Columbian Park Zoo

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United States
Lafayette, IN
Columbian Park Zoo

Columbian Park Zoo is located in beautiful Columbian Park in Lafayette, Indiana.
(858)

Columbian Park Zoo is home to over 200 animals representing nearly 90 different species. The zoo offers a variety of education programs throughout the year, inspiring an appreciation for the world's wildlife.

11/11/2024

Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served! Thank you for your service and your sacrifice 🙏

11/08/2024

Did you know iguanas have THREE eyes?? You can see the third eye, known as a parietal eye, on MuShu here. This photoreceptive nodule can detect shadows and light, and may be used to help regulate the lizard’s body clock, with navigation, or to detect predators.

11/07/2024

LAST CALL for 2025 Spring Internship Applications! Make sure to get yours in by this Friday, November 8th.

11/06/2024

Chehalis is engaging in a natural behavior known as preening. Birds, including bald eagles, preen by using their beaks to groom and maintain their feathers, removing dirt or parasites, and ensuring the feathers lay properly for insulation and flight. Notice how she slides her beak along her longer feathers? Each feather is made of many smaller interlocking filaments, which can become separated. Chehalis can be seen zipping those filaments back together as she preens! You may also see her stimulate the uropygial gland at the base of her tail. This gland secretes a water-proofing oil which she is then spreading onto her other feathers with her beak.

11/05/2024

📣LAST CALL for November's Critter Class!

Have a curious kiddo between the ages of 5-7? Join us THIS SATURDAY, November 9 from 10:00am-11:00am for Critter Class: Rodents!

With Critter Classes your child will have the opportunity to learn about wildlife, up-close and hands-on. Each class focuses on a different animal group. Games, crafts, and age-appropriate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities will engage and entertain, letting learning happen naturally. Each session includes a live animal encounter. Supervised outings to zoo exhibits may be included, weather permitting.

Learn more & sign up today: https://secure.rec1.com/IN/lafayette-parks-recreation-in/catalog

11/05/2024

Need some time to do your holiday shopping without the kids? You're in luck! Join us Saturday, December 14 for our Holiday Drop & Shop! Bring your 5-12 year olds for a day of fun Zoo crafts, games, activities and animal encounters. Tackle your holiday to-do list kids-free! Registration is now open: https://secure.rec1.com/IN/lafayette-parks-recreation-in/catalog
Members take 30% off the registration fee! Don't wait- spots fill up fast!

11/04/2024

Thanks B102.9 WXXB for having us for another episode of Zoo Days! Zoo Educator Jasmine was able to talk all things Reindeer Rendezvous with the Zoo! as well as other fun CPZ programming that's coming up!!

Check it out:

11/01/2024

📣General public sales are NOW OPEN for Reindeer Rendezvous with the Zoo! 😍

Reindeer Rendezvous with the Zoo is coming to Columbian Park Zoo on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, 2024! This festive event will be held on Saturday from 9:30am-3:30pm and Sunday from 10:30am-4:30pm. Children and their families will have the opportunity to visit with Santa and meet his reindeer.

Attendees will enjoy a free cookie, holiday craft station, a presentation of animal artifacts by our very own elves of the Zoo Education Department, as well as have an opportunity to take a photo with the big man himself! The Columbian Park Polar Express train will be running, weather permitting. Hot chocolate and other festive treats and gifts will be available for purchase at the event.

Don't miss this exciting holiday event! Get tickets today: https://bit.ly/3YMaeIQ

10/31/2024

If ghosts don’t exist how do you explain this??

Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻

10/31/2024

Hey Grown-Ups! Join us for our next Zooniversity workshop on Sunday, November 10:

You Need Enrichment! (A Mental Health Must for Pets and People) will focus on what enrichment means and how we can enrich the lives of our zoo friends and pet companions - and ourselves! Through participation in this fun interactive session, you will walk away with a better understanding of meeting animal needs for positive welfare and some tips on how to recognize boredom and need deficits before they become problem behaviors. We'll also create enrichment items for some of the zoo residents and load you up with ideas for enrichments to make and enjoy at home!

All materials and supplies are included in your program fee (Zoo Members receive a 15% discount). Brought to you by Best-One of Lafayette, Zooniversity focuses on exploring wildlife and conservation topics through dialogue and hands-on activities, including encounters with live animals.

Sign up today by visiting: https://secure.rec1.com/IN/lafayette-parks-recreation-in/catalog

10/30/2024

Round 2!

