User:Laurenhise/Scovill Zoo

Scovill Zoo in Decatur, Illinois, is one of 210 zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums with 96 species and around 500 animals in residence. The zoo originally started out as a farm in 1967 when the Kiwanis Club donated money for its construction. Scovill Zoo has its own chapter of the AAZK or American Association of Zoo Keepers. It participates in a large number of conservation projects and education.

History of Scovill Zoo
Scovill Zoo first opened to the public in Decatur, Illinois in 1967 under the name of Scovill Farm. The Kiwanis Club had donated $14,000 to construct the farm. It housed mainly pigs, chickens, goats, and other farm animals. In the end, construction ended up totaling to $56,000.

Scovill Zoo, as it is now called, houses hundreds of animals from nearly one hundred species including cheetahs, wolves, zebras, and alligators along with the original farm animals. On September 25, 2006, Scovill Zoo became one of 210 zoos recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In the spring of 2007, Scovill Zoo created a local chapter of the AAZK or American Association of Zoo Keepers to further education.

Scovill Zoo Director, Mike Borders, retired in 2008 after serving at Scovill for many years. The current Director Dave Webster has been at the Scovill Zoo for 20 years. The Assistant Director Ken Frye came on board in 2009.

Conservation Projects
Scovill Zoo places great emphasis on conservation through education and donation of funds to support organizations working to conserve both animal populations as well as the environment.

AAZK Chapter
The American Association of Zoo Keepers was formed in 1967 in San Diego, California. It serves as an educational opportunity for zookeepers to learn from one another and continue education. Scovill Zoo formed its own chapter in 2007. The chapter aids in conservation projects such as Bowling for Rhinos, Golden Lion Tamarin of Brazil conservation, De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust, and the Snow Leopard Trust.

Cheetah Conservation
Scovill Zoo's two African cheetahs, Jafari and Runako, were born in Africa before coming to live at Scovill Zoo. Due to threats to their habitat as well as other factors, cheetahs have been placed on the list of threatened species. Scovill Zoo is doing their part to help cheetahs survive by donating five cents of each paid zoo admission. The money collected goes to the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Conservation Centre.

The money raised by admissions goes to the organization’s census study of free-roaming cheetahs in South Africa. The organization uses radio collars and survey farmers to try and gain a better grasp on the number of cheetahs still roaming Africa. With more information, the organization hopes to be able to learn more about where the cheetahs are and help cheetahs and humans coexist more peacefully.

Save a Rainforest
By donating to the Conservation Parking Meter, set up by the Center for Ecosystem Survival, at Scovill Zoo, guests are able to give money to the Rincon Rainforest, which is 13,838 acres along the north edge of the eastern part of the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, in Costa Rica.

Children's Education
"Scovill Zoo’s education programs offer opportunities designed to help animal lovers of all ages explore and discover the animal kingdom through unique and innovative experiences. From our Zoo Academy to our Mobile Zoo, our education programs provide fun, hands-on connections to the animal world," states the Scovill Zoo website.

Classes and programs are as follows:

Features
The Z.O. & O. Express Train The Z.O. & O. Express Train travels a 1-mile path through the zoo. The passengers receive a guided tour and behind-the-scenes look at some of the animals residing at Scovill Zoo. Originally added in 1984, the train is a modeled after a 1863 C.P. Huntington Steam Train.

The Endangered Species Carousel The Endangered Species Carousel consists of 30 hand-carved wooden animals, each representing species protected and endangered. The unique carousel was designed especially for Scovill Zoo and has proved to be one of the zoo's most popular attractions. Guests to the zoo may contribute by adopting one of the animals on the carousel.

Seasonal Adjustments
Because of Illinois' changing climate, Scovill Zoo must make special accomadations for some of the animals in residence.

Summer
Scovill Zoo responds to high rises in temperature during the summer months by implementing fans, pools, and a variety of frozen treats for their animals. Though each animal is supplied with shade in their habitat, animals with thick fur coats like the wolves can still overheat. Zookeepers often prepare "frozen blood balls" for the wolves out of the drippings of their meat diet. Other animals, such as the pelicans, are misted by keepers or provided with fans and pools.

Winter
The zoo, which closes to the public during the winter months, has made several adjustments to existing habitats and has added new buildings to house animals that are not equipped for the drop in temperature. Animals, such as the wolves and cheetahs, are allowed to remain in their exhibits all year long, while other, such as the tropical birds, alligators, and primates, are moved to heated buildings.

Animals
The following is a list of animals that can be found at Scovill Zoo:

Birds

 * Chicken


 * Crane, East African Crowned


 * Conure, Sun


 * Dove, Ringed Turtle Dove


 * Duck, Call


 * Duck, Crested


 * Eagle, Bald


 * Egret, Cattle


 * Emu


 * Flamingo, Chilean


 * Fowl, Guinea


 * Gull, Ring-Billed


 * Hawk, Red-Tailed


 * Kookaburra, Laughing


 * Macaw, Blue & Gold
 * Macaw, Green-Winged


 * Owl, Barn


 * Owl, Great Horned


 * Owl, Screech


 * Peafowl


 * Pelican, American White


 * Pheasant, Golden


 * Pigeon


 * Teal, Ringed


 * Toucan, Red Billed


 * Vulture, Turkey


 * Turaco, Lady Ross’

Fish

 * Goldfish

Insects & Spiders

 * Cockroach, Hissing


 * Scorpion, Emperor


 * Scorpion, Plains Stripeless


 * Tarantula

Mammals

 * Bat, Egyptian Fruit


 * Binturong


 * Camel, Bactrian


 * Capybara


 * Cheetah


 * Chinchilla


 * Coati, White-Nosed


 * Cow


 * Tufted Deer


 * Deer, White-Tailed


 * Degu


 * Ferret, Domestic


 * Goat, African Pygmy


 * Goat, Nubian


 * Guinea Pig


 * Hedgehog, African


 * Lemur, Ring-Tailed


 * Llama


 * Meerkat, Slender-Tailed


 * Monkey, Spider


 * Panda, Red


 * Prairie Dog, Black-Tailed


 * Rabbit


 * Tamarin, Cotton-Top


 * Tamarin, Geoffroy’s


 * Tamarin, Golden Lion


 * Tenrec, Lesser Pygmy Hedgehog


 * Wallaby, Red-Necked


 * Wolf, Gray


 * Zebra, Grant’s


 * Zebu, Miniature

Reptiles & Amphibians

 * Alligator, American


 * Axolotl
 * Bearded Dragon


 * Boa Constrictor


 * Boa, Desert Rosy


 * Boa, Smooth Sand


 * Frog, African Clawed


 * Frog, Horned


 * Frog, Poison Arrow


 * Gecko, Leopard


 * Iguana, Green


 * Lizard, Glass


 * Milksnake, Pueblan


 * Toad, Giant Marine


 * Tortoise, Galapagos


 * Tortoise, Leopard


 * Tortoise, Red-Footed


 * Turtle, Box


 * Turtle, Map


 * Turtle, Painted


 * Turtle, Red-Eared Slider


 * Monitor, Argus
 * Monitor, Green Tree


 * Monitor, Savanna


 * Python, Burmese


 * Python, Green Tree


 * Skink, Blue-Tongued


 * Snake, Corn


 * Snake, Black Rat


 * Snake, Yellow Rat


 * Tegu, Black & Yellow