If you read
the article in the Springfield
News-Leader or a post from a local blogger this past week about looming budget cuts affecting the Springfield-Greene
County Park Board – and more specifically, Dickerson Park Zoo – you might be wondering what you
will (or won’t) see on your next zoo visit.
First, be
assured, contrary to the information published in the News-Leader’s article, there are not six closed exhibits. Have we
reduced numbers of animals among certain species? Yes. Probably the animals
getting the most attention were a pair of striped hyenas that had never been on
public exhibit and were simply animals living at the zoo in a behind-the-scenes
area. To trim expenses and streamline the zookeepers’ workload, those hyenas
were relocated to ZooBoise.
We moved
out a group of brown lemurs to another zoo. These animals were rarely visible
to the visiting public. Another group of ruffed lemurs now inhabit that island
exhibit.
In reality,
when you visit Dickerson Park Zoo, you will only see one entirely vacant exhibit, not six reported by News-Leader.
The
antelope in the large African Plains yard adjacent to the cheetahs were also
moved. This was precipitated by two factors, one of which was a cost savings.
However, more importantly, these animals needed to move so that work can begin
in the exhibit yard to establish rain gardens and other water run-off
improvements.
Most of the
reductions at the zoo happened behind-the-scenes. Money for travel/training and
advertising has been eliminated, and other expense areas for supplies and
professional services have been reduced. Some part-time positions at the zoo remain
open, as may future vacancies. We anticipate these reductions will continue in
the new budget year (2009-2010), although the budget has not been approved and
finalized by the City Council.
In trimming
our budget, our primary focus has always been two-fold: maintain the
highest professional standards of animal care and have the least effect on our
guests’ overall zoo experience. Dickerson Park Zoo is very proud to have an
86-year history in the Springfield area. We are YOUR community and regional zoo,
with more than 75 percent of our guests coming from within a 120-mile radius.
So, visit
Dickerson Park Zoo this summer. We promise you will admire hundreds of animals
from around the world, be inspired by the informational and conservation
messages, and enjoy an oasis of green in the city.