A NEW KIND OF ZOO, A NEW KIND OF MISSION

The mission of the Indianapolis Zoo is to empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation.

A day at the Zoo is first about fun. The animals are engaging and entertaining. Children and families love them. This fun bonds families; inspires careers; enhances our community; and creates jobs in life sciences, tourism, and more. Many zoos stop there. But not ours.

To enhance these encounters and build memories, the Indianapolis Zoo creates unique habitats and experiences that bring visitors closer than ever to the animals—close enough to look them in the eyes, watch how they move, and observe the intimate details of their lives.
 
When we engage with the animals—when we look them in the eye—we’re more likely to care. Caring opens the window to learning. Learning makes visitors eager to know more about animals and what affects their survival in the world.
 
Once enlightened, we’re empowered. We discover that there is hope for endangered animals to survive and that there are ways we can make a difference. So the Indianapolis Zoo experience provides visitors with doable action steps that make a global impact on animal conservation.
 
In short, the animals you meet at the Indianapolis Zoo are ambassadors to their counterparts in the wild. And because they look, learn and act so much like us humans, the orangutans—one of the most endangered of the great apes—are about to get a remarkable home and begin a wonderful love affair with our community.