Alyssa Ivanson

Fort Wayne

Evening Anchor at WANE-TV (Fort Wayne, IN)

I love my job and am honored to tell your stories on @wane15! In my spare time, I like to 💃🏌️‍♀️🏃‍♀️📚🏖️🍦

Articles

See inside Fort Wayne Zoo’s new Coastal Cove

3 weeks ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – After years of construction, the much anticipated Coastal Cove has been fully open at the Fort Wayne Zoo for less than two weeks. With its sparkling blue water, beloved sea lions and new-to-the-zoo harbor seal, the exhibit is already a fan favorite. “It’s beautiful. From what I remember as a kid this is, wow! I love what they’ve done with it,” Andrea Rheinheimer, who was at the zoo with her two kids, said.
Exclusive: Radiated Tortoise lays eggs at Fort Wayne Zoo

1 month ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – For the first time ever, the radiated tortoises at the Fort Wayne Zoo laid eggs. “We’re super excited. We like to say we’re egg-cited for the new eggs,” Jenny McFarland, an Animal Care Specialist, said. “These guys have been here since they were really little so a lot of people have been waiting ten, 15, maybe 20 years for these guys to start having their own eggs.” Radiated tortoises are only found in Madagascar and are critically endangered.
Fort Wayne Zoo conservation efforts go around the world

1 month ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Fort Wayne Zoo is involved in many conservation efforts and one trip in February took zoo staff to the other side of the world. “It was amazing. I felt like I was on the set of Jurassic Park out in the jungle,” Logan Sunday, the zoo’s director of conservation education, said. Three members of Fort Wayne Zoo staff traveled from Fort Wayne more than 7,000 miles around the world to the northern Mariana Islands and the tiny island of Rota. “There’s about 1,400 people there.
Guests love Fort Wayne Zoo’s Glo Wild

1 month ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – At night the Fort Wayne Zoo transforms into a magical lantern festival. Glo Wild started when the zoo opened at the end of March. While you can see the giant lanterns during the day, you really have to see it after dark for the full effect. In addition to the hundreds of giant animal and plant lanterns, there are interactive displays for the kids to play and learn. Watch the video above to hear guests’ reactions to the event.
Fort Wayne Zoo campers make bee boxes

2 months ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – During Spring Break, campers at the Fort Wayne Zoo got to help with conservation efforts that will have a lasting effect all summer long. “I just kept measuring and measuring and measuring and when I got a box I started stuffing it,” Sammie Zimmerman, a nine-year-old 3rd grader said. Thomas Anorfer, a ten-year-old 4th grader from New Haven, had a strategy for cutting the straws. “Just cutting it in half and then taking paper off when we’re done,” he said.
Fort Wayne Zoo protects animals from Bird Flu

2 months ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Bird flu cases across the country and around Indiana have been in the news a lot lately. Fort Wayne Zoo is home to many birds and it’s always taking extra steps to keep all the animals safe and healthy. The zoo hasn’t had any cases of bird flu. “The highly pathogenic strain of bird flu has been in the United States since 2014. It’s not going anywhere. It’s here all the time.
Meet Fort Wayne Zoo’s new African lion

2 months ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – When you journey through Africa at Fort Wayne Zoo this year, you’ll find one of the newest faces at the zoo: African lion Kiume {cue-MAY}. He’s only been on exhibit for less than two weeks as he gets used to his new home. As he settles in, Wild on WANE got to know more about him. “He’s so big, we had to modify some of the doors to allow him to move through easier,” Area Curator Lisa Gehlhausen said. The 13-year-old , 475-pound African lion joins 18-year-old lioness Ina.
New Fort Wayne Zoo shark might be hard to find

2 months ago | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Two new sharks joined two long-time sharks the tank inside the Australian aquarium at the Fort Wayne Zoo. There are two Black Tip Reef sharks, a Zebra shark and a Tasselled Wobbegong. “This is what your ecosystem looks like and what it looks like when these animals interact. That’s our whole area is Australia,” Emily Boll, the zoo’s aquarist, said.
Regenia Frison-Jones is Remarkable Woman winner

2 months ago | wane.com | Taylor King |Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Regenia Frison-Jones is the 2025 Remarkable Woman of Northeast Indiana. She’s helped the youth within the community for over 20 years through countless organizations. Tuesday, the official announcement of this year’s winner played out during WANE 15’s First News. Regenia’s family and friends gathered to help congratulate her. Vera Bradley also donated a luggage set. Regenia Frison-Jones with friends and family, along with Wane 15 General Manager Tom Antisdel.
Mayor’s daughter reflects on the Henry legacy

Mar 28, 2025 | wane.com | Alyssa Ivanson

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Many in the city of Fort Wayne paused on Friday to remember and honor former Mayor Tom Henry. March 28 marked one year since his passing. A big part of Mayor Henry’s life was his wife, Cindy. She owned the Green Frog Inn for two decades and was always by the mayor’s side through his political career. Cindy died in January last year after a battle with pancreatic cancer. It was just two month before Tom died of complications from stomach cancer.