The Racine Zoo Needs Your Help!
All throughout the month of April, we would like to ask you to reach into your hearts and help the Racine Zoo make a difference for our animals. Our Animal Care Department provides essential daily and specialized care to over 300 animals and 75 unique species that make your trip to the Zoo so memorable. Racine Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which means we are held to the highest standards of animal care. For a nonprofit like Racine Zoo, it is a steep price tag to maintain this level of care. Show your love for the Racine Zoo animals with a donation and help us make the biggest impact possible this month!
Our goal for All In For The Animals is to raise much needed funds for the Zoo. Will you help us make this possible? A gift of any size makes a difference.
Because of our sponsors, this year your tax-deductible donation will have TWICE the impact! Every donated dollar up to $2,500 will be matched by Educators Credit Union. In addition, every donated dollar up to $5,000 will also be matched by RUUD Family Foundation! Thank you to these wonderful Zoo patrons and thank you for helping us support the Racine Zoo animals!
Donate online below or mail your donation check to the Racine Zoo at 200 Goold Street, Racine, WI 53402. All donations are tax deductible in accordance with the IRS Tax Code.
A sincerest thank you for your consideration from all the animals and staff at the Racine Zoo. Your incredible kindness will go a long way.
How far will your donation go?
Donors play a crucial role to keep our 100-year-old zoo running. Through the generous support of the community, Racine Zoo can continue to provide our beloved animals with the care they need. Our mission is to educate and inspire our guests and the community while providing an affordable wildlife experience that improves the bond between people and nature for years to come. In addition to specialized veterinary care, our animals need to eat! Our keepers craft specific diets for each animal to keep them healthy and strong. However, since the animals require food every day just like you, the cost adds up quickly!
Specialized Care Highlights
Big cats making Big strides
Preventative medicine is just as important for the animals that live at the Racine Zoo as it is for us and our families. Keepers at the Zoo are always working on new ways to allow the animals to participate voluntarily in their own care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we learned that large cat species like African lions are particularly susceptible to the virus and experience severe symptoms. We got to work training a behavior that would allow our keepers to give the lions COVID-19 vaccines while they lined up against a mesh panel and enjoyed some meatballs! Azizi and Zuri both received two doses of the vaccine using this cooperative behavior this year. Keepers can now use this behavior to administer future vaccines and medications for the lions quickly and safely.
We also use these training techniques on the other large carnivore residents, including our newest Cat resident, Amur Tiger Changbai! She is currently learning to present her paws to keepers, and voluntarily step on a large scale so she can be weighed.
Our Newest and smallest Bear Ridge Resident
Fong, the Malayan Sun Bear, is our newest addition to the Racine Zoo. Malayan Sun Bears are native to Malaysia and are the smallest species of bear. Fong weighs in at only 85 pounds in comparison to the average male Polar Bear which weighs between 600-1000 pounds. One of Fong's favorite treats is a nice meaty bone. Our keeper staff spent time with his previous keeper staff to learn his behavior repertoire so we can continue to replicate all of his voluntary husbandry behaviors that help us care for him in is advanced age.
Segway on the Move
Segway, the Southern 3-Banded Armadillo, is the zoo's newest Ambassador Animal. Since her arrival last summer, Segway has been busy training, so that she can participate in various programs in schools and on zoo grounds. Southern 3-Banded Armadillos are native to the interior southern portion of South America, including parts of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Similar to their native relatives, the 9-banded armadillo, their diet consists primarily of insects. 3-banded armadillos are the only species of armadillo that can completely roll up into a ball. A skill they use for defense.
Working together with the Orangutan
Racine Zoo is very proud of the advanced medical care the zoo residents receive. No matter the size and complexity, Animal Care staff work hard to assure we are able to complete the necessary medical procedures that help keep the animals healthy.
Max and Jenny, the resident Orangutan are no exception. As you can imagine, cooperation with this species is required to help keep them, and their care staff safe. Even simple tasks like blood tests require specific, dedicated training. And Max and Jenny are champions at these behaviors, allowing keepers to draw blood and administer medications voluntarily. They have been trained to place their arms into a modified sleeve, which allows the medical staff to perform a wide range of medical tests, all with Max's knowledge and consent!