Who do you think carved this pumpkin?

👍 = Digger and Antilles the tamandua
❤️ = Shelby, Shandi, Dancer and Nanny the spider monkeys
😆 = Arlo the three-banded armadillo

10/30/2024

📣MEMBERS: CHECK YOUR EMAIL! Our Reindeer Rendezvous Member Presale is NOW OPEN! Now through this Friday CPZ Members get exclusive early access to Reindeer Rendezvous tickets!

We're SO EXCITED to host the second annual Reindeer Rendezvous with the Zoo Saturday, December 7 from 9:30am - 3:30pm and Sunday, December 8 from 10:30am - 4:30pm!

Our Member Presale is NOW OPEN through Friday, November 1 at 11:59am, giving Columbian Park Zoo Members exclusive early access to tickets!! As of Friday, November 1 at noon, ticket sales will be open to the public for $8 each online. Children ages two years and under are free.

Last year's event sold out in a number of days, DON'T WAIT to reserve your spot! Get tickets today! (Check your email for purchasing details)

Reindeer Rendezvous with the Zoo is a fundraiser for the Lafayette Parks Foundation. All proceeds benefit the Columbian Park Zoo and are used to fund capital improvements, various Zoo projects, and educational programs. Thank you for your support of this annual fundraising event! We can't wait to see you there!

10/29/2024

Did you know Columbian Park Zoo offers internship programs that work with your schedule? Interns at the zoo get the chance to pursue their passion for wildlife and conservation in an unforgettable semester long program! Gain hands-on experience working with amazing animals behind-the-scenes. Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to make a difference and kickstart your career!

Check out our website at columbianparkzoo.org for more information!

10/29/2024

Happy National Cat Day! 🐈‍⬛🐈

It's been a few years since CPZ had big (or small) cats, but it is part of our future masterplan for some species of cats to return in the future. In the meantime, show us your house panthers and living room lions in the comments!

10/29/2024

Have a curious kiddo between the ages of 5-7? Join us on Saturday, November 9 from 10:00am-11:00am for Critter Class: Rodents!

With Critter Classes your child will have the opportunity to learn about wildlife, up-close and hands-on. Each class focuses on a different animal group. Games, crafts, and age-appropriate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities will engage and entertain, letting learning happen naturally. Each session includes a live animal encounter. Supervised outings to zoo exhibits may be included, weather permitting.

Learn more & sign up today: https://secure.rec1.com/IN/lafayette-parks-recreation-in/catalog

10/28/2024

Our next KinderZoo Class is THIS SATURDAY, November 2! Join us for for Sensory Safari! Can you SEE like an owl, or SMELL like a snake? We’ll explore the wonderous world of animal senses, while using some of our own! Enjoy meeting a special Animal Ambassador and themed hands-on activities in this one-hour weekend experience for preschool-aged children and a parent or other caregiver.

Fee is for one child + one adult caregiver participating together. Zoo Members receive a 15% discount on KinderZoo registration. Don't wait! Sign up today by visiting: https://secure.rec1.com/IN/lafayette-parks-recreation-in/catalog

10/28/2024

Who do you think carved this pumpkin?
👍 = Lucy the Mini Horse
❤️ = Polk the North American Porcupine
😆= The Wallaby mob

Address

1915 Scott Street
Lafayette, IN
47904

Telephone

(765) 807-1540

Website

http://columbianparkzoo.org/

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Videos

It’s all hands on deck prepping for Boo at the Zoo this weekend! We could only have a skeleton staff meeting 💀

Just monkeying around 🐵 #thatmondayfeeling #spidermonkey

When you get to the party but don’t see your bestie 🦦

This week’s Homeschool Academy for ages 9-12 featured a lesson on zoo nutrition and diet preparation. The kiddos tried their hands at preparing the afternoon meal for our parrots. Watch til the end to see our Quality Control Inspector’s reaction!

Nomnomnomnom #wallabywednesday

Polk loves when Zoo Camp gets corny 🌽 (And so do we!) 🎥: Educator Sami

L'il Lucy enjoys her new enrichment

Big thanks from this tiny horse to the person who sent this jollyball from our Amazon wishlist! Enrichment is such an important part of zoo animal health and welfare management. But also - it’s just plain fun to watch them enjoying their presents! If you’d like to gift an enrichment to a zoo animal check out our Amazon wishlist. Link from our website or below: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1ABLABDRFIYMH/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex