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GUINEA PIG EXPERIENCE
Just inside the Animal Encounters area, you can visit with a herd of over 40 guinea pigs.
Enjoy their chirps and squeaks while offering them their favorite veggies from a special guinea pig approved spoon.
Online: N/A
Onsite: $5 per person
(Any feeder requires a ticket)
Everyday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., as long as our temp range is 60F-85F
If Guinea Pig feedings have to be canceled, refunds will be given.
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KOI POND FEEDING
Take a tranquil walk out on our koi pond deck under a beautiful gazebo and feed our lively koi fish! Keep an eye out for other pond residents like the white swan, ducks and turtles.
Online: $1/bag of food
Onsite: $2/bag of food
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Scientific Name
Ceratotherium simum
Range
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya
Conservation Status
Near Threatened
Name Origin
You may have noticed that despite their name, white rhinos aren’t actually white in color! The name “white rhino” comes from the Afrikaan’s word “weit” or “wyd” (meaning “wide”), referring to the animal’s wide, square lip. Early English settlers misinterpreted this for word for “white”, and the name stuck!
Not a True Horn
A rhino’s horn is not a true horn; True horns are attached to an animal’s skull and have a boney core. Rhino horns grow from the skin, and are made up of keratin fibers. This is the same material as your hair and fingernails! White rhino have two of these horns, with the front larger horn measuring anywhere from 37” to 79”. Unfortunately, these horns are highly sought after, and are the main reason this animal was nearly poached to extinction.
White Rhino
Come face-to-face with the second-largest land mammal in the world and discover why the southern white rhino is so special. During this encounter our zookeepers will share firsthand knowledge about rhino natural history, their conservation status, what our rhino loves to eat and which enrichment is his favorite. Observe a training session with our rhino and you may also have the opportunity to feed him some of his favorite foods in a face to face experience.
Ages: 5+| Days: Sunday, Tuesday, Friday (offered year round!)
Time: 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. | Number of guests: min of 2-max of 6
Members: $100 per person
NonMembers: $125 person
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Scientific Name
Choloepus didactylus
Range
Venezuela, Cost Rica, Guianas south into Brazil
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Vertebrae
Nearly all mammals, from mice to giraffes, have 7 cervical (or neck) vertebrae. There are two exceptions to this rule; Manatees (who have 6), and sloths, who have anywhere from 5 to 10, depending on the species! The reason behind this isn’t entirely clear, but is thought to be caused by an evolutionary shift of the shoulders, ribcage and pelvis. While their abnormal number of neck bones don’t seem to serve an evolutionary purpose, it does make them unique amongst other mammals!
Living Greenhouse
While the hair of sloths is typically brown to gray in color, they often appear green. Each of their hairs has a groove that collects moisture and encourages green algae to grow, which is then further fertilized by moths and their waste. This allows the sloth to, essentially, turn green!
Sloths get several benefits from their relationship with their body-algae, including better camouflage, a water source, and even a portion of their daily calories!
Sloth
We invite you to experience a one of a kind encounter with one of the most unique mammals in the world. This new opportunity offers an up close and personal meet and greet with one of our newest zoo family members. Learn about sloth natural history, some of our sloths most favorite things and rain forest conservation. You can take a selfie with the sloth and treasure your encounter for a lifetime! You may also have the opportunity to feed our sloth some of its favorite foods!
Ages: 5+| Days: Saturday-Wednesday (offered year round!)
Time: 2 p.m.- 2:45 p.m. (during open season) & 1 p.m.- 1:45 p.m. (during off-season)
Number of guests: min of 2-max of 4
Members: $150 per person
NonMembers: $175 per person
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Scientific Name
Fukomys damarensis
Range
Southwest and Central Africa
Conservation Status
Least Concern
The Queen
Damaraland mole rats have an advanced family structure. Similar to bees and ants, the mole rat colony has a single breeding female called a queen. This queen is supported by workers with specific roles in the colony.
Colony Roles
In addition to the queen, the colony roles include: the alpha male (monogamous breeding pair within the society), the soldiers who defend the colony territory, and the workers who sculpt and clean the subterranean tunnels and resting areas and gather food.
Eusocial: A family structure with fully-integrated members of multiple generations who cooperate in caring for young and contributing to colony labor.
Communications
Communication can be particularly aggressive within the mole rat colony. This species exhibits distinct vocalizations, including growling, high-pitched squeaking and grunting when confronting one another to assert dominance. Larger individuals may employ tail-biting as a means to encourage work production from more subordinate individuals. This species has diminished eyesight, so they rely heavily on vibrissae along the body to detect their surroundings.
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Scientific Name
Giraffa camelopardalis
Range
Africa, south of the Sahara
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Tallest Land Mammal
The giraffe is the tallest land mammal in the world. Giraffes are born around six feet tall, with adult males standing upwards of 18 feet tall and females up to 16 feet tall. This adaptation allows the animal to browse in taller tree tops and experience less competition with fellow ungulates.
