Milwaukee County Zoo to shut down small mammals building, sending animals out of state
Zoo officials have been concerned for some time that the building is small, outdated and doesn't meet modern standards for animal care. Over the decades, the building has been home to the zoo's fruit bats, foxes, sloths, porcupines, armadillos, tamarins, mongooses, otters, squirrels, bushbabies and lemurs.
The relocation of the animals to accredited zoos across the country has already begun, according to the zoo's spokesperson Megan O'Shea.
As efforts to transfer animals is an ongoing process, the zoo does not have an exact date for when the small mammals building will finally close for good, but it is expected to take place later this year.
'We believe our animals need to be in places where they can be successful,' said Amos Morris, the zoo's executive director. 'By closing this facility, it allows us to place these animals in habitats around the country that more fit their natural needs.'
In April, the zoo announced its new strategic plan and revised master plan for the site's future, emphasizing its commitment to adding modernized habitats and immersive visitor experiences.
Zookeepers who are impacted by the building's future closure will be transferred to alternate animal care areas at the zoo.
Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman, who is head of the county's Parks and Culture committee, met with Morris to tour the building ahead of the public announcement. Wasserman told the Milwaukee Journal he has thrown his support behind the decision.
"The zoo is changing. Everything's changing in Milwaukee, and we really are very fortunate to have one of the best zoos in the nation," he said. "This is one of the things that we have to do to stay as one of the best zoos in the nation."
In recent years, the zoo has removed animals from certain buildings due to inappropriate infrastructure or habitat limitations. It closed the polar bear exhibit in 2021 and the sea lion exhibit in 2023.
In late 2023, the Milwaukee Business Journal reported that following the completion of the zoo's Adventure Africa campaign, Morris said he was turning his sights to the small mammals building. At the time, he mentioned concerns about the small mammals building not having enough space, as well as structural wear and tear.
"When we talk about modern zoological standards, we're not just talking about new exhibitry. You can do modern animal care and husbandry in older facilities if the facilities will accommodate it. What we're looking for is the animal to have choice and control over its environment," Morris said.
Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on X @Vanessa_Swales.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee zoo closing small mammals exhibit, sending animals away
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