With the New Year just around the corner it is often a time to look back and reflect on the past year to see what went right, what went wrong, and how we can do better.

2023 was the beginning of changes that will impact the zoo for the year ahead and beyond. With much of the change ahead driven by the coming MI-7 flood mitigation project it is an opportunity to make changes and to do better. There are always painful moments with change, but once the smoke has cleared, it will be easy to see that it was all worth the trouble.

Phase MI-7 of the flood mitigation project that impacts the zoo is not scheduled to begin until 2024 but in preparation for the work, the zoo had to make changes to make way for the work to begin. These changes included the emptying of the zebra and bongo exhibits this year in preparation for next. Over the year, the staff has had to say farewell to many of its most notable and some less noticed animals under its care. Perhaps the most public and freshest in our minds were the Amur tiger cubs, Luka, Dmitri and Viktoria. The one transfer that was not expected was our male tiger, Viktor, but the SSP(Species Survival Program) wanted us to receive a new male to breed with Zoya, so we welcomed Finn. Other cat changes this year included the addition of a pair of Amur leopards and a male Canada lynx.

We saw the addition of two new giraffes, one came from another facility and the other was born here. Several other animals came to call the Roosevelt Park Zoo their home including several bird species that either hatch here or came from other facilities to be paired up for future hatchings. Focusing on the new animals would only tell half of the story, for anytime you are working with animals, there comes the time to say goodbye.

Other than changes in the animal collection, the zoo overall has had a good year. With less than a week remaining in 2023, the zoo will exceed over 110,000 guests for the third straight year. Along with this increase in attendance we have seen the number of education programs both on-site and off, increase in both numbers and reach. Reaching the youngsters and helping them to understand nature and the importance of being good stewards of it sets the stage for a hopeful future for us all.

The zoo staff has also taken new steps to re-focus on its conservation mission and has been able to increase its reach and impact on the programs it has been supporting. Going into 2024, the Conservation Committee is looking at more ways to engage the community and expand our ability to effect change.

2023 has been a good year and as we look to the future, the foundations we have built are strong and ready support the plans we are working toward in the future. In the coming year, much of this will become clearer but for today, we just wanted to say thanks and wish you a Happy and Safe New Year.