NEWS: Wild African Safari Park coming to the Central FL Zoo

[jedimaster1227]

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-21/news/os-seminole-zoo-land-safari-20120821_1_central-florida-zoo-exotic-animals-zoo-officials

 

Seminole County commissioners agreed today to purchase nearly 17 acres adjoining the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens for $1.45 million for a new Wild African Safari Park.

 

The zoo, in turn, will lease the land from the county to build the park, which will let visitors see exotic animals – including giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and gazelles – in an open-range setting similar to an African savannah.

 

Zoo officials said they expect to start construction in about two years after raising $6.5 million needed to build the new attraction. When completed, it would be the largest expansion project in the zoo's history.

 

County commissioners also agreed to tap Seminole's tourist-tax-revenue reserve fund for the land purchase. The money in the fund is collected from the county's 5 percent tourist tax on hotel rooms, and Seminole currently has about $6.9 million in the fund.

 

Most of the animals in today's 23-acre zoo – off U.S. Highway 17-92 and near Interstate 4 -- are surrounded by mesh wiring. But the new attraction will allow visitors to travel by shuttle buses or train to see – or even feed – animals that are bigger than those in the zoo now, according to zoo officials.

Edited August 21, 2012 by jedimaster1227

[gisco]

Seems like this is the trend in Zoos. Building bigger more natural exhibits. I can see smaller Zoos disappearing in time because they can't afford the expense of new areas for their animals.