BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) – The Miller Park Zoo hosted a party on Saturday over a century in the making.
The Twin Cities attraction celebrated its 131st birthday, complete with games, crafts, and a wide variety of activities.
The zoo originally started in 1891 as a side exhibit for those going to boat and swim at the pavilion during the warm months. But it became something more after a lion cub was allegedly sold to the facility by a farmer, beginning its tradition of housing exotic animals. The facility only grew from there, with the community collecting money to open a proper zoo in 1914.
Beyond its exhibits, it does a lot more than provide fun for local families. Events and volunteer coordinator Silvia Schuh points out the preservation efforts happening, as well.
“I really believe in our mission, and what we do here as far as stressing the need for conservation,” she says.
Outside of animals, Shuh adds workers focus on other aspects of natural life like plants close to extinction and pollinators.
As it stands today, the zoo provides a home for over 165 varieties of animals.
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