New animals, habitats at Phillips Park Zoo
When you're 103 years old, sometimes you need a little freshening up.
Which explains, in part, why Aurora's Phillips Park Zoo is taking on multiple projects - including habitat renovations and the introduction of new animals - to improve and expand the facility that was established in 1915 and has undergone numerous facelifts since at 1000 Ray Moses Drive.
The zoo hired a new manager, Dan Powell, in September 2017, which helped spark the latest initiatives aiming to increase community outreach, conservation and education.
Powell says the zoo already has added new snakes, turtles and frogs, including a corn snake, a king snake and a ribbon snake.
Other newcomers to the reptile section are two spotted turtles and a box turtle, which were rescued after authorities discovered a family illegally keeping the endangered animals as pets.
Officials at the zoo, which covers about seven acres, also are hoping to rescue a few alpacas and a wolf pack, Powell says.
The zoo now features roughly 105 animals, most of which are from North America, although others come from India, Africa and South America.
"One of the really cool things I like about this zoo is … you can come in a really low- stress way," Powell says. "You don't have to dedicate a whole day to it. You can stay for an hour or stay for the day."
In preparation for the new wolf pack, the zoo has added new dens in the existing wolf section of the zoo.
In all, the zoo is spending more than $100,000 on its makeover, Powell says, with the money coming from donations, grants and the city.
One of those grants, from the Kara Foundation based in Las Vegas. Nevada, allowed crews to build a new enclosure for the zoo's otter, Bella, that will open this summer.
Another area scheduled for renovation over the next year or so is the domestic animals barn, which houses chickens, multiple goat breeds and turkeys. The improvements are designed to make the barn more structurally sound and better for the animals, Powell says.
The zoo also is preparing for some of its summer activities, such as an area where children can get up close to goats and chickens.
In June and July, it will feature Sensory Sensitive Thursdays, where visitors will be able to view and touch wolf and otter pelts, turtle shells and bobcat skulls.
"It's giving people another way to experience the animals here," Powell says.
The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and is free.
"We're really excited to see the new animals," Powell says, "and some new faces from the community."