Where The Wings Are
Discover why Omaha’s record-breaking Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the best.
By Diane Bair and Pamela Wright
From humble beginnings as a public park with a collection of animals (including two bison on loan), the world-class Henry Doorly is now ranked one of the top zoos in the nation, renowned for its cutting-edge exhibits, up-close animal encounters, and strong conservation and research efforts.
Set on 130 woodland acres, the zoo draws more than a million visitors a year, who walk among (and photograph) more than 24,330 animals, representing 972 species, of which 44 are endangered and seven threatened.
The real mission of the zoo is conservation awareness, and Director Dr. Lee Simmons sees the glory of conservation in everything. One of his favorite stories is about a buried pool on the property that was found, revitalized and put to good use. “It was Riverview Park’s public pool, built in 1916 and closed in 1938 due to the polio epidemic,” he says.
It was filled with dirt in 1944, but in 1970 under Simmons’ direction, the zoo borrowed some equipment and dug it up. Today, it is home to sea lions.
In additon to the sea lions, there is a lot to see. With a map and a fast pace, you could see most of the major attractions in three or four hours, but give yourself five or six. Start at the newly expanded Exploration Station for an overview of the zoo, video previews of the major exhibits and a look at the interactive map. Then, journey into the jungle.
“I love the immersion of Lied Jungle, with its rope bridges, waterfalls and rocky lookouts,” says Ed Willis, an Omaha resident and fan of the Doorly. “There are several nooks and crannies, which are easy to overlook, that give the jungle a newness every time you go.”
Lied Jungle, the world’s largest indoor rainforest, covers 1.5 acres and soars eight stories high. You’ll walk through three different rainforest habitats—Asia, Africa and South America—traveling from the forest floor to towering canopy. In Asia, look for clouded leopards, gibbons and giant Indian fruit bats; pygmy hippos greet visitors in the African rainforest; and the jungle of South America features a 50-foot waterfall, where monkeys playfully swing and screech.
Next, hop from the jungle to the desert. The Desert Dome—the world’s largest indoor desert—is located under a massive geodesic enclosure and is one of the zoo’s signature attractions. Pumas, roadrunners, jackrabbits, foxes and meerkats scurry around the 13-story-tall environment that simulates three deserts of the world: the Namib Desert of southern Africa, the Red Center of Australia and the Sonoran Desert of the southwest United States and northwest Mexico.
Beneath the Namibian sand dune, you’ll find the world’s largest indoor swamp, where you can walk across floating boardwalks and through a 160,000-gallon dark swamp filled with alligators, frogs, giant turtles, snakes and beavers.
Also under the Desert Dome lies Kingdoms of the Night, the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit. Zoo scientists adjusted light levels so the nocturnal animals are awake and active during visitor hours.
The penguins—king, gentoo, rockhopper and little blues—are the big hits at the Walter and Suzanne Scott Kingdoms of the Seas Aquarium. You’ll also have a chance for up-close encounters with sharks and rays as you weave through a tunnel at the bottom of the 17-foot, 900,000-gallon aquarium.
Arguably, the wildest attraction is Hubbard Gorilla Valley, where massive primates—up to 25 of them—wander a two-acre site replete with towering banyan trees, waterfalls, swinging vines and giant rock formations. The apes have the run of the place while visitors are kept captive in glass corridors and narrow passageways. Stop for a while at one of the two pop-up bubble windows to observe gorilla behavior at close range. The valley is also home to exotic birds, monkeys and red river hogs.
Still have time? In the Hubbard Orangutan Forest, troops of monkeys swing from vines and banyan trees, looking down at you. There’s also the Cat Complex with lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars; a lagoon, filled with hundreds of koi; the world’s second largest free-flight aviary with more than 500 birds; an IMAX theater; a barnyard petting zoo; and herds of antelope, zebras, elephants and rhinos. Plus, a new Butterfly and Insect Pavilion is slated to open in May 2008.
Simmons has a little advice for visitors: “When you get here, get a map and decide on a route so you don’t backtrack. Wear comfortable shoes and enjoy yourself!”
Whichever path you choose to follow, there is much fun to be had inside the Henry Doorly Zoo. While promoting conservation objectives on a local, regional, national and global scale, the zoo provides exciting opportunities that work to further visitors’ knowledge of the natural world while amazing them around every corner. ■
Open year round, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults, $10.75; ages 3-11, $7; ages 2 and younger, free. www.omahazoo.com
MIDWEST AIRLINES offers daily flights to and from Omaha. Details can be found at www.midwestairlines.com.
