COAL VALLEY, Ill. — On Tuesday, April 30, families in Coal Valley got to enjoy the sunny weather of opening day at Niabi Zoo, where some new animals are on display.
Opening day for the 2024 season was delayed due to ongoing repair work, as several enclosures and buildings were damaged by heavy snow in the winter. As a result, admission price is $2 cheaper this season to make up for some exhibits being closed.
That isn't stopping the park from working on new displays. A new exhibit featuring almost 40 prairie dogs is now at the zoo, just past the red train tunnel and across from the large cats exhibit.
Zookeeper Ashley Damhoff helped make the display happen. "I've been seeing their plans from day one, getting to see everything kind of come together and flourish and do a completed project has been super satisfying," Dahmoff said.
While they're native to the U.S., Damhoff explained that prairie dogs are mainly in the Great Plains area, in states like Nebraska and the Dakotas — so it's a treat to have them in Illinois. "They're very vocal animals, so you can hear them across the zoo all year round," she said.
But just across from the new display, some big cat enclosures still need fixing up. "We're rebuilding, and it's just going to be amazing when we're done," Zoo Director Lee Jackson said.
The park is looking to have the aviary reopened in a few months, but Jackson said repairs on the large cat exhibit, the bald eagle display and pallas cat exhibit will likely not be repaired before the end of the season. Despite that, he says there's still plenty visitors can enjoy.
"We still have another 600 animals that people can come see. So please come out and check us out. We still have a lot to see," Jackson said.
The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the season lasting until late October. You can purchase tickets and get more information on the zoo's website.
