News Summary
The Santa Ana Zoo is undergoing significant renovations to modernize animal habitats and improve visitor experience. The $9 million project includes a new river otter enclosure, pathway improvements, and the introduction of a butterfly exhibit. Alongside this, the zoo is expanding its educational facilities and focusing on visitor safety with a new security wall. These enhancements are part of the zoo’s efforts to regain its accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums while providing family-friendly access to the community.
Santa Ana – The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is nearing the completion of a major renovation project aimed at modernizing animal habitats and enhancing visitor experiences. Estimated to cost around $9 million, the significant upgrades are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.
Among the highlights of the renovation is a new enclosure named River’s Edge, which will house two to four male South American giant river otters. The construction on River’s Edge commenced in early 2022, along with other essential projects that enhance animal habitats, such as a new alligator enclosure and improvements to monkey habitats within the zoo’s primate forest.
The zoo is also undergoing a Pathway Improvement Project, which includes converting dirt paths to concrete to facilitate visitor access. Several paths have already been completed, with work continuing on remaining sections to improve the overall experience for guests. A recently opened Goat Interaction Yard allows young visitors to pet goats in a designated enclosure, enhancing the interaction possibilities with animals.
In addition, a new butterfly exhibit has been introduced, featuring weekly arrivals of butterflies from South America and Asia, available for viewing from May to September. These initiatives aim to enrich the zoo’s offerings and promote educational opportunities for visitors.
The Santa Ana Zoo is also focusing on expanding its educational facilities with plans for a new building called the Education HIVE, which will serve as a classroom and reception area for school field trips. As part of ongoing safety enhancements, a security wall is being established on the north side of the premises to increase visitor safety.
This summer marks a new venture as the zoo has begun selling beer and wine at its café for guests aged 21 and over, adding to its revenue generation efforts. Currently, the Santa Ana Zoo operates on a $3.7 million annual budget, which is markedly lower than that of larger institutions like the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Zoo.
Despite the exciting developments at the zoo, it continues to work toward regaining its accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) after losing it in 2017 due to outdated primate habitats. The zoo has been actively addressing these concerns and re-applied for AZA accreditation in March, with plans to present its improvements before the AZA board in September.
The Santa Ana Zoo has a notable history; it opened in 1952 and received its first AZA accreditation in 1985. The original land donation agreement mandated that the zoo maintain at least 50 monkeys. Currently, the zoo is home to approximately 35 monkeys, including species like white-handed gibbons and pygmy marmosets, and looks to increase the numbers with new primate enclosure space in future expansions. Fundraising efforts are ongoing to support this and other planned north-end expansions.
As part of their commitment to community engagement, general admission tickets for the Santa Ana Zoo are priced at $14, providing an affordable family-friendly option. Moreover, the zoo will extend its opening hours through July, allowing visitors to enjoy the zoo until as late as 8 PM on weekends.
Overall, the Santa Ana Zoo’s renovation and expansion project marks a significant investment in improving both animal welfare and visitor experience as it seeks to modernize its facilities and secure its prestigious accreditation within the zoo community.
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Additional Resources
- OC Register: Santa Ana Zoo Construction Projects
- Wikipedia: Santa Ana Zoo
- ABC7: Endangered Giant River Otters at Santa Ana Zoo
- Google Search: Santa Ana Zoo Projects
- Planet Attractions: Construction at Santa Ana Zoo
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Zoo Renovations
- LA Times: Santa Ana Zoo Expansion Plans
- Google News: Santa Ana Zoo
