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Detroit Zoo
14-05-2008

With all the trouble and uncertain future funding the Detroit Zoo has faced here is a positive article about the zoo's new captial campaign aimed at increasing revenue and completing the smaller Belle Island Nature Center facility that replaces the Belle Isle Zoo and Aquarium.

Zoo launches $10M campaign; Gifts to fund improvements before tax vote - Crain's Detroit Business

15-05-2008

It's amazing how the Detroit Zoo has been struggling in term of finances, and how the establishment has basically been bankrupt with almost zero funding for years now. The zoo actually came perilously close to becoming extinct not that long ago. It's a strange predicament, as Detroit has a large population and one would think that the community would be highly supportive of the zoo in terms of increasing attendance. There are two exhibits that have won AZA Best Exhibit Awards (Amphibiville and Arctic Ring of Life ) and the zoo as a whole is supposedly quite well done. One of the main reasons that I'm including it on my summer road trip is for the now legendary polar bear exhibit. It's great that a capital campaign has been launched, but the proposed new exhibits don't include anything that will entice the casual zoo fan.

On a side note, the Detroit Zoo was supposedly the first zoo in the U.S. to give up its elephants on ethical grounds. Wanda and Winky were transferred to a sanctuary in order to avoid both the Michigan winters and mounting food bills.

15-05-2008

The Detroit Zoo was one of THE GREAT ZOOS for decades, the latest and most extensive in Hagenbeck design and planned to accomodate automobiles (as they liked to call them). But that was seventy years ago.

Now, Detroit has been a dead city (sorry anyone from Detroit) for decades, the zoo depends on the City, whose economy is dead. The Mayor is embroiled in a personal scandal (yesterday the City Council petitioned the Governor to remove him). The zoo's director had his own scandal a year or two ago (lying on his resume!), and when he gave up elephants, his zoo-director-colleagues were not happy with him.

We can be appreciative that the zoo holds on. In time, perhaps it can grow. But Detroit needs to get on its feet before the zoo can.

15-05-2008

And now that I read the article okapikpr posted, I'd say it is a perfect complement to the discussion in another thread about zoos putting funds into people-amenities rather than animal exhibits and improving conditions.

15-05-2008

@Zooplantman: I completely agree with your thoughts. Over and over again I read news releases from zoos that are adding gift shops, cafes or carousels while ignoring ancient exhibits. What about the animals?

15-05-2008

Compared to zoos around the world, American zoos appear to have less community support than their foreign counterparts. These zoos are increasingly trying to find was to increase revenue when government funding is decreasing or disappearing. Its nice to have some zoos that are doing a classy job with it (Bronx, Toledo, Brookfield, Lincoln Park). However you have your tacky ones too (Lowry Park, SDWAP)

These zoos arent ignoring the animals and their exhibits, but just trying to survive. The zoo cant have new exhibits, if there is no zoo right? Detroit is on the right path with a possible combination of regional funding and a building resource of private revenue. New exhibits will come in time. Detroit has already closed down its smaller Belle Isle Aquarium and Belle Isle Zoo (and opened a Michigan themed small zoo in place). The Detroit Zoo doesnt quite have as much deplorable ancient exhibits that need renovation as much as many major zoos do. And like zooplantman's statements, the city of detroit is even lucky to still be in existance.

21-05-2008

Detroit Zoo funding could be near | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Half of the Detroit Zoo's budget will be taken care of if this funding eventually gets approved. Amazing for a zoo that has been teetering on bankruptcy for at least a decade.

21-05-2008

They inch closer to solvency.
But it will remain up to the voters, and perhaps this is not the best time to ask for a new tax?
Still, such taxes have proven popular in other locales and very helpful to the zoos (Cincinnati and Akron Zoo come to mind)

23-05-2008

Many people would dearly love to see the Detroit Zoo succeed financially, as the population base in Detroit and the surrounding area means that the possibility of increased attendance could elevate this zoo back to where it was half a century ago.

Seemingly everyone has heard about the "Arctic Ring of Life" polar bear/seal set of exhibits, but the over 1,000 amphibians in the award-winning "Amphibiville" is astounding. Interesting that this zoo is home to one of North America's largest chimpanzee exhibits, and that lowland gorillas, diana monkeys and mandrills all share the same enclosure.

23-05-2008

Last time I was there (2003) they had klipspringers in the gorilla mix as well.

Detroit Zoo Does Have A Future
06-08-2008

Voters agreed to raise their taxes to provide long-term support of the Detroit Zoo:

Voters show their love of Detroit Zoo | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

07-08-2008

Fantastic news!! I regard this zoo quite highly, and they arguably have the best exhibits in all of North America for polar bears, aardvarks, giant anteaters, binturong, tree kangaroos and an assortment of amphibians. Throw in the largest chimpanzee enclosure in North America, the largest musk ox enclosure, the largest red panda habitat, many other spacious paddocks, etc, and I feel that Detroit is one of the best and most underrated zoos around. I never see it on lists of the "best of the best", but perhaps with a few more alterations people will appreciate this historically important zoo.

27-09-2008

Detroit Zoo announces birth of three endangered Siamese crocodiles | The Detroit News | detnews.com

Siamese Crocodiles hatch at the zoo's reptile house! According to the article the zoo has been breeding their crocs since 1992. A huge addition to a small breeding population of endangered crocodilian.

15-12-2008

The zoo's future is looking bright. A renovation of the lion exhibit is next and a new penguinarium is in the works (though a few more years away) now that the zoo is receiving tax support from three local counties.

Detroit Zoo finally can focus on future | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

And a timeline of the zoo's recent problems:
Timeline: Detroit Zoo fights to avoid closure | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

25-12-2008

an aardvark has been born this month at the zoo

Detroit Zoo welcomes newborn aardvark | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press