By
1976, Woodland Park Zoo had only just begun to
change in many important ways. During the early 1970s,
for the first time, there was an awareness that zoos
had a part to play in the preservation of endangered
species. By the mid-70's professionalism was on the
rise among the zookeepers, many of them newly-hired
and university-educated. The addition of a full-time
veterinarian to the zoo's staff had done much to elevate
animal care standards. Work on the master plan filled
the staff with hope and excitement.
The international zoo community, and Woodland Park Zoo in particular, had recognized that animals seemed diminished when
kept in sterile, artificial exhibits. Not only were
the animals bored and miserable, they appeared
to be caricatures of themselves, framed by concrete
and wire. Was it any wonder that zoo visitors laughed
and jeered at the gorillas?
The
years that followed were a time
of accelerated change, of new ideas and refinements
at every level. Everything about the zoo's design
and function was weighed against its four purposes,
as stated in the new master plan: recreation, conservation,
education, and research.
For
the first time, careful consideration was given to
the zoo's interpretive signs. Thoughtful quotes about
the way we perceive nature were placed low among the
plantings along pathways between exhibits, where people
might read them and perhaps examine their own attitudes
about wild things and wild places.
The
new exhibits that were constructed -- the African
Savanna, Marsh and Swamp, Primate Islands, and the
Gorilla exhibit -- were stunning. Animals moved into
spacious habitats that really did resemble their natural
homes. Some walked out onto green grass, or climbed
trees beneath an open sky, for the first time in their
lives.
No
zoo had ever dared to exhibit gorillas in a naturalistic
exhibit before, with grass, bushes and trees. Gorilla
experts from all over the world predicted that the
exhibit would soon be a wasteland with the gorillas
having destroyed every shrub and every blade of grass.
They were wrong, although the keepers did have to
do a lot of replanting at night, until the novelty
of being around growing things wore off for the gorillas.
Best of all, the gorillas and other animals regained
their dignity in their new, more natural surroundings,
and were no longer objects of derision or pity.
The
people of Seattle came, marveled and took real pride
in their zoo for the first time. What they were seeing
at Woodland Park Zoo was the cutting edge of zoo design.
Also for the first time, they had to pay to enter
the zoo, which began charging a modest admission in
1977.
Charging
admission had a tremendous and unanticipated benefit
-- bad behaviors (e.g., feeding or harrassing the
animals) dropped off dramatically. Apparently visitors
who were willing to pay to enter had more of a feeling
of respect for the animals and the park.
Another
reform from about the same time -- discontinuing the
selling of peanuts at zoo concessions -- was one of
the best things that ever happened at WPZ. Not only
did the selling of peanuts encourage public feeding
of the animals, but the grounds and the exhibits were
always covered with the shells.
A
more profound change at WPZ in the 1970s was the diversification
of the work force. Thanks at first to Affirmative
Action, the zookeeping staff, previously all-white
and all-male, began to reflect the community's makeup.
Today it is hard to imagine a time when women didn't
make up half the WPZ keeper workforce, when there
were no women zookeepers at all, but it really was
only a generation ago.
By
the early 1980s, the Forward Thrust money was gone,
the nation's economy was in a slump, and funding for
public works projects, like continuing to improve
the zoo, was hard to come by. WPZ had become an odd
mix of the new and wonderful and the grossly antiquated.
Monkeys were still housed in the 70-year-old Primate
House. The elephants, by then numbering four, were
living in the barn that had once been home to "Tusko" and "Wide
Awake." The Aviary was rotting and needed to be pulled
down.
The zoo
worked to raise public awareness of the zoo's remaining
needs, of the considerable amount of unfinished work
yet to be done.
Parks
and city administrators, however, saw the zoo as a
way to gain support for a bond issue that would not
only provide money for zoo improvements, but also
funds to address the needs of the many other public
parks. In the end, voters rejected the Parks Department's
comprehensive improvement plan, leaving the zoo still
going nowhere.
By 1983, it was clear:
the zoo needed money to complete the work it had begun.
The papers had often carried interviews the philosophy behind the new
exhibits was explained and created converts of nearly everyone
who had read them and seen the changes at the zoo.