Ruminant
Giraffe are ruminating herbivores, meaning they have a four-chambered stomach, like that of a cow. Giraffes consume bark, leaves, seeds, fruits and will actually consume soil for minerals. A familial group of giraffes will spread out for a good distance to find food resources.
Beneficial Relationships
Oxpecker birds are often found riding on giraffes’ necks to feast on ticks that seek giraffe out. This provides a natural pest control for giraffes. This relationship provides nutrition for the bird and a control against an insect predator for the giraffe.
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Scientific Name
Malayopython reticulatus
Range
Southeast Asia to Southeastern Vietnam and Indo-Pacific Islands west of New Guinea
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Ambush Hunters
This large python inhabits wetlands, rainforests and grassland forests. It utilizes the waterways in the habitat range to its advantage by submerging in the water and ambushing its prey. The python employs this same ambush technique when hiding in or under brush.
Oviparous
The python family is oviparous, which means they lay eggs. The female coils over the eggs to incubate them with muscle contractions called “shivering thermogenesis.” However, this incubation is where any maternal care ends. Once the young hatch, they are on their own for food and survival. Young pythons are subject to numerous predators including eagles, herons and other small mammals.
Sense of Smell
This species lacks good eyesight and relies on vibrations from the ground and its surroundings. It has an acute sense of smell through its tongue and flicks particles of air from the tongue to the vomeronasal organ on the roof of the mouth.
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Scientific Name
Nomascu gabriellae
Range
Southeast Asia
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Dweller in the Trees
Gibbons are an arboreal, semi-ape species that very rarely moves around the ground. They spend most of their time in the trees brachiating from branch to branch for browsing opportunities and for places to rest and socialize.
Dimorphism
The pelage coloration changes depending on the sexual orientation of the young. All young are born with a bright yellow hair coloration. Within a few months, the male pelage changes to black while the female transforms to a beige/yellow. Within the gibbon family, typically males are larger than females.
Vocal Duets
The gibbon is known for their synchronized songs or duets. They are thought to be communications for marking territories and resources, or between potential mates. The duets are comprised of species-specific characteristics which are inherited, not learned.
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Scientific Name
Uroplatus henkeli
Range
Madagascar
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Namesake
Beaded lizards, like many other animals, get their name from their appearance. Their skin is covered in small, bumpy scales called “osteoderms” that look like- you guessed it- beads!
Venom
Beaded lizards are one of the only lizards to possess venom glands. These glands are actually modified salivary glands, and are located in their lower jaw. Each gland has a separate duct leading to the base of the beaded lizard’s grooved teeth. This means beaded lizards can’t “inject” their venom through a fang, the way a spider or snake might. Instead, they have to chew their venom into their prey!
Although human deaths caused by these lizards are rare, their venom can cause respiratory failure. There is no anti-venom for their bite.
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Slender-Tailed Meerkat
Scientific Name
Suricata suricata
Range
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Packs
Meerkats live in large family packs numbering up to 30 individuals. Within the group, there is always a “sentinel” watching for danger from predators. When the sentinel emits a high-pitched alarm, all pack members immediately submerge into self-excavated tunnels for safety. Pack members will take turns with sentinel responsibilities. They are a highly social species, and the pack works cooperatively to rear and care for their family members.
Burrows
A pack of meerkats will work together to form elaborate underground tunnel systems, with multiple entry and exit points, along with resting, eating and bathroom chambers. The underground areas maintain a cooler temperature than above ground, creating safe and effective areas for offspring rearing.
Insectivore
Meerkats are specialized consumers of insects, arachnids and millipedes. However, they will consume other small mammals, plant matter, eggs and birds opportunistically.
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Welcome to the Niabi Zoo Gift Shop
Located near the entrance and exit is Niabi’s largest store – Wild Things Gift Shop. Shop for apparel from t-shirts to hats and other accessories, as well as books, games, jewelry, plush toys and more. Stop by to learn about buying an enrichment gift for Niabi’s animals!
We no longer use plastic bags. We will have reusable bags to purchase for $2.99 or bring one from home!
Open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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Niabi Zoo


13010 Niabi Zoo Rd, Coal Valley, IL 61240


Connect with the natural world
During your visit you can see over 600 animals representing 200 species from around the world, all encompassed on more than 40 acres of picturesque forest preserve.
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___
Niabi Zoo


13010 Niabi Zoo Rd, Coal Valley, IL 61240


Connect with the natural world
During your visit you can see over 600 animals representing 200 species from around the world, all encompassed on more than 40 acres of picturesque forest preserve.
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CLICK
on map to visit



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