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Zoo Boise breaks ground on $8.9m expansion

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Zoo Boise groundbreaking for Gorongosa National Park exhibit expansion

Zoo Boise broke ground on its 6,000sqm Gorongosa National Park expansion last week. The new exhibit will feature animals such as Nile crocodiles, African wild dogs, otters, warthogs and baboons.

More than $8.9m was raised through donations to fund the construction of the Gorongosa National Park exhibit. It is expected that the zoo will generate $2m from the expansion that can be used for conservation efforts in Mozambique to protect wild elephants, lions, zebras and more.

“This is an exciting day for Zoo Boise and all of our supporters,” said Gene Peacock, director of Zoo Boise. “We are so grateful for the donations that have made this new exhibit possible. It will enhance our education opportunities and conservation mission for generations to come.”

The new construction will also remove and update a number of exhibits at Zoo Boise that no longer meet modern zoological standards, including the Primate House and aviaries. New exhibits will be built for the gibbons and the Sarus crane, plus a new event area with a stage and covered seating will be added at the zoo.

Construction is expected to wrap up during the summer of 2019. The zoo will remain open throughout the project.

“We believe that Zoo Boise has a responsibility to be a leader in conservation funding throughout the world,” said Doug Holloway, Boise Parks and Recreation director. “Zoo Boise continues to be a national leader in this effort, and this new exhibit is another example of how Zoo Boise is changing the definition of what it means to be a zoo.”

Zoo Boise is owned by the City of Boise and managed by the Boise Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Friends of Zoo Boise non-profit.

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Sam McCaffrey

Journalist. Likes immersive entertainment experiences, museums, zoos and the odd go on a Waltzer.

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