Construction Update: What’s Happening in the Eden Zoo?

Construction is continually advancing on the Creation Museum’s Eden Zoo. The newly renovated and expanded zoo will not only display your old favorites but also a variety of new and unique species.

The alpacas, chickens, donkeys, doves, goats, and pigs have been enjoying their temporary stay at the Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo while their habitats are redesigned and rebuilt. Our animal ambassadors have remained on-site to engage visitors during our daily animal programs and keeper chats.

In addition to a farmyard where guests can enter during select times to interact with our goats, the Eden Zoo will also include a wallaby walkabout. At certain times, visitors can walk through this habitat and meet our new Bennett’s wallabies, Aldabra tortoises, and Papuan eclectus parrots.

Bennett’s wallabies have been a staple at the Creation Museum’s zoo, but the Aldabra tortoises and Papuan eclectus parrots will be new species. Aldabra tortoises are the second largest tortoises in the world, with the heaviest weighing over 670 pounds. They are also believed to be the longest-living land animals today, with individuals estimated to be over 200 years old. The brightly colored Papuan eclectus parrots were once thought to be two different species because the males and females look so different from each other.

The renovated Eden Zoo will also include a South American expansion featuring exciting species from this unique continent. New South American coatis will join our white-nosed coati in a habitat that is designed for them to share. New Patagonian maras will delight guests with their antics, and several more surprise species will also be featured in this new area.

Finally, construction has begun on a new outdoor stage sponsored by Nutramax Laboratories, the makers of Cosequin, the #1 veterinarian-recommended retail joint health supplement. Here, guests can watch daily animal programs and engage with our animal ambassadors. During ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum, the stage will be transformed into a live nativity featuring animals associated with the account of Christ’s birth.

The new Eden Zoo is expected to partially open this summer, with new sections opening as they are completed and as the animals arrive. The next phase of construction will include a butterfly house and an indoor cabin displaying a variety of small animals. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes opportunities too!