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Reviews, get directions and contact details for Peoria Zoo

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The Peoria Zoo is a zoo located in Peoria, Illinois, in the United States. The zoo is owned and operated by the Peoria Park District and is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Years Day.The Peoria Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1976.HistoryIn 2009, the zoo opened the new Africa exhibit, nearly doubling its size. At the same time it changed its name to "Peoria Zoo."The zoo's adult female Amur (Siberian) tiger, Kyra, mother of four cubs (two males - whose conservation plan called for them to eventually be relocated to other zoos - and two females), died suddenly on the evening of Sunday, August 18, 2013, of what preliminary was believed to be a serious acute infection that turned septic. The four cubs are now considered orphans, as their father is kept in a separate enclosure for their safety; the plan for the cubs to be separated may have to be delayed and/or altered.ExhibitsAfricaThe Africa exhibit opened in 2009 after more than a decade of planning and two and a half years of construction. In this exhibit, the visitors walk around the main area on a boardwalk, and can see across the entire expanse of the enclosure. The main area is divided into two sections, the northern section containing giraffes and gazelles, and the southern section being home to zebras and rhinos. Lions have their own enclosure, as do the mandrills. red river hogs and colobus monkeys share a home, and the African crested porcupines and Aldabra giant tortoise also live together.

Address: 2320 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603, USA
Phone: (309) 686-3365
gro.oozairoep@ofni
State: Illinois
City: Peoria
Zip Code: 61603


Opening Hours

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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Reviews
It's okay. Animal enclosure are small in spite of reasonable size of zoo space. Perfect for an hour of adventure especially if you have small kids. Quite green in summer. Some animals are rare for a small zoo.
7 years ago (13-02-2018)
Love it when the weather permits. Little one has fun running around and meeting the animals. Bring a picnic and enjoy the playground as well.
7 years ago (01-02-2018)
I like the zoo, but I feel like it's not quite what it could be, especially for the price. If you're going to go more than 2 or 3 times a year, you might as well get a membership. How they keep track of who has paid is beyond me, because they don't stamp your hand or anything, and members go in through the gift shop. Parking is not well thought-out. The lot is tiny, but I hardly ever park there because the road to it is one way in a big loop around the park so most people do parallel parking and hike to the new entrance. Ever since they moved the entrance, I hardly ever go through the old building, but it has quite a few small exhibits for various reptiles and amphibians, plus the meerkats, boa constrictors, spider monkeys, African porcupines, and bats. The sloths used to be in a tall glass area with some hornbills, but now they're in a tiny enclosure where the tamarins used to be (I think they're gone now?) although the glass is much clearer. If you go straight, there is an alright petting zoo, some playground-type stuff (I seem to recall an awesome wooden one when I was younger that is gone...?), a koi pond, the Chinese alligator (used to be inside) I'm also going to add that I love zoos where the peacocks roam free among the guests. This used to be like that, but then they caged them and, later, got rid of them entirely. I do love the tiger exhibit, which is very close to the entryway—perfect for quick visits when the zoo had four cubs! Now they just have the two females, but it's still one of the best exhibits for seeing them up close (but they can get their space if they want). They seem very happy. The rest of the "Asia trail" is pretty unremarkable, except maybe the takin, which I've seen at a few other zoos now, but most people would be unfamiliar with (looks like a cross between a moose and a polar bear). They took down those old wire and wood cages that used to house the binturongs. and left empty grass or maybe some flowers in their place. They did add the Australia walkabout (because Australia is next to Asia?) but you can hardly see the animals from the path (wooden fence with tiny windows) unless you take the time to go in. No kangaroos, just black swans, emus, wallabies, kookaburras, and a budgie (parakeet) enclosure where you can walk in and feed them, but expect to be pooped on. There used to be capybaras and maned wolves, but I guess they were removed since they named it the Asia Trail. The Africa addition is pretty cool, but not well thought out. It is a huge loop with no way to cut back and, for long stretches when going behind the giraffes, nothing to look at and no way to get out of the sun. I hope they add stuff on the outside of the walkway. They have a hand washing station where you can feed the giraffes, but no drinking fountain I think? Could be wrong, but either way I'm always thirsty by the time I reach the giraffes. It is interesting that you can look across and see lions and zebras in the same view. Speaking of seeing lions, they used to have sea lions with neat little shows, but they have now all died off and will not be replaced as I understand it. Anyway, they've made some improvements and some decisions I'm not fond of. Besides the Africa area, it's not well organized like other zoos that might have a South American jungle building or a big cat area, and not the easiest for mobility, but it's still fun to go. There is food at the entrance and at the air conditioned hut at the entrance to the Africa exhibit.
7 years ago (21-01-2018)
We love the Peoria zoo! For a smaller zoo they have a lot of animals to see.
7 years ago (27-01-2018)
Enjoyed this Zoo. Found the gift shop and food concessions prices very reasonable.
7 years ago (17-01-2018)
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