Idaho Falls Zoo announces immersive islands exhibit opening Sept. 3
The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Zoo:
IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park is preparing to unveil a major new experience this fall, inviting visitors to step into the Islands exhibit, an immersive new space unlike anything the Zoo has offered before.
Scheduled to open Thursday, Sept. 3, the Islands exhibit represents one of the most significant additions to the Idaho Falls Zoo in recent years. Designed to bring wildlife, play, education and conservation together, the new exhibit will offer visitors opportunities to explore, discover and see the Zoo in a whole new way.
The Islands exhibit will feature new animal habitats, interactive experiences and spaces designed to engage visitors of all ages. While many of the details are still being kept under wraps until opening day, the experience is built around a conservation message the Zoo hopes visitors will carry with them long after they leave.
An Island With a Purpose
At the heart of the Islands exhibit is a conservation challenge facing wildlife around the world: habitat fragmentation.
As natural habitats become smaller and more divided, wildlife can have fewer places to find the food, water, shelter and space they need to survive. The Islands exhibit invites visitors to consider what happens when those essential resources become limited and what that can mean for wildlife.
“We want people to have fun, see incredible animals and have a great experience, but we also want them to leave thinking about something they may not have thought about before,” said Idaho Falls Zoo Director David Pennock.
Rather than relying solely on traditional signs and displays to explain conservation, the Islands exhibit is designed to let visitors discover the message through the experience itself. Animals, interactive elements, visual storytelling and play will introduce the concept in ways that encourage visitors to explore and make connections of their own.
Inside the Islands exhibit, visitors will encounter animals and environments that demonstrate why essential resources matter and how dramatically life can change when those resources become limited.
That approach reflects the Idaho Falls Zoo’s mission as an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility, where animal care and welfare, conservation and education remain central to the visitor experience.
A Community Investment
Bringing the Islands exhibit to life required more than construction and creativity. It required a community willing to invest in the future of the Idaho Falls Zoo.
The project was made possible through the generosity of donors, sponsors and community partners who helped fund the development, design and construction of the new exhibit. No taxpayer dollars were used in the creation of the Islands exhibit.
“The generosity of our donors has helped make this vision possible,” said Parks and Recreation Director PJ Holm. “This is an investment not only in the Zoo, but in the educational and conservation experiences we can provide to our community for years to come.”
For generations, the Idaho Falls Zoo has brought families face to face with wildlife while creating opportunities to learn about the natural world. The Islands exhibit builds on that tradition while taking a fresh approach to how those connections are made.
Visitors will be able to experience the Islands exhibit for themselves when it opens to the public Thursday, Sept. 3.
Additional details about the animals, interactive experiences and grand opening will be announced on the Idaho Falls Zoo’s social media channels as opening day approaches.
