OTHER NEWS
Zoo kicks off 'Monkeys, Magic and More' campaign

By Amy Smolik
Marketing & Communications Manager

The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History is moving forward in its strategic master plan to provide "Monkeys, Magic and More" to its visitors and supporters throughout the region as part of the Chamber-approved Community Appeals campaign.

The corporate campaign, which kicks off Jan. 4, incorporates two major themes: monkeys and magic in the form of a snow monkey exhibit planned as part of a new and engaging entrance to the Zoo. The sights and sounds of snow monkeys and a refurbished Zoo exterior will engage visitors' senses as they enter off of Kiwanis Avenue. Phase II of the project features the "more": cosmetic and infrastructure changes to the inside of the Zoo, including better climate control for the mounted animals in the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, better access to the gift shop, enhanced education classroom facilities, and improvements to the entrance that make it less congested for visitors.

"We are moving our Zoo from the old model of ‘here's a pen where you see the animal, here's the building he sleeps in at night' to an immersive, engaging experience for both our animals and our guests," said Elizabeth Whealy, Great Plains Zoo President & CEO.

These changes are all part of the Zoo's strategic master plan, which was approved in 2007 by its board of directors and the Sioux Falls City Council. This phase of improvements at the Zoo will be supported by a $5 million capital campaign in which the corporate campaign plays a critical part. The campaign leadership conducted a feasibility study to evaluate its goals and reduced its appeal to the business community from $2.3 million to $1.5 million. "We heard what the business community said and adjusted our goal. They have been very supportive and we look forward to success," said Campaign Chair Steve Metli. The remaining funds will come from local individuals, grants, Zoo members and supporters, as well as a significant investment from the City of Sioux Falls.
The excitement will begin immediately when a visitor enters the Zoo and experiences the sounds and sights of a new snow monkey exhibit. Construction on the "Monkeys, Magic and More" projects are expected to start in 2011.

This new monkey exhibit will replace the former site of the Eastern Black Rhinos, which are being relocated to a spacious facility with an indoor winter day room and large exercise yards. The new rhino exhibit is currently under construction and will open in spring 2010.

The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History adds to Sioux Falls' quality of life. Recent improvements include the Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm, which allows kids to get up-close to animals — petting and even feeding them. An Asian Cat Exhibit opened in 2008 and features three endangered species. Visitors have responded in record numbers — attendance has almost doubled in the past four years to more than 250,000 visitors in 2009. Of these visitors more than half are drawn to the Zoo from areas outside Sioux Falls. In addition, the Zoo educates more than 30,000 kids each year through ZooCamps, ZooClasses and outreach programs such as the ZooMobile.

The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History has the highest number of visitors for a paid attraction in South Dakota, according to the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau. Whealy says, "An enhanced Zoo will be a major attraction that a visiting family "must stay over for", adding more guest nights to a Sioux Falls visit and more money to our economy."

The Great Plains Zoo cares for more than 850 animals from 156 species and participates in 17 endangered species breeding programs. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, putting it among the top 10 percent of animal institutions in the nation.

For more information about the Zoo's capital campaign, contact Corporate Development Coordinator Leslie Rupiper at (605) 367-8313, extension 18.

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History Community Appeal
$1.5 million (revised goal)
Jan. 4-July 30, 2010