UPROAR, Fall 2018

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UPROAR

www.potwatomizoo.org

UPROAR A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends of the Zoo, We’ve been talking about it for nearly a year, and I’m so excited that we broke ground on our entrance on September 12. It feels like the dream of a new entrance is finally a reality. The new building is more than just a way in and out of the Zoo. We will be putting in more restrooms, including a family restroom. There will be a dedicated entrance for field trips and school groups. Our gift shop will be larger and accessible all year. We will be adding additional education space in the Red Barn, doubling our ability to offer classes, camps, birthday parties, and more. Less obvious, but just as important, we will be updating our point-of-sale system across the Zoo and installing ADA-compliant patron walkways and areas.

A POTAWATOMI ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS

Editor: Kristina Barroso Burrell Photo Credits: Kristina Barroso Burrell Zoo Staff 2018 General Info: Open March 30 – November 25 Open daily from 10 am – 5 pm Last admission at 4:30 pm www.potawatomizoo.org

You may have already noticed changes to the Zoo, and there are more to come, especially after we start demolition on the existing entrance after Zoo Boo. Not only will the Zoo’s temporary entrance be off to the side, we’ll have a much smaller space to get people into the Zoo. We’ll be taking down the external squirrel monkey habitat and moving them inside. The red panda and muntjac will temporarily move to other exhibits and access to the okapis, camels, takin, and tigers will be different. Along with the entrance construction, designed to improve our guest experience, we are also doing considerable behind-the-scenes deferred maintenance throughout the Zoo as we prepare for our Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation visit in June 2019. You may not see all the work we’re doing, but we are updating HVAC systems, repairing and repainting buildings and animal holding, replacing roofs, making upgrades to our big cat exhibits, and much more. A well-cared for and well-maintained zoological institution shows the AZA that we care about our animals and are exceeding the standards of care they expect from us. I know that the next year and a half will have its challenges, but we will do our best to keep you informed of any changes through emails, social media, and our website. I hope that the difficulty of adapting to the construction phase will be offset by the excitement of the progress we make every day and the new animals we bring in every year. Through all the ups and downs, our mission of education and conservation, and our passion for providing the best possible Zoo experience for our guests, members, and the region, will stay the same.

Departments: Community Outreach: (574) 235-7654 Concessions: (574) 235-5614 Development: (574) 245-6138 Education: (574) 235-7621 Gift Shop: (574) 235-5615 Guest Services: (574) 235-7620 Marketing: (574) 235-7576 Membership: (574) 235-7651 Special Events: (574) 245-6163 Volunteers: (574) 235-9801 Zoo Camps: (574) 235-9070 Zoological Society: (574) 288-4639 Copyright 2018: Potawatomi Zoological Society, Inc. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Send address changes to 500 S. Greenlawn Ave South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 235-9800 The Potawatomi Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization.

Marcy Dean, Executive Director

Cover Photo by Fredy Villalon. Brizzo, known as Novee, a twoyear-old Amur leopard. Story on page 4.


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