This
galvanized the media, the public and local activists.
It
was time to get Woodland Park Zoo back on track.
1977: First
admission charged ($1.50 for adults, $.50 for seniors,
teens and children). "Friends of the Zoo" formed to promote
annual passes.
Interior
spaces in the Feline House, formerly sterile spaces
covered with ceramic tile, made more natural through
the use of soil, plants, logs, and leaf litter.
1,170
specimens, 295 species.
African
Savanna construction begins late in the year.
Gorilla "Kamilah" born
to "Nina" and "Pete."
1978: There
were major disruptions caused by work on the Savanna
site and on Primate Islands and the gorilla exhibit.
WPZ
is the only zoo in the world breeding Hartlaub's ducks
and the only zoo in the Americas breeding snowy owls
and Gila monsters.
Qantas
airlines donates a pair of wallaroos.
Attacks
on deer and sheep by dog packs. Mayor tried to use
this to augment Animal Control funding rather than
dealing with the zoo fencing. Fencing repairs and
improvements happened anyway.
Zoo
admissions policy relaxed so that fees only charged
about one third of the time. Strong public support
for the fee policy.
Frank
Vincenzi passes away.
Zoo
receives conservation award from the American Association
of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA) for the
eagle rehabilitation program.
1979: Asian
Primate (formerly Monkey Island, now Lemur Island,
part of the rainforest exhibit complex) and Swamp
and Marsh exhibits open, win American Society of Landscape
Architects awards.
The
first naturalistic exhibit for gorillas in the world
opens in August. In December, silverback Kiki escapes,
is recaptured the same day in the kitchen of the Nocturnal
House.
Hippo "Waterlily" (born
Houston Zoo, 1978) arrives. She is still at the zoo
as of 2002.
New
enlarged naturalistic lion exhibit opens.
WPZ's
first red pandas arrive.
1980: Thai
Airlines donates a baby Asian elephant, "Chai."
African
Savanna opened July. Savanna also receives American
Society of Landscape Architects President's Award.
Great
Northern engine #1246 removed from WPZ. Sold to a
fellow who indicated he would restore it, the old
steam locomotive now languishes, partially disassembled,
in a field in southwestern Oregon. http://www.sunsetd.com/~ryan/steam/
Orangutan "Rusty" born.
WPZ
received the Humane Society of the U.S. "Top Rating" for
American zoos.
Seattle
population: 493,486.
click
to enlarge |
Sri
arrives at the zoo
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1981: WOZ
receives (Best New) Exhibit Award for African Savanna
from the American Zoological Parks and Aquariums Association
(AAZPA).
Thai
Airlines donates another baby Asian elephant, "Sri".
The
administration building near the West Gate remodeled,
expanded, renamed the Activities and Resource Center
(ARC) and converted into a home for the zoo's expanding
education department. Zoo administrators relocate
their offices to the former gatekeeper's residence
in the SE corner of the zoo ("the bungalow").
First
penguin hatching at WPZ. The Humboldt penguin chick
was successfully parent-reared.
1982:
New
exhibits opened: Backyard Ecology, Snow Leopard, Australian
tree kangaroo, and Wombat.
New
overlooks created at the African Savanna -- one for
the Hippo Exhibit and the other at the south end of
the Savanna. The latter serves as the Jimi Hendrix
Memorial. Swirling sort-of-psychedelic patterns of
purple and orange tile were placed on the walkway
and purple shrubberies (both attempts to evoke "Purple
Haze") were planted all around. A brass star was placed
on one of the artificial rocks, inscribed with a notation
that the overlook is dedicated to the memory of the
legendary guitarist.
WPZ
hosted the Third International Snow Leopard Symposium.
Seattle
Zoological Society funded much-needed renovation of
the Pheasantry (now the Conservation Aviary).
1983: In
December, David Hancocks gave notice of his resignation
as zoo director, citing frustration over the lack
of funds to continue the zoo's improvements. He left
his post in April of the following year.
If you have comments
or suggestions about this page please send an e-mail to Dana
Payne
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