Zoo to Open its Doors Next Week
Posted at: 07/06/2012 6:21 PM
| Updated at: 07/06/2012 6:22 PM
By: Allie Delury
Both the zoo workers and the zoo animals welcomed Senator Amy Klobuchar during her visit to the Lake Superior Zoo.
Officials walked through damaged areas, talked about the community support, and told stories from the day of the flood. Now that the cleanup effort is over, zoo officials will focus their attention on assessing damage to Polar Shores, the Train Depot, and paths close to the river.
"Everything in front of our deer yards...that pathway is basically demolished," said Peter Pruett, Director of Animal Management.
Because of the damage, Berlin the polar bear and the two seals will remain at the Como Zoo in Saint Paul until next year.
"It takes some time to assess the building and determine whether or not it's even feasible to bring them back," said Pruett.
A major change that the zoo will be implementing is the presence of live overnight security, in hopes of responding more quickly in an emergency.
"So there will always be people on zoo grounds now," said Pruett.
Workers at the zoo say they will reopen next week, so that they can be there for the community...just as the community was there for them.
"Yes there was a disaster but Duluth is getting its act together quicker than anyone imagined," said Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Because the zoo is owned in part by the city, Klobuchar said that they might be eligible for federal aid. In the meantime, zookeepers will focus on the making the zoo safe for the public next weekend.
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