What's new at the zoo: Potawatomi Zoo opens for the season on March 31

Animals can be finnicky and unpredictable. Case in point, Seymour, Maximus, Wyatt and Kellan, the Potawatomi Zoo's Masai giraffes.

The zoo's executive director, Josh Sisk, said it originally planned to begin offering a giraffe feeding attraction last year, but it took the giraffes ― three of which arrived from a Florida zoo and one of which arrived from South Carolina's Greenville Zoo last spring ― longer than expected to acclimate to their new home.

"Throughout the winter, volunteers came in and continued getting (the giraffes) more friendly and comfortable coming up to eat," Sisk said. "So, it's just been a lot of training and getting them acclimated to their new surroundings."

First look: Giraffes ready to make their debut at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend

Luckily, the giraffes cooperated just in time for the zoo's 2023 season opening at 10 a.m. March 31.

To feed the giraffes, zoo visitors can purchase attraction tickets for $3. One ticket is good for a ride on the Potawatomi Zoo Express Train or the Endangered Species Carousel or for two pieces of lettuce to use during a designated giraffe feeding time. Feeding times occur twice daily from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m.

Early in the spring, while the weather is still cold, visitors will be able to feed the giraffes in their indoor enclosure. As the weather warms up, giraffe feeding will move outdoors.

New additions

The zoo also plans to welcome some new animals this year, as it did several times in 2022. The zoo does not usually reveal information about new animals until after they've arrived, but it has shared its plans to open a new lion habitat this year. Sisk said the habitat and the lions, likely one male and two females, should be ready to welcome visitors in May.

This will be the first time in almost two years that lions have called the zoo home, Sisk said. The zoo's last lions, brothers Tango and Onyo, died in 2019 and 2022, respectively, due to complications from old age.

"As an accredited zoo, we weren't going to bring lions back to the zoo until we could have a modern habitat for them," Sisk said. "We had donors step up and make it happen, so now we're going to bring lions back."

Sisk said, in his opinion, the new lions are the zoo's most exciting addition this year. The area of the zoo near the lion habitat "was in bad shape" before the habitat's renovation, but now Sisk looks forward to people seeing its new pathways and fencing.

Eventually, the new lions will likely breed, Sisk added, but, even if that happens, the zoo wouldn't welcome new lion cubs until at least next year.

Baby boom: South Bend's Potawatomi Zoo has banner year for births

However, that doesn't mean there won't be any new babies at the zoo in 2023. Just last week, Sisk said, a baby Sichuan takin calf was born. He also expects a baby sloth and some Chacoan peccary piglets to arrive this year, but he said "it's always a surprise" to zoo staff what new animals will be born each year.

Next year, bears will also join the Potawatomi Zoo family. The zoo is currently constructing a bear habitat, as well as a 6,000-square-foot concession stand, which are scheduled to be complete for the 2024 season.

While the zoo originally planned for the new habitat to house black bears, it now plans to bring in spectacled bears, otherwise known as Andean bears. There are only about 60 of this South American species left in the United States, Sisk said, so the Andean bears will be part of "an important breeding program" at the zoo.

"There are so many rescue facilities for black bears, so there's not really a need for breeding and reproducing black bears," he explained. "With the amount of money we're investing in (the bear habitat), we thought it would be good to try to pick a species that needs some help."

Upcoming events

Sisk said the zoo looks forward to hosting many new and longtime-favorite events this year. Here are some of his favorites:

• On May 20, it will host Eat and Drink at the Zoo, a 21+ event featuring wine and beer samples and food from local restaurants.

• On June 14, the zoo will host Children's Day, sponsored by United Federal Credit Union. Admission will be free for children under 14 all day.

• Oct. 21 through 23, Zoo Boo trick-or-treating will return.

Hours and tickets

Beginning March 31, the zoo will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the summer, from June 1 to Aug. 31, the zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The zoo closes for the season on Oct. 31.

Admission is $12-$10; free for members and ages 2 and younger.

For more information, visit potawatomizoo.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Potawatomi Zoo opens for 2023, with giraffes and, soon, lions