Columbian Park Zoo celebrates successful opening weekend

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - It was opening weekend for the Columbian Park Zoo.

Hundreds of people made their way through Columbian Park Zoo this opening weekend. And while there, some decided to give back.

The gates at the Columbian Park Zoo officially opened for the 2012 season Saturday morning. It was the first time this year visitors got to see some of the zoo's most popular animals.

Senior Zoo Keeper Noah Shields said the zoo staff and animals worked very hard to please the opening day crowds.

"We were all very pleased with how all our exhibits turned out. Everything worked really well. The animals were very pleased and excited to see visitors back on zoo grounds again after all winter of not seeing anybody," said Shields.

Shields said approximately 1,300 people walked through the zoo's gates on opening day.

"We didn't have quite as many visitors as we were expecting first, off the bat, but then as the afternoon and as the day went on and it started getting a little warmer, the sun started to come out, we were able to get some of our other species out like our gibbons and our spider monkeys," said Shields.

Also visiting the zoo on opening weekend were the Girls Scouts. Daisies and Brownies were planting flowers at the zoo to celebrate Earth Day on Sunday.

Landscape coordinator Linda Cooper said it's important that children give back to the environment.

"Children need to understand more about their Earth, how to protect it, and take care of it. This is partially going to come through teachers, through parents but also others like coming to the zoo and appreciating what wonderful resource they have here with the zoo," said Cooper.

Troop 1719 Girl Scout Rowan Wilson said she enjoys taking care of the Earth by planting flowers.

"My favorite part about today is helping the environment grow, grow new things for Earth," said Rowan.

Rowan was also excited that zoo visitors will get to see the flowers she worked so hard to plant.

The zoo will be open from 10:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m. until June 1, 2012. Starting June 2, 2012, the zoo will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until August 18, 2012.

As always, admission to the zoo is free.