatomi Zoo|last=WNDU|website=www.wndu.com|language=english|access-date=2019-05-03}} In 2019, the zoo announced the birth of two Sichuan Takins, a vulnerable species native to Tibet and parts of China.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/second-sichuan-takin-kid-born-at-potawatomi-zoo/article_36153388-a306-5c2e-8462-0bbfe23570d3.html|title=Second Sichuan takin kid born at Potawatomi Zoo|last=Report|first=South Bend Tribune|website=South Bend Tribune|language=en|access-date=2019-05-03}}

Carousel: The Endangered Species Carousel opened in 2016. The ride features 18 hand-crafted animals, like zebras, lions, and leopards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Potawatomi-Zoo-endangered-species-carousel-opening-Saturday-375794471.html|title=Potawatomi Zoo's Endangered Species Carousel opens Saturday|last=WNDU|website=www.wndu.com|language=english|access-date=2019-05-03}}

Zoo Train: In 2004 the zoo trained opened to the public. Take a ride on a historic 1/3- scale replica CP Huntington Locomotive . the electric train winds around the western half of the zoo for approx. 1/2 miles.{{Cite web |title=A History of Potawatomi Zoo |url=http://potawatomizoo.org/History.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302211116/http://potawatomizoo.org/History.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-03-02 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.potawatomizoo.org/plan-your-trip/guest-amenities/|title=Guest Amenities|last=Potawatomi Zoo|website=Potawatomi Zoo|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03}} The Train has become a major attraction for ZOO BOO as during those nights it turns into a Haunted Train Ride.{{Cite web |title=Zoo Boo at Potawatomi Zoo |url=https://www.potawatomizoo.org/zooboo/}}

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|File: Panthera tigris -Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend, USA-8a.jpg|A Bengal tiger (died 2015){{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Gray |title=Potawatomi Zoo's White Bengal euthanized |url=http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/potawatomi-zoo-s-white-bengal-euthanized/article_91a0cd4b-6190-5120-a184-83735830b11e.html |work=South Bend Tribune |date=April 1, 2015 |accessdate=April 11, 2015 }} takes a nap at Potawatomi Zoo.

|File:White_Naped_Crane_Potawatomi_Zoo.jpg|A white-naped crane at the Potawatomi Zoo in April 2012.

|File:Golden_Lion_Tamarin_At_Potawatomi_Zoo.jpg|An endangered golden lion tamarin at the Potawatomi Zoo in April 2012.

|File:North_American_river_otter_display_Potawatomi_zoo.jpg|A North American river otter display opened in 2011.

|File:North_american_porcupine.jpg|A North American porcupine at the Potawatomi Zoo in September 2019.

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{{reflist |refs=

{{ZooOrg|aza|zoos|accessdate=April 20, 2012}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.potawatomizoo.org/zoo-species |title=Potawatomi Zoo Species |work=potatatomizoo.org |publisher=Potawatomi Zoo |accessdate=26 May 2023}}

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• {{Official website|http://www.potawatomizoo.org}}

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Category:Zoos in Indiana

Category:Tourist attractions in South Bend, Indiana

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Category:Educational organizations established in 1921

Category:Zoos established in the 1920s