Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks was joined by New York State Senators Joseph Robach and James Alesi, members of the Monroe County Legislature, officials from the Seneca Park Zoo and Seneca Park Zoo Society, members of the Seneca Park Zoo Society Board of Trustees and officials from the Monroe County Parks Department to unveil the zoo’s major new exhibit, A Step Into Africa, this morning (May 17), as hundreds of anxious community members, mostly parents and children, waited at a gate to get their first peek.
"This (the zoo's new lion exhibit) was the one thing he wanted to see," said Fairport mom Pam Rao as her 4-year-old son, Mika, peered (though glass), almost nose to nose, with a lion this morning, after the gates to A Step Into Africa opened to the public. They were at the zoo, Pam said, on a preschool field trip.
Wearing a zebra-striped jacket, Ruby Flanigen, 6, of Irondequoit, also was excited to get an up-close view of the zoo's trio of lions, two females and one male.
"We've been waiting for this (exhibit to open)," said mom Anne Flanigen.
Was it worth the wait? "You bet it was," Ann Flanigen said excitedly.
A Step Into Africa, a $15 million investment, was seven years in the making, said Rachel Baker August, executive director of the Seneca Zoo Society at a press conference this morning, just before the exhibit opened. It also adds five more acres to explore at the zoo, she said.
"But, it (the exhibit) didn't take a village, it took a county," August said. "This is an incredible day ... There's a general 'wow' factor to the whole exhibit, and it's a treasure that won't be found at any other zoo."
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks started her remarks with "Lions and tigers and pregnant polar bears, oh, my," referering not only to the "stars of the show," the three new lions in A Step Into Africa, but also a recent (thought to be successful) artificial insemination of the zoo's female polar bear, Aurora.
"This is a transformational project not just for the zoo, but for the entire community," Brooks added.
"This is an exhibit where you really can get a taste of Africa — without getting on a plane," said state Senator Joe Robach, R, Greece, who obtained $400,000 in state funds towards the baboon display that is part of the new exhibit. "This (exhibit) is something the people will enjoy for generations."
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks was joined by New York State Senators Joseph Robach and James Alesi, members of the Monroe County Legislature, officials from the Seneca Park Zoo and Seneca Park Zoo Society, members of the Seneca Park Zoo Society Board of Trustees and officials from the Monroe County Parks Department to unveil the zoo’s major new exhibit, A Step Into Africa, this morning (May 17), as hundreds of anxious community members, mostly parents and children, waited at a gate to get their first peek.
"This (the zoo's new lion exhibit) was the one thing he wanted to see," said Fairport mom Pam Rao as her 4-year-old son, Mika, peered (though glass), almost nose to nose, with a lion this morning, after the gates to A Step Into Africa opened to the public. They were at the zoo, Pam said, on a preschool field trip.
Wearing a zebra-striped jacket, Ruby Flanigen, 6, of Irondequoit, also was excited to get an up-close view of the zoo's trio of lions, two females and one male.
"We've been waiting for this (exhibit to open)," said mom Anne Flanigen.
Was it worth the wait? "You bet it was," Ann Flanigen said excitedly.
A Step Into Africa, a $15 million investment, was seven years in the making, said Rachel Baker August, executive director of the Seneca Zoo Society at a press conference this morning, just before the exhibit opened. It also adds five more acres to explore at the zoo, she said.
"But, it (the exhibit) didn't take a village, it took a county," August said. "This is an incredible day ... There's a general 'wow' factor to the whole exhibit, and it's a treasure that won't be found at any other zoo."
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks started her remarks with "Lions and tigers and pregnant polar bears, oh, my," referering not only to the "stars of the show," the three new lions in A Step Into Africa, but also a recent (thought to be successful) artificial insemination of the zoo's female polar bear, Aurora.
"This is a transformational project not just for the zoo, but for the entire community," Brooks added.
"This is an exhibit where you really can get a taste of Africa — without getting on a plane," said state Senator Joe Robach, R, Greece, who obtained $400,000 in state funds towards the baboon display that is part of the new exhibit. "This (exhibit) is something the people will enjoy for generations."
State Senator Jim Alesi, R, Perinton, who obtained $500,000 toward the $4.9 million lion exhibit, said the zoo is an important part of the local economy as well as an educational experience.
August said more than 600 private donations were received in support of the new exhibit. A $1 million gift was made by local philanthropists, the Riedman family.
Planning for A Step Into Africa started in 2004, County Zoo Director Larry Sorel said, with a vision for a new home for the zoo's resident pair of elephants.
"Now, we've finally brought back lions on a permanent basis for the first time since 1986," he added, noting that one of the things the zoo is hoping to do as well is to bring the issue of lion conservation to the public.
All three of the lions — two of them born in captivity in South Africa in September 2010 and one born in January 2011 — came from an animal park in South Africa.
Their home now is an 8,000 square foot exhibit "that's one of the finest exhibits in the U.S.," Sorel said. "This (exhibit) is monumental ... Rochester's PRIDE is back on full display!"
