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| Thursday, August 1, 2013
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Page 3: Thieves make off with charity funder ‘Threatened’ Turtles Get Helping Hands
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Million dollar ‘care centre’ opens at zoo By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star
KURT LANGMANN PHOTOS
Greater Vancouver Zoo animal health technician Clair Stead shows the distinctive underside of the local western painted turtle. This creature is considered threatened in this area but in recent years the zoo has successfully implemented a breeding program that has released the turtles back into their local environments. The zoo has previously bred and raised the threatened Oregon spotted frogs for release into the local environment, also with success. More photos, page 3.
The Greater Vancouver Zoo officially opened its new Animal Care Centre on Thursday, July 25. It was the culmination of several years’ work in meeting requirements and garnering approvals from various government agencies as well as almost a full year of construction work, but the long-awaited results were worth it, said zoo manager Jody Henderson. The 5,400 square foot facility at the north side of the zoo property will provide all aspects of animal care, from quarantine to food preparation to medical service, all under one roof, in a secure, efficient and safe environment. The custom-designed facility boasts many special features, including treatment and quarantine rooms that are individually climate controlled for the needs of different types of animal species, and skylights that allow natural light for the animals and ponds in the rooms. The building has a total of 23 rooms including: one walkin cooler, one walk-in freezer, a modern kitchen area for food preparation and nutrition, hospital area for the treatment of sick and injured animals and minor surgery with five rooms for overnight or longer term guests, six rooms for animal quarantine, a laundry, veterinarian technician office and laboratory area. The building has a propane heating and cooling system that is environmentally friendly (natural gas is not available in the area), and has back-up generators in case of power outages. A large and modern septic treatment system was especially built for the facility. The final cost of the new centre is approximately $1 million dollars. Following the ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony the group of 80 invited guests were led on a guided tour of the new facility. The tour began in the quarantine section, followed
by the food preparation and nutrition area, and lastly the operating room, where guests learned about the Western Painted Turtles, a new conservation program for the Zoo, and observed a basic health check up on a Savannah Monitor lizard by animal care technician Clair Stead. “After months of eager anticipation the day has finally arrived‌ for the disbelievers in the world, we are truly a bunch of determined people who do not give up easily,â€? said Henderson. “We are so proud to be standing in front of our new Animal Care Centre, even though we are in the very early stages of developing our new facility. We will begin operating immediately as a basic centre for minor check-ups, vaccinations, food preparation and nutritional analysis, and animal quarantine purposes.â€?
Greater Vancouver Zoo cut the ribbon to open the new Animal Care Centre on the zoo site last Thursday. From left are zoo manager Jody Henderson, Langley Township mayor Jack Froese, zoo vice president Charles Choi and zoo president-owner Mr. Park.
Township plan passes — despite Wall farm objections By DAN FERGUSON Aldergrove Star
The document which will guide the expansion of Langley Township into a community of more than 200,000 people over the next 28 years was approved last Monday night, by a 6-3
vote of council. The new Official Community Plan (OCP) was opposed by Councillors David Davis, Kim Richter and Michelle Sparrow, because of its vision of a much bigger community and the inclusion, in a new university district
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around Trinity Western University, of the much-criticized Wall project that puts a housing project in the middle of farmland. The OCP aims to update the existing community plan, which was created back in 1979, with a more modern ap-
proach to planning and development. It projects the near-doubling of the Township population to more than 211,000 by 2041. That will require 37,000 additional housing units, or an average of 1,300 new homes every year.
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Richter was worried about the effect the growth will have on the 19 wells that currently supply half the Townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drinking water. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to double our population, water wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay cheap,â&#x20AC;? Richter said. SEE: Page 3
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