On July 3, 1965, the new Fort Wayne Children's Zoo opened on 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) with 18 animal exhibits.

On October 19, 2004, five wildebeests broke through a gate and jumped a fence, roaming the streets of a nearby neighborhood.

Thick black plumes of smoke billowing from the site of the fire were clearly visible across the skies of Fort Wayne and much of the region.

[11] On March 3, 2020, the zoo announced that longtime Executive Director Jim Anderson would retire at the end of the 2020 season.

Both cats were showing mild signs of a dry cough, triggering animal care experts to take notice.

Fecal samples for both tigers, Bugara and Indah, were collected for testing and performed in veterinary laboratories.

[17] The $9 million African Journey is currently the largest expansion in the FWCZ's history, featuring an African lion exhibit, African Village, interactive cultural center, reticulated giraffe feeding area, Safari Trail, plains zebras and wildebeest, new animal exhibits: (banded mongooses, Rüppell's griffon vultures, the Kirk's dik-dik and spotted hyenas, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, great white pelicans, and servals), Amur leopards and a group educational and picnic area.

[18] The Sky Safari, a ski lift-like ride, gives riders an aerial view of the Serengeti-based landscape.

A separate building held a 20,000-gallon aquarium containing the Sharks, Rays, and Jellyfish Exhibit, as well as a model coral reef with tropical fish.

The Central Zoo includes assorted animals from the Americas and a few from other regions, including Canada lynxes, ring-tailed lemurs, African penguins, North American river otters, Aldabra tortoises, American alligators and macaws and a two toed sloth.

[20] The Indiana Family Farm expands from the old petting zoo area, which contained only goats, wild turkeys, ravens, chickens, and white-tailed deer.

Now a model barn and farmhouse, as well as signs from the point of view of children living on a farm, lend atmosphere.

[21] The Asian Trek, formerly known as the Indonesian Rainforest, features Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Komodo dragons, reticulated pythons, clouded leopards, red pandas, assorted birds, mammals, and primates, as well as a domed area (Domeaviary) containing birds, fish, reptiles, and, until recently, butterflies.

The domeaviary allows visitors to experience the sights, sounds, and feel of a rain forest.

- Sky Safari over Africa - Z.O.& O Railroad train leaving the Central Zoo through Franke Park - Crocodile Creek Adventure Ride in Australian Adventure - Endangered Species Carousel Ride in Asian Trek - Nature Play in Africa - Bamboo Maze in Red Panda Ridge - Adventure Play in Asian Trek - a two story rope swing course for all ages - Animal Feeding Opportunities including Goat, Chicken, Stingray, and Sitatunga.