SEATTLE - The clamor of trucks, the sight of construction barriers, and folks in hard hats may pique the curiosity of Woodland Park Zoo visitors. It’s all for the good of the wildlife residents and for the enjoyment of zoogoers as the zoo moves ahead with fulfilling its vision of moving animals from antiquated, barred cages into spacious naturalistic habitats. The heavy construction in progress is for a new African wild dog exhibit opening this summer and a jaguar exhibit opening summer 2003. And, to make sure the zoo keeps its lions inside their exhibit, critical repairs to the lion exhibit will begin today.

This summer, June 28, a pack of African wild dogs will make its public debut in a nearly 5,000-square-foot habitat that will evoke an East African streambed bordered by high riverbanks. Visitors will be able to view the rare carnivores from across the streambed, through a window to a heated, underground den, or from an overlook that will also offer views to the adjacent lion exhibit.

The new enriched environment for the jaguar will feature a lush forest representing Central and South America, a warm, sandy shoreline, a freshwater pool, and the harmonious sounds of birds and falling water. The jaguar exhibit is scheduled to open next summer.

Both exhibits are part of the zoo’s updated Long-Range Plan (LRP), which was originally adopted in 1976 and generated world-renowned recognition for its realistic landscape exhibits.

Additional work includes repair to the lion moat, caused by last year’s earthquake. The lion moat holds approximately 300,000 gallons of water. The damage has resulted in a loss of 20,000 gallons of water per week. The repairs will resolve additional water loss to and prevent any animal escapes from the lion moat, an integral part of the exhibit’s containment system. During the lion moat repairs, the lions will be off public exhibit from May 6-17. The gorillas, which are in close proximity to the lions, may be off view intermittently.

The zoo is open 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily during the summer. Admission ranges from free for toddlers to $9.50 for adults. King County residents receive a discount and zoo members receive free admission year-round. For more information, please call 206.684.4800.