Lansing- Alongside the Grand River, in the shadow of factories and colonial-style homes, there is a place where samples of the world's wildlife are on display.

Peacocks and peahens roam freely here, but one thing that's hard not to notice at the Potter Park Zoo are the sounds.

At one point, an exotic bird cry can be heard. Other times, primates communicate with each other in high pitches, but the unmistakable sound of crying babies dominates the scene.

"It doesn't seem like a lot of other students are here," said Brent Terkeurst, a health and humanities senior who came to the zoo with Katrina Scramlin, a dietetics senior.

"I've never heard of students coming here," Scramlin said.

With about 300 different animals and 30 exhibits, the Potter Park Zoo does have a lot to offer. But with minivans and sport utility vehicles dominating the parking lot, it's clear who the main patrons are.

"We get a lot of families, lots of moms and dads and kids," said Gerry Brady, the director of the zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing. "I think it's basically always been a family destination."

Attendance among younger people - anywhere from preschool to college - goes up in the months of April and May, but current demographics show that families are the main audience, he said.

"I think the attendance has been steady for years and years and years," Brady said, adding that as many as 10,000 can attend within a two-day period. "Certainly when you have the zoo as the destination, then it's certainly weather dependent."

Merchandising management senior Brandi Colthorp is familiar with the zoo, having grown up in the Lansing area.

"I haven't been here since I was about 10. Nothing's really changed - everything's what I remember," Colthorp said, admiring a mandrill exhibit with MSU alumnus Nick Wood.

She said although a lot of people her age don't visit the zoo, it's still worth checking out.

"I think it's fun," she said. "It's a good way to spend the day."

Most recently, zoos and other animal exhibits in Michigan have had their share of calamities. Last summer, Grand Rapids voters denied funding to expand the city's John Ball Zoo. Earlier this month, the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit was closed to save money, and the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak is navigating its way through a $300 million budget deficit.

"The Detroit Zoo is a lot larger, and they have a lot of people that work there," Brady said. "More staff, more problems, more budget."

Despite Grand Rapids taxpayers' rejection to expand the zoo, the John Ball Zoo is taking steps to attract more patrons - especially a younger audience that includes college students.

"We are trying to experiment this summer with young people, the 25-35 age demographic," said Krys Bylund, the marketing director of John Ball Zoo. "It remains to be seen if we can actually do that."

There are about 25 special events during the summer and early fall months, Bylund said. Some of the events will include live bands, DJs and alcoholic beverages.

"The zoo is really nature in an urban environment," Bylund said. "It's a very unusual experience, and while I think where young people like to be where the action is, it's really a great setting to be outside and be with animals.

"That's what we're going to do: Party in the zoo."

There also is a marketing campaign in the works for Grand Rapids-area college students. The area is home to Grand Valley State University, Calvin College and Grand Rapids Community College.

"I think zoos in general are starting to become more interactive because that's the way people are used to living these days - instant, interactive," Bylund said. There are plans to add a coffee shop area, computer walking tours and wireless Internet connections in the zoo's future, he said.

Meanwhile in Lansing, a few changes are coming.

"We have a lot of ideas for improvement," Brady said. "We've completed our zoo master plan a few years ago. We spent a lot of money looking for a zoo master plan that shows how everything fits together; we work on that plan year after year."

Some of the ideas to improve Potter Park Zoo include cosmetic improvements, updating exhibits and increasing animal diversity. The zoo's funds are paid through Lansing taxpayers, but it hasn't been a problem in improving the zoo in the past.

"Historically, the city of Lansing has been a very big supporter, a very gracious supporter," Brady said. "They've always been there to support the zoo with the dollars that are needed for operations."

Some younger patrons still agree they are a minority among the visitors.

"I think a lot of (young) couples do it," said Christine Dias, a student at Central Michigan University visiting the zoo with CMU alumnus Aaron Morden. "(But) I'm not so sure if a group of friends would. It's associated more with families."

Dias said some marketing techniques can be implemented, but pinpointing the right technique can be difficult.

"Maybe if they had beer or something," she said.

Regardless of age, the Potter Park Zoo works with other zoos, including John Ball Zoo, the Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio, and Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, to increase tourism and keep providing unique exhibits to its patrons.

"We all work together so that we can draw visitors to the Greater Lansing area," Brady said. "People who like to see zoos will come to Lansing, Toledo or Detroit will go just because they like to see zoos."