100 YEARS - Henry Vilas Zoo

hared Vision
The Henry Vilas Zoo and Friends of the Zoo are committed to Strengthening the Bond of
its visitors with the natural world and the animal kingdom.
Another wonderful year! Over 700,000
visitors enjoyed your Zoo.
Earth Day, our first major event of the year,
brought visitors together to learn about and
enjoy conserving our natural resources. Over
4,000 trees were given out to be planted as
part of a ‘Polar Bear Forest’, an initiative to
help reduce the harmful effects of global
climate change sponsored by our partners: the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
and Polar Bears International.
Our new Education Garden, Wetland Walkway
and Wetland Viewing Deck are terrific
additions. Visitors view over thirty species of
plants that are grown as food for your animals,
including cherries, pears, willow, bamboo and
many garden vegetables.
We continued our efforts to conserve energy
and use our successes to inspire visitors. Our
newest initiatives, rain water collection and
rain gardens, are excellent examples of easy to
do conservation projects. Rain water recovered
from the roof of our Rain Forest is used to water
our tropical plants. Each gallon recovered saves
us two gallons of water that would have been
run through our reverse osmosis system.
Conservation Education continues to be our
greatest and longest running program. Zoo
School, Bleacher Programs, Off site Programs
and Animal Ambassadors help connect over
forty thousand participants with the wonders
of our natural world. Many many thanks to our
dedicated Conservation Education Volunteers.
Giraffe, Bison, Great Ape and Meerkat animal
exhibits and their replica habitats have been
significantly improved. Seeing animals enjoy a
newly constructed exhibit is a great reward.
New additions to our animal collection
included four female meerkats, two Geoffroy
marmosets, two sugar gliders, a fairy blue bird
and doves. Your Zoo participates in seventeen
animal management Species Survival Plans
administered by the AZA (Association of Zoos
& Aquariums). These programs are dedicated
to the sustainability of both wild and captive
animal populations.
Plans for the Arctic Passage have been
completed. County Executive Kathleen Falk has
included funding for this project in the 2011
County Budget and construction could begin in
the coming year. A new Children’s Zoo Barn is
nearing completion and will open in the Spring.
Your wonderful support helps Henry Vilas Zoo
continually improve. It is a great privilege to
lead your dedicated staff and volunteers. Thank
you! Come visit your Zoo often.
Jim Hubing, Director
Henry Vilas Zoo
Boris Frank (L) and Jim Hubing (R)