Zoo Boise unveils renovated small-animal exhibits and schedules Oct. 23 public opening
October 13, 2025 | Boise City, Boise, Ada County, Idaho
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Jean, director and senior manager of Zoo Boise and executive director of Friends of Zoo Boise, told the Boise Parks and Recreation Commission the small-animal section of the zoo has been renovated and will reopen to the public Oct. 23 with a ribbon-cutting expected at about 9 a.m. and public admission at 10 a.m.
Jean said the meerkat exhibit was rebuilt after the original indoor area of about 100 square feet and an outdoor area of about 75 square feet “fell well below required Association of Zoos and Aquarium guidelines.” The new indoor space is about 400 square feet with two rooms for separate holding; the new outdoor area is about 700 square feet with natural substrate so “the animals will be able to dig and climb,” Jean said.
Jean described other upgrades: cotton-top tamarins will move into a roughly 300-square-foot indoor space with 15-foot ceilings and an overhead transfer chute and a 500-square-foot-plus outdoor exhibit; a renovated building will house sand cats in a small-cat hideaway with an indoor day room; a prehensile-tailed porcupine named Ozzy and a sloth arriving from New Orleans are planned additions; and the zoo will introduce a male Grand Cayman blue iguana as a new species exhibit, with possible future steps toward a breeding program.
The presentation said the renovated area includes new, accessible walkways, added lighting for evening use, and new restrooms so “every part of the zoo now has restrooms.” Jean said graphics and plantings were being finished so the area will be ready for the public opening.
Looking beyond the immediate openings, Jean described a new conservation and education center due next spring: a two-story building of roughly 8,900–9,000 square feet with four classrooms and a 500–600-square-foot meeting/boardroom that can be used by city and outside organizations and can support evening rentals and events.
Jean also described the zoo’s conservation funding. She said the Zoo Boise Conservation Fund is supported by a conservation fee on admissions and that “we are the only zoo that we could find in the world that takes a dollar off of our admission fee to go to our conservation fund.” Jean said the fund will distribute “probably over $400,000 this year,” with about $200,000 likely going to Gorongosa, $10,000–$20,000 to foothills and open-spaces projects, and that “almost $1,900,000 has gone to that” fund since the fee began in 2007.
Commissioners and guests praised the work. Commissioner Casarino said he toured the new meerkat exhibit and called it “lovely.” A Boise School District representative said the district has used zoo facilities for leadership meetings and welcomed the improved education space.
The commission was invited to the ribbon-cutting; staff said an invitation would be sent to commissioners in advance of the Oct. 23 opening.
Votes at a glance: The meeting adjournment motion that concluded the session passed by voice vote (all in favor).
Jean said the meerkat exhibit was rebuilt after the original indoor area of about 100 square feet and an outdoor area of about 75 square feet “fell well below required Association of Zoos and Aquarium guidelines.” The new indoor space is about 400 square feet with two rooms for separate holding; the new outdoor area is about 700 square feet with natural substrate so “the animals will be able to dig and climb,” Jean said.
Jean described other upgrades: cotton-top tamarins will move into a roughly 300-square-foot indoor space with 15-foot ceilings and an overhead transfer chute and a 500-square-foot-plus outdoor exhibit; a renovated building will house sand cats in a small-cat hideaway with an indoor day room; a prehensile-tailed porcupine named Ozzy and a sloth arriving from New Orleans are planned additions; and the zoo will introduce a male Grand Cayman blue iguana as a new species exhibit, with possible future steps toward a breeding program.
The presentation said the renovated area includes new, accessible walkways, added lighting for evening use, and new restrooms so “every part of the zoo now has restrooms.” Jean said graphics and plantings were being finished so the area will be ready for the public opening.
Looking beyond the immediate openings, Jean described a new conservation and education center due next spring: a two-story building of roughly 8,900–9,000 square feet with four classrooms and a 500–600-square-foot meeting/boardroom that can be used by city and outside organizations and can support evening rentals and events.
Jean also described the zoo’s conservation funding. She said the Zoo Boise Conservation Fund is supported by a conservation fee on admissions and that “we are the only zoo that we could find in the world that takes a dollar off of our admission fee to go to our conservation fund.” Jean said the fund will distribute “probably over $400,000 this year,” with about $200,000 likely going to Gorongosa, $10,000–$20,000 to foothills and open-spaces projects, and that “almost $1,900,000 has gone to that” fund since the fee began in 2007.
Commissioners and guests praised the work. Commissioner Casarino said he toured the new meerkat exhibit and called it “lovely.” A Boise School District representative said the district has used zoo facilities for leadership meetings and welcomed the improved education space.
The commission was invited to the ribbon-cutting; staff said an invitation would be sent to commissioners in advance of the Oct. 23 opening.
Votes at a glance: The meeting adjournment motion that concluded the session passed by voice vote (all in favor).
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting