Wild Connections
Check out the latest feature article from our monthly Wild Connections Newsletter below. Be sure to subscribe below to have the latest news and events delivered directly to your inbox!
Latest Feature Articles
Endangered Species Day at the Zoo May 20th 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM This is the last installment of our month-long Party for the Planet celebration. Join us as our Zookeepers give talks about Miller Park Zoo’s effort to save endangered species. Learn about the animals we are specifically helping with by playing a scavenger hunt.…
We are excited to be seeing the progress on the South America exhibit. The Zoo and contractors have completed the punch list. Now we are able to make finishing touches for the animals. Miller Park Zoos newest family members have arrived safely by transport last week. The anteater and pudu are currently in quarantine and…
Partners For Eighty-Six Years In March 1887 when the James Miller family sold forty-three acres of land to the City of Bloomington for $17,000 the property was intended to be used as a park. The city paid $12,000 of the purchase price while those living on the city’s southwest side were called upon by subscription…
Hi! My name is Julia Benzel, and I am so excited to be the new Zoo Education Manager! Animal care and conservation education are my passions. I began volunteering as a JZK at Miller Park Zoo in sixth grade. As I aged through the program, presented informal programming, and assisted the Zookeepers with animal care. I began…
April 12, 2023 You are cleaning the kitchen and reach for a paper towel and the roll is empty. What to do? Save the cardboard tube and take it to the zoo. You are wrapping presents and have just enough paper to cover your gift. What to do? Save the cardboard tube and take it…
Kelsey Rieck- Development Manager In January of this year Kelsey became the Development Manager joining the two-person team at the Zoological Society, responsible for memberships, fundraising, communications, and events. Her life-long passion for animals and zoos led her to pursue a career in environmental science. After graduating Heartland Community College in May 2021, she began working…
Jay Pratte – Miller Park Zoo Director We are very excited to be making progress on the South America exhibit. The pools are in, sand/dig pits are in, and much of the fencing has been installed! We are still on track to have the building and exhibit completed by the end of the month. Our…
Just decades ago, many animals were captured in the wild and moved to zoos. Today, thanks to advances in husbandry, standards of care and successful breeding programs, most zoo animals are born in zoos. Each of these animals has a story that begins with where it was born and includes all the zoos it has…
February 3, 2023 On Wednesday January 11th, a family overheard noises in their garage, and thinking it was just a local wild animal or stray cat, they were surprised to see that it was a ring-tailed lemur. The family contacted the Illinois Conservation Police, who asked the Miller Park Zoo for assistance. Jay (Miller Park…
Pearl Yusuf – General Curator This past June Pearl arrived at Miller Park to take on the job of General Curator. She is responsible for the care and welfare of the animals and those who care for the animals. Her life-long passion for animals has led to a variety of jobs and some very unusual…