To Our Members, Private Supporters and Community,

Like everyone else in the region and the nation, Woodland Park Zoo is impacted by the difficult economy. Although we experienced near-record attendance in 2009, we have seen declines in other areas, such as charitable giving and earned revenue, along with significant increases in expenses. We are faced with making some tough decisions so the zoo can continue to operate over the long term and remain a treasured community institution and conservation and education organization.

We are heartened by the amazing number of responses and comments about our plans to close the Night Exhibit. None of us here is happy about the decision. But we found it necessary to reduce our payroll and operations in order to manage the budget through this difficult economic period.

A set of criteria was developed that included staffing needs, energy use and a variety of other categories to determine what area would have to close. The Night Exhibit was identified – it is an older building with very high operating costs and its energy use is one of the highest in the zoo and inconsistent with our goals of sound environmental practices. Over the next two to three years, we will analyze the building to come up with a long-term, sustainable operation.
 
This is the second year of real budget constraints at the zoo – matching the economic downturn in the economy. To help manage the budget, in 2009 we made several across-the-board cuts in administration, staffing and operations. These included eliminating our Wildlife Adventures travel program, cutting department budgets, a hiring freeze and reducing staff by two positions. In the spring, when it became apparent that the recession would be longer and deeper than anyone had anticipated, we took the additional, temporary measures of suspending employee retirement benefits and asking senior staff to take unpaid furloughs.
 
For 2010 and beyond, we need long-term solutions that match our income with increasing expenses, and that means reducing annual expenses between $800,000 and $1 million. A part of these cuts include the painful choice of reducing staff by 12 full-time equivalent positions and examining a number of ways to be able to operate with a smaller staff. Closing the Night Exhibit emerged as the best of a set of unpleasant choices. Closing it will save about $300,000 in operating costs annually.
 
Many have suggested raising funds or seeking donations to keep the Night Exhibit open. But unfortunately, that would be only a short-term solution and not address the long-term needs for the exhibit’s operation and upgrade as costs rise and the building continues to operate inefficiently. We appreciate and rely on donations that will allow us to: provide quality care to our animals; serve the tens of thousands of students and teachers through our statewide education programs; offer an inspiring and engaging experience for our visitors; and save wildlife and their natural places through our field conservation projects locally and around the world.

We will be opening a new meerkat exhibit and a new west entry for visitors this summer. Funds for these projects come from donations specifically pledged to them, and cannot ethically be used for any other purpose.

We also will seek additional revenues and increased efficiencies in our operations. We believe these and other changes will allow Woodland Park Zoo to be financially sustainable over the long term and maintain our important role of inspiring people to care about wildlife and the natural world.

We appreciate the comments and share the disappointment, but we hope to have your continued support as we strive to serve as a critical conservation and education resource and remain a treasured asset to our community and region.

Revised from January 4, 2009 statement. Originally posted November 19, 2009.