Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park in California has announced that it has broken ground on its new giant river otter habitat and primate trails expansion, which is part of its Amazon’s Edge exhibit. This $6.6 million project is the first phase of Santa Ana Zoo’s $70 million Master Plan.
Work on the giant river otter and primate habitats will be the most complex project at the zoo to date, creating an immersive new experience for visitors while also providing an engaging new home for the animals. It is set to open in Summer 2023.
An immersive & educational experience
Once complete, guests will be able to get up close and personal with the zoo’s otters thanks to an underwater viewing area, while the resident monkeys will be able to swing overhead in their new treetop trail. Here, a network of see-through mesh trail ways will allow the primates to safely move around their new habitat.
There will also be a 15-foot waterfall feeding into a pool where the giant river otters can play. Throughout the guest experience, there will be educational signage providing information about this rarely displayed animal and allowing guests to gain a clearer understanding of water as a valuable resource.
The project is being funded by $6 million in parks improvement funds from the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency, alongside $600,000 from the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo in the form of grants and donations.
As Santa Ana Zoo celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2022, work will also continue on its 20-year Master Plan, with projects to renovate some of the attraction’s oldest areas and introduce new guest facilities.
The Master Plan was created in 2018, reflecting the zoo’s values, ideas and proving inspiration for the future. The Santa Ana Zoo’s mission is to empower the community to save wildlife and wild spaces, and it does so through fun, adventure and learning.
Elsewhere, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium has announced a new $500 million strategic vision, set to transform the attraction ahead of its 100th anniversary.
