Jacksonville Zoo to expand Asia exhibit

[FSBA]

I saw the plans for the Tiger exhibit a few months back. If the final exhibit matches the concept design it should be a big hit

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539096

The construction cost shown on five permits total almost $3.4 million.

• $1.52 million for a tiger-holding facility with a public viewing area and associated exhibit areas.

• $1 million for an equipment pad and building for an exhibit water feature treatment.

• $303,000 for a Babirusa and otter-holding facility and associated exhibit areas.

• $277,000 for a hornbill holding facility and associated exhibit areas.

• $270,000 for a warty pig and otter-holding facility and associated exhibit areas.

[ben says]

Fantastic. One of the best zoos in the country.

[I-10east]

Good stuff, the zoo is awesome. Now we are gonna have lions, tigers, and bears.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Nice, wonderful news.

[John P]

How does the zoo have the money to do this? Are they that profitable or do they get private donations for these things?

[Tacachale]

According to the article:

[Director of development Diane] David said in November the zoo was trying to raise $10 million for the expansion and a couple of other elements that she declined to discuss.

If the fundraising is successful, "we hope we can open this for our 100-year anniversary in 2014," she said.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539096

[FSBA]

The buildings listed obviously don't total $10 million. The zoo's original plans for the expansion called for a third train stop, an organutan exhibit, a rhino exhibit, and acouple of other features that aren't listed here. I wonder if fundraising wasn't going as well as planned.

The tigers themselves were always going to be the big draw so it is nice to finally have them. The original concept for the exhibit was a stroke of genius. Essentially the tiger exhibit would've been a series of yards located around the exhibit that would've been linked via corridors. The corridors would've been in areas that guests would normally walk through so it would provide great chances for up close ecounters.

[Tacachale]

^They're likely planning it in phases, like they've always done with expansions.

[I-10east]

The Weavers donated 3 mil towards this exhibit. They of course donated a bunch towards the Range of the Jaguar exhibit also. There's no questioning on the positive impact that having the Jaguars here have on this community, even non-football fans have to realize this.

[FSBA]

From the Times Union, with a rendering of the tiger exhibit

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-04-02/story/new-jacksonville-zoo-tigers-have-trail-choice-and-freedom

[Ocklawaha]

The Jaguar's (cats) were in Jacksonville LONG before the Jaguar Football team landed here. It is a fact that every black Jaguar in captivity in North America traces it DNA to JACKSONVILLE.

[Wacca Pilatka]

The Jaguar's (cats) were in Jacksonville LONG before the Jaguar Football team landed here. It is a fact that every black Jaguar in captivity in North America traces it DNA to JACKSONVILLE.

That is one of the reasons Jaguars was selected as the team name.

But the Weavers did invest quite a bit into making the jaguar exhibit area spectacular.

[simms3]

I'm a big fan of the zoo...definitely one of the brightest spots of the city and truly one of the best zoos in the country (I like it much better than Atlanta's, Miami's, and San Francisco's).  Can't wait to visit next time I'm in town...haven't even seen the Komodo Dragon exhibit yet.

I think the private support the zoo receives from philanthropists in the city is but a glimpse of how it should be across all cultural and public institutions.  The great cities of this country (whether formerly great like St. Louis or currently great like Atlanta) are the way they are as much via private philanthropy/support/interest as they are via strong civic leadership.

[Dapperdan]

How does the zoo have the money to do this? Are they that profitable or do they get private donations for these things?

Looks like they have 7.5 million raised already and only need 2 million more. Khan?

[FSBA]

How does the zoo have the money to do this? Are they that profitable or do they get private donations for these things?

Looks like they have 7.5 million raised already and only need 2 million more. Khan?

The TU article mentioned the zoo was working with the city council. If they're already breaking ground the zoo must be reasonably sure the $2 million will be coming soon from whatever sources.