CALM Zoo outlines 20-year expansion, supporters seek sales-tax measure to fund it
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Summary
Meg, CALM Zoo's senior director, described a 20-year master plan proposing roughly 40 acres of expansion, new native-species exhibits and visitor amenities; supporters are gathering signatures for a 1/8 of 1% sales-tax measure to place on the November ballot and said they need about 30,000 signatures.
Meg, the California Living Museum's senior director, said CALM Zoo is pursuing a 20-year master plan that would expand the Bakersfield facility by roughly 40 acres, add exhibits for California-native species and build visitor amenities and on-site intern housing.
"We're celebrating our 40 birthday. Our gates opened in 1983 and have been running strong ever since," Meg said, describing the zoo's volunteer-built history and educational mission. She added that the expansion would include new habitats for bears, wolves, tule elk, bison and additional native species, walk-through aviaries for California condors and a planned underground cavern to showcase nocturnal and crepuscular animals.
Madeline, a CALM Zoo board director, said the board is exploring funding options and has begun a citizen petition drive to qualify a 1/8 of 1% sales-tax measure for the November ballot to help fund the master plan. "We need about 30,000 signatures in order to put it on the ballot in November, and time's ticking," Madeline said.
Organizers described what the expansion would fund beyond exhibits: improved guest amenities such as a café and upgraded restrooms, new flight aviaries and larger rehabilitation facilities, a commissary kitchen for animal food preparation and on-site intern housing to support overnight rehabilitation and training programs. Meg said the zoo runs wildlife rehabilitation and a wildlife care clinic and that expanding infrastructure would allow the facility to take in and rehabilitate more animals.
The leaders emphasized community and education goals. Meg said CALM serves more than 25,000 students a year through field trips and school programs and described plans for more behind-the-scenes tours and internship opportunities intended to keep local graduates working in wildlife careers. She also outlined volunteer roles available to residents for animal care, guest services and grounds upkeep and gave the website as calmzoo.org/volunteers for sign-ups.
Madeline and Meg said volunteers will gather signatures at the zoo, at local events and around town in Bakersfield and Tehachapi, and urged residents to look for petition teams in public places and at upcoming events. Madeline said the campaign is still gathering signatures and that, without successful qualification, the master plan has no set timeline.
The zoo also highlighted annual community events that support its operations. Madeline said the Keep CALM Jamboree is scheduled for April 24 and that she will be collecting signatures there. Meg called the Holiday Lights event the zoo's largest fundraiser, saying the zoo draws about 65,000 visitors over roughly 37 nights during the seasonal program.
The campaign and zoo asked interested people to visit calmzoo.org for more information about programs and volunteering and to check the Protect CALM Zoo site for petition and campaign updates. The hosts closed by giving a podcast contact email for listener questions.
Next steps: organizers said the signature drive will continue in the coming weeks at the zoo and at public events; if petitioners collect the required signatures, the measure would appear on the November ballot for voters to decide.
