CALGARY ZOO:
Reopening Wednesday
Baby animals, new food outlets and a river walkway allowing visitors to get close to some Calgary Zoo residents are among the new features to be unveiled Wednesday when the first phase of the zoo reopens after a month of flood cleanup.
“We’ve added more educational opportunities,” said spokesman Lindsey Galloway. “We’ll have more interpreters on the ground, volunteers talking about the animals. It’s certainly going to be a more personalized experience we’re looking to create.”
The 24-hectare northern section of the zoo, including the Penguin Plunge, the Canadian Wilds and the Prehistoric Park, is set to reopen with adult admission prices slashed to $10, down from $22.50.
A new river walkway will allow guests to get close to mule deer, a golden eagle, a sandhill crane and wild turkeys. Visitors will also meet a few new additions, including a gentoo penguin chick, baby muskox, bighorn sheep and caribou calf.
But this is all Calgarians will get to see until December, as the zoo has had to scrap plans of reopening on a phase-by-phase basis.
“Given the construction schedule we now know, it seems unlikely it will be fully open until mid- to late-November,” Galloway said. “Any opportunity for an early opening for some segments seems really unlikely at this point, and that’s disappointing.”
The zoo continues to resemble a “construction site” as it cleans up and rebuilds following $50 million in damage following devastating flooding. It also faces $10 million in lost revenue from now until April. Animal enclosures, botanical exhibits and 40 buildings were damaged.
The South American building will be demolished and all of its animals have been moved to other zoo facilities. The Australia building also won’t be rebuilt. Hundreds of staff members lost their jobs.
All formal programs were also suspended, including behind-thescenes education programs, camps, weddings and school trips.
Galloway said some damage will be covered by insurance but is hopeful flood relief funding can be accessed. Supporters have donated $1.5 million in the past three weeks.