Construction underway for a new exhibit at Miller Park Zoo

Posted on October 13, 2020
Miller Park Zoo Director Jay Tetzloff, Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner, and State Rep. Dan Brady participated in a ground breaking ceremony on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy: Blake Haas/WJBC)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Construction is now underway at Miller Park Zoo for a new monkey exhibit.

During a groundbreaking ceremony, Miller Park Zoo Director Jay Tetzloff said he hopes the new $600,000 state funded De Brazza monkey exhibit will bring a larger audience to the zoo.

“The De Brazza monkey exhibit, it’s a continuation of our Africa area. What you’ll see is a building that looks much like flamingos; we did that on purpose to show those two buildings because they will be right next to each other. (It) is a netted exhibit with De Brazza monkeys, which are medium-sized primates, kind of a greenish olive buff kind of color with a very distinct white beard that is very distinct to them.”

The exhibit will be located between the Flamingo exhibit and the Zoo Carousel and will house De Brazza Monkeys and a pair of Red-Flanked Duikers.

The open grass area behind the flamingos will soon turn into an open-cage concept to house two De Brazza monkey’s. (Photo courtesy: Blake Haas/WJBC)

Tetzloff said the monkey exhibit would also house a male and female monkey in hopes of mating for one or two kids a year.

The exhibit is expected to be completed by spring of 2021.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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