Located in the southeastern part of Nebraska's largest city, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is the state's number one tourist attraction for both locals and out-of-state visitors alike. This Nebraska zoo has been ranked as one of the nation's top zoos with an annual attendance of 1.35 million visitors, historically evolved from the Riverview Park Zoo in 1894. Part of the "Gateway to the West", the Henry Doorly Zoo promotes family fun along with education, conservation, recreation and research to all who find their way to this scenic wonder on the state's eastern border. The city of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is considered one of their most fascinating and exciting places which will keep you wanting to come back for more, no matter how often you visit.
The Henry Doorly Zoo has one of the world's largest indoor rain forests-the Lied Jungle, a steam train, the Scott Aquarium with the world's largest underground zigzag tunnel, the Hubbard Gorilla Valley, the world's largest indoor desert under a massive geodesic dome-the Desert Dome, and the world's largest nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp known as "Kingdoms of the Night." In May, new plans were announced to build a $7.5 million dollar Madagascar exhibit that will be home to beautiful rare lemurs and orchids. This plan is part of a $100 million dollar project that will include an Arctic Center, a habitat for elephants, an exhibit entitled "Antelope Valley", and a kangaroo Australian exhibit.
Since 2008, the Henry Doorly Zoo has built a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art Butterfly and Insect Pavilion, with plans to house more than a thousand of over 200 species of butterflies in flight. Presently, breathtaking Blue Morpho, Zebra Longwing and Painted Ladies butterflies are gently traveling through the air to land on delighted zoo visitors. This 14,000-square-foot new addition includes a butterfly conservatory, an insect zoo, and a chrysalis hatching room.
ATTRACTIONS OF THE SEASONAs of May 1, 2009 at 2:40 pm, three little King Penguin chicks from three different sets of parents have been on display, much to the enjoyment of the zoo's visitors. Located in the Scott Aquarium penguin exhibit, baby penguins have been an annual display since 1995, with each year new chicks hatching out for children and adults to enjoy. The King Penguins are considered the second largest penguin of all the penguins, often mistaken for the much larger Emperor Penguin. The male King Penguin incubates the egg during the warmer seasons and cares for the chick when the egg is laid 54 days later, taking approximately 13 months for the chick to become full grown. The Scott Aquarium also provides a 70-foot long acrylic viewing zigzag tunnel that is delightfully located underground, with colorful varieties and shapes of many sea creatures swimming above and to the sides of the tunnel pathway, consisting of shellfish, tropical fish, stingrays, sharks, sea dragons and moonjelly fish for unique aquarium attraction!
Additionally, June 8, 2009 has brought out the pollinating Honey Bees from the bee hive in the Butterfly and Insect Pavilion. The bees travel within a three-mile radius of their hive with the California Queen Bee easily recognized with a red mark on her back. The 3,000-to-4,000 caste system of female worker bees and male drone bees are very busy in the hive, with outdoor access allowed to produce honey with pollen being carried back into the hive. Children and adults excitedly enjoy viewing the busy little Honey Bees doing a very special "wiggle dance" in order to communicate to the other bees where to find the pollen for their honey's production!
THE AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION INITIATIVELocated at the Henry Doorly Zoo, working with other zoos and organizations, the very first bio-secure facility in our nation has been developed to quadrant amphibians and to provide special captive breeding programs. Working toward the goal of saving amphibians, this will hopefully prevent the mass extinction of over 3,000 reptiles and amphibians that will occur over the next ten years unless human intervention occurs. Located at the new Berniece Grewcock & Insect Pavilion, the most endangered and threatened amphibians will be housed along with the frog breeding and rearing for visitors to see and learn about.
INFORMATIONOpen every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day from 8:30 am to 5 pm, admission for children under age 2 is free, children age 3 to 11 is $7.75, children over 12 and adults are $11.50, and seniors over age 62 are $10.00. Recorded information can be found by calling (402) 733-8400 for the zoo in general, the IMAX number is (402) 330-4629, going online to the Henry Doorly Zoo, or emailing them. The address of the zoo is 3701 South 10th Street, located south of Nebraska Interstate and exit 454 (13 Street- south exit). Free parking is offered within a 2,000 space parking lot.