Potawatomi Zoo

South Bend, United States

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Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana, is the state's oldest zoo, established in 1921 when a single deer was donated to Potawatomi Park by Albert Russell Erskine, the then president of the Studebaker Corporation.

The zoo covers 23 acres and houses over 400 animals from various species including big cats like Amur tigers and African lions, red pandas, southern white rhinos, and North American river otters. The oldest existing zoo building, known as the Cat House, was built during the Great Depression by the Works Progress Administration and now houses Amur and snow leopards.

The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and sees over 300,000 visitors annually. In recent years, new exhibits have been added, including habitats for okapis and a male southern white rhinoceros, along with ongoing construction for a new lion exhibit. The Potawatomi Zoological Society has managed the zoo since 2014, focusing on conservation, education, and enhanced visitor experiences.​