Miller Park Zoo - Bloomington, Illinois - zoo with a number of endangered species

The Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington Illinois has hundreds of different types of animals, as well as guided tours where guests can listen and learn from actual zookeepers. Guests can also wander the zoo on a self-guided tour if they don't want to book a tour. The natural weather at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington Illinois makes it possible to see both winter and summertime animals in near natural habitats.

There are many different species of animals that guests can enjoy at the Miller Park Zoo. For one, guests can see endangered animals, such as the Sumatran tiger, a very special and rare species of tiger that can't be seen in many zoos across the country. A number of other species found at the zoo are also endangered, and guests can see them up close, sometimes even interacting with them in hands-on shows and exhibits. The exhibits themselves are divided according to the types of animals and the places these animals live. In some exhibits, guests can actually see a number of different kinds of animals coexisting in the same environment, as they would in nature.

One of the most popular exhibits is the Tropical American Rainforest. Here, guests can see saki monkeys, saffrons, two-toed sloths, boas, callimico monkeys, finches, and a number of other tropical animals. Nearby it the tortoise exhibit, with both Galapagos tortoises and African spurred tortoises. The Birds of North America exhibits is home to the bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, and burrowing owl, and the Koetthoefer Animal Building has the sun bear, amur leopard, rainbow boa, genet, tamarin, and popular Sumatran tiger. There are separate exhibits for the New Guinea singing dogs, the red wolf, and the river otter.

Kids will enjoy visiting the Zoolab, which has a number of hands-on experiences for families. Some of the animals people can see up close include tarantulas, meerkats, parrots, walking sticks, and giant cockroaches. At certain times during the day, guests can go to certain enclosures to see some of the animals being fed. Typically, there are feedings at the tiger, leopard, gibbons, bear, river otter, and sea lion cages daily. Children of all ages can also participate in the Miller Park Zoo's Junior Zookeepers program. Started in 1972, this program is open to students who want to learn more about animals and get a special behind-the-scenes look at what goes on at the zoo. There are also special events throughout the year for both children and their families, as well as for adults and members of the zoo. Guests can also schedule time to meet with zoo staff, adopt an animal, volunteer at the zoo, or book a birthday party or other event at the zoo.

The Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington Illinois is open every day, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The hours are from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and the grounds are cleared each day at 5:00 PM. Parking at the zoo is free, and tickets for admission range from $3.50 to $5.00