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Hillcrest Park Zoo staff detail new animals, ZAA inspection prep and sponsorship changes
Summary
Zoo staff described arrivals including a sloth and a warthog, a deferred ZAA inspection after a review identified facility improvements, new sponsorship commitments and the loss of a Lions Club sponsorship.
Stephanie, a Hillcrest Park Zoo staff member, updated the Parks and Recreation Committee on animal arrivals, facility work, interns and sponsorships.
“Snail the Sloth has arrived at Hillcrest Park Zoo,” Stephanie said, adding the animal came from Zoo World in Florida and that the sloth’s barn would be finished and ready for a debut in a few weeks. She also said a young warthog named Raya had joined the zoo but would not be paired with the resident warthog for some time because she needs to grow.
Stephanie said a Zoo World staff member who participates in ZAA inspections reviewed the zoo and listed a number of items the zoo needs to address before seeking accreditation. She recounted requirements including class 1 doors for certain species, secondary containment, painting exhibits, bars on class 1-animal windows, reclaimed-water testing and other infrastructure and cosmetic items. Stephanie said the zoo will defer applying for ZAA accreditation until the spring to avoid inspectors arriving in winter while temporary heating is in place.
The zoo has begun a “Quarters for Conservation” fundraiser and has several sponsorship commitments. Stephanie said, “SNS is already a sponsor for a thousand dollars,” and added other sponsors were considering amounts and that the zoo will display sponsor recognition on a large metal tree with giving levels tied to exhibit types.
She also reported the local Lions Club has pulled its sponsorship, citing disappointment with how past support was managed; Stephanie said the club had not been active in the prior 2½ years and she offered a transparent update to the committee. The zoo reported several private sponsors have committed or are considering sponsorship levels.
Stephanie noted Conservation and internship partnerships are underway: Curry County and SkillBridge interns have worked at the zoo and one intern applied for a forthcoming maintenance position. The committee thanked staff and suggested the zoo’s new conservation fundraiser might emphasize species important to the area, such as the American bumblebee.
No committee action or vote was taken; the committee received the update and offered suggestions for sponsorship and programming choices.
