CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) – For many in the Chippewa Valley, being able to see exotic animals up close is a great opportunity at the Irvine Park Zoo. However, the zoo may look different in the future.
The best part of the Irvine Park Zoo varies from person to person.
“It’s so neat to be able to come to the zoo and see them in person,” Chris Slattery of Chippewa Falls, said. “I think it stimulates a lot of discussion about the animals and how do we keep them safe.”
But soon, the zoo may start to look different. Right now, many of its large animal exhibits are in need of repairs, including damage to some of the fiberglass.
“If we were to put any animals in here with these fiberglass exposed, it could severely injure any new animals,” Cynthia Valentino, the head zookeeper at the Irvine Park Zoo, said.
There’s also a broken window in the tiger exhibit that may need some repairs.
“It’s fine on the outside and the inside. All the cracks are in the middle pane,” Valentino said. “But still I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to a zoo and seeing a predator looking at me through a broken window.”
The repairs needed for the exhibit will cost quite a bit of money.
“We got a proposal for about $400,000 up to replacement of $800,000 or more. So it’s going to take a lot of fundraising,” Valentino said. “Some of our budget does go towards repairs, but the cost that’s needed to repair this exhibit alone is not in our budget at the current moment.”
The exhibit formerly housing a tiger will remain empty for a while but eventually, the zoo plans on getting more members that are native to this area.
“We are transitioning away from more exotic big cats. We want to keep some native cats, bobcats, cougars or lynx,” Valentino said. “The hopes are with getting more native animals, we can keep them outside longer throughout the winter. That way our zoos open year-round instead of just in the spring, summer and fall.”
Then even with animals, all can continue to enjoy the zoo.
“A zoo here is so important and it’s such an asset to Chippewa Falls,” Slattery said. “I know that people drive from all over to come here and we’re lucky enough to live here.”
This summer the Irvine Park Zoo will host a fundraiser bash to help raise money for these repairs. The zoo also accepts donations.
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