The Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines announced the largest expansion in zoo history Monday. Zoo CEO Anne Shimerdla says the expansion and renovation effort will include the “Wild Iowa” exhibit on Iowa’s endangered species.
“There are over 100 species listed as endangered or a special concern from the Iowa DNR. And that means that action is imperative that we do things on our own backyards and inspire everybody to take part in the conservation work,” she says. This includes improved or new spaces for the river otters, bald eagles, and the bobcat. “The otters will have a deeper pool, we’ll also move up the path into a shallow stream area where we can view their native behaviors,” Shimerdla says. “And then up around on the other end into a viewing cabin, where we can view the otters and their grass spaces. ”
She says that also includes a tunnel that will go into the otter pool so you can see the otters swim around. “In our viewing cabin we’ll have featured smaller reptiles and amphibians located in Iowa to help highlight some of the conservation programs that we work on, such as the Blandings turtles,” she says. They also plan to remodel and expand the lion conservation area.
“Our indoor area that will have for breeding will allow us to become a leaders within the cat conservation programs on a global scale,” Shimerdla says. “And finally, when our lions move we will be remodeling the current space and expanding our tigers. With.. about 400 tigers left in the world, especially out in the in the wild, this will allow us to become leaders in tiger conservation.”
Shimerdla says they are two-thirds of the way to their “Expand the Impact” 18 million-dollar fundraising goal.