Indianapolis Zoo has record year at turnstiles

Propelled by the popularity of its new orangutan exhibit, the Indianapolis Zoo scored a record year for attendance in 2014, the 50-year-old zoo announced Wednesday.

A total of 1,249,840 people visited the zoo last year, topping the previous high of 1,164,400, set in 2007 when the zoo opened its Oceans exhibit. The zoo said more than 320,000 visitors came from outside central Indiana.

The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center opened in May and brought in huge summer crowds, including 232,564 visitors in July alone.

The zoo hopes to build on that record in 2015 when it will host two Queensland koalas from May 23 to Sept. 7.