A trio of African lions is on its way to Monroe County’s Seneca Park Zoo.
The Seneca Park Zoo Society announced late last week that it is in the “home stretch” toward raising $4.1 million for a new African lion exhibit at the zoo, 2222 St. Paul St., in Seneca Park, Rochester.
To date, the society has received $2.1 million, through two challenge grants and community support, toward the third phase of what it has called the Ngorongoro Capital Campaign.
The society needs another $1.9 million to move forward, and hopes to be able to break ground on the new exhibit this fall.
The lion exhibit is the featured part of the third and final phase of the zoo’s $12.3 million
A Step Into Africa project.
When completed, the African lion exhibit will be more than 8,000-square-feet and home to three African lions. The plan is to have only glass separating visitors and the lions, so that people will have the opportunity to get “nose to nose” with the king of the jungle.
“Phase III of A Step Into Africa reveals a number of new features that form the heart of the Ngorongoro Crater exhibit,” said Rachel Baker August, executive director of the Seneca Park Zoo Society. “We believe this will be something our community will be proud of and, most importantly, an incredible, interactive experience for families.”
In the new exhibit, the lions will be able to roam freely and sleep on heated rock outcroppings. Niches, similar to those in the zoo’s existing Rocky Coasts exhibit, have been designed to provide interesting lion viewing and picture-taking angles along a path.
Two of the lions, one male and one female, will be coming to the Rochester zoo from a rehabilitation facility in Africa. The third lion, another female, will join the local zoo from another U.S. zoo.
“African lions are a flagship species for zoos and for Africa,” said County Zoo Director Larry Sorel. “The reason we are acquiring the lions from both Africa and the U.S. is to ensure genetic diversity for future generations of lions.”
When all three phases of the A Step Into Africa project are complete, the aim is to offer a cohesive visitor experience that simulates a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater — home to many animal species, including lions — in Tanzania, Africa.
“I am confident we can raise the remaining money and break ground this fall,” said David
Riedman, president of the zoo society’s board of trustees. “We have a lot of momentum behind us and believe the community will rise to the challenge and help us make this vision a reality.”
Phase I of the A Step Into Africa project was an elephant barn, which opened in spring 2006 and cost $4.4 million.
Phase II, opened in spring 2008, included a baboon exhibit and elephant splash pool at a cost of $3.8 million.
A trio of African lions is on its way to Monroe County’s Seneca Park Zoo.
The Seneca Park Zoo Society announced late last week that it is in the “home stretch” toward raising $4.1 million for a new African lion exhibit at the zoo, 2222 St. Paul St., in Seneca Park, Rochester.
To date, the society has received $2.1 million, through two challenge grants and community support, toward the third phase of what it has called the Ngorongoro Capital Campaign.
The society needs another $1.9 million to move forward, and hopes to be able to break ground on the new exhibit this fall.
The lion exhibit is the featured part of the third and final phase of the zoo’s $12.3 million
A Step Into Africa project.
When completed, the African lion exhibit will be more than 8,000-square-feet and home to three African lions. The plan is to have only glass separating visitors and the lions, so that people will have the opportunity to get “nose to nose” with the king of the jungle.
“Phase III of A Step Into Africa reveals a number of new features that form the heart of the Ngorongoro Crater exhibit,” said Rachel Baker August, executive director of the Seneca Park Zoo Society. “We believe this will be something our community will be proud of and, most importantly, an incredible, interactive experience for families.”
In the new exhibit, the lions will be able to roam freely and sleep on heated rock outcroppings. Niches, similar to those in the zoo’s existing Rocky Coasts exhibit, have been designed to provide interesting lion viewing and picture-taking angles along a path.
Two of the lions, one male and one female, will be coming to the Rochester zoo from a rehabilitation facility in Africa. The third lion, another female, will join the local zoo from another U.S. zoo.
“African lions are a flagship species for zoos and for Africa,” said County Zoo Director Larry Sorel. “The reason we are acquiring the lions from both Africa and the U.S. is to ensure genetic diversity for future generations of lions.”
When all three phases of the A Step Into Africa project are complete, the aim is to offer a cohesive visitor experience that simulates a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater — home to many animal species, including lions — in Tanzania, Africa.
“I am confident we can raise the remaining money and break ground this fall,” said David
Riedman, president of the zoo society’s board of trustees. “We have a lot of momentum behind us and believe the community will rise to the challenge and help us make this vision a reality.”
Phase I of the A Step Into Africa project was an elephant barn, which opened in spring 2006 and cost $4.4 million.
Phase II, opened in spring 2008, included a baboon exhibit and elephant splash pool at a cost of $3.8 million.
