Closure of New York City Zoos Looming
by Sherry Morse and Patricia Collier
Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, has proposed budget cutbacks that if implemented would force the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which operates four zoos and an aquarium within the city, to close the Queens Zoo and Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn.
The proposed cutbacks would also affect animal exhibits and education programs run at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.
"Overall, WCS is facing a more than 50 percent reduction in City support," said WCS Senior Vice President for Public Affairs John F. Cavelli. "We want to...help New York survive (its) fiscal crisis, but we can’t fire a bear or lay off a baboon. We will explore every avenue to keep the zoos open to visitors, including developing new revenue initiatives and increasing awareness."
"This is not a budgetary exercise," WCS President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Steven E. Sanderson stated. "This is the lives of 211 people, the displacement of thousands of animals and the dismantling of the world’s largest and most distinguished network of urban wildlife parks."
© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.
Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, has proposed budget cutbacks that if implemented would force the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which operates four zoos and an aquarium within the city, to close the Queens Zoo and Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn.
The proposed cutbacks would also affect animal exhibits and education programs run at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.
"Overall, WCS is facing a more than 50 percent reduction in City support," said WCS Senior Vice President for Public Affairs John F. Cavelli. "We want to...help New York survive (its) fiscal crisis, but we can’t fire a bear or lay off a baboon. We will explore every avenue to keep the zoos open to visitors, including developing new revenue initiatives and increasing awareness."
"This is not a budgetary exercise," WCS President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Steven E. Sanderson stated. "This is the lives of 211 people, the displacement of thousands of animals and the dismantling of the world’s largest and most distinguished network of urban wildlife parks."
© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.
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