Arkansas Blog

Since moving to LR in 2002, I have grown extremely frustrated with the LR Zoo. I was a member for several years, and after I moved to a new location I had to basically call them up and ask for a new membership because they could not seem to get the address change correct on my existing membership. Also, why is LR Zoo one of the few out there that does not have an Adopt-an-Animal program? I emailed them about this 2 years ago and got no reply. For the past 3 years my husband and I have bought animal adoptions from either the Memphis Zoo or the Elephant Sanctuary (in Greenbrier) for his son. This year we are looking at the big cat refuge in Eureka Springs. I realize it costs a lot of money to run a successful zoo program but it seems the LR Zoo seems to lag far behind. Will the veldt display house the African Penguins? That should give a nice boost to the zoo when they arrive. Hopefully animal adoptions are something they are considering in the near future.

It has been quite some time since I have made a trip to the Little Rock Zoo. My last trip was kind of depressing since a lot of the animals were not out on view. I often worry about the state of smaller zoos like the Little Rock and Tulsa Zoos because they have limited funds and visitors.
It was nice to hear that the Little Rock Zoo is working on things. Docents are an important part of the zoo also, they help bring the zoo alive by letting the visitor see animals up close and talk about them. It will be great to hear about more things that will be coming to the zoo soon.
-Sara, World Zoo Today
www.worldzootoday.com

Has anyone kept count of the number of animals that were, like the poor chimpanzee last week, anesthetized for dome minor procedure and subsequently perished without regaining consciousness?

Two of my friends and I were discussing the zoo yesterday. We were wondering what happened to the keeper chats. We also can't figure out why this zoo doesn't use corporate or personal sponsorships of animals and exhibits as most other zoos use. (They have a couple but not many). Why are the grounds so lacking when I am sure there are programs like the master gardeners or other garden clubs that are looking for projects? The zoo has come a long way under Mike Blakely but it just seems like so much more could be done.
The new cat house restaurant is a wonderful renovation but the service is sorely lacking. I know that it is provided by an outside source but surely the zoo has some say. Waiting in line for 30 minutes with small hungry children is not a pleasure.
We as many others we know are members and very happy to support the zoo but why are we never rewarded by being asked if we are members and offered the discounts in the gift shop and restaurant? It is on us to remember. It seems the zoo would want to do whatever they could to encourage membership.
There is such potential. We would love to see it realized.

I think the LR Zoo is a wonderful place. I take my Godson there frequently and have taken out of town visitors to see the zoo as well. I think the remodeling and the educational experience one has while there is great. Kudos to Suzan and all of the Zoo staff!

On my last trip to the Zoo I missed the Docents standing around with the birds and others walking around with small animals that the children could pet. If the Education Department is being revamped as Ms. Altrui says, I hope the Docent program isn't going to be taken away.

EA- the zoo may be a wonderful place to you, but what do you think the 'inmates' think of it? Other than a tiny subset of species, the vast majority there live woefully restricted lives.

I suggest you try staying in your living room for the next few days- okay, you can use the bathroom even though it is in a separate room. Come back in say 3 days and tell us how your experience of only 72 hours spent solely in your living room went.

Enjoy. I'll be waiting for your report. Surely you can spend 3 short days in your living room if you think the zoo animals should spend their entire lives in such confinement.

If you think the lives of most normal people, being "locked up" in your house for 3 days wouldn't be so bad. We get out to entertain ourselves (less and less these days with the entertainment coming to us), to eat, to work so we can eat, to meet mates . . . most of the things we (and animals) "roam" for is out of necessity rather than "want."

What's most people idea of a perfect vacation? Relaxing by the poolside with nothing to do. Most people yearn for retirement so they don't have to work to feed themselves. I'm not saying it's the exact same thing, but most animals, in general, try to do as little "work" as possible to survive. When they're not hunting or breeding or looking for food and shelter, they're kicking back and relaxing. Even migratory species only migrate when they have to do it for sex, food, or shelter.

As for the chimp who died, check this: http://www.todaysthv.com/includes/tools/print.aspx?storyid=72796
She was older, a former university (read: experimented on) animal. Maybe they shouldn't have anesthetized her because of that, but who knows what her life and body had seen. You can't blame the zoo. Had she died without being checked out, someone else would have pointed a finger.

One more thing, volunteerism is down in the entire state and nation, partially because of the economy. It's Maslow's hierarchy. If you don't have those basic needs met (and you can't afford milk for your kids or gas for your car), you're going to stop giving your money and time to organizations like the zoo. You're not going to volunteer if your retirement is down the tubes, etc. etc.

I know some docents who say the program takes a large chunk of time. That could be part of the visibility problem. I don't think it's necessarily the fault of the department, but it doesn't mean it is not. I would imagine it's a combination of many factors.

Improvements to the the zoo can only continue to happen with volunteer and financial assistance. Susan Altrui and the entire zoo staff do a great job of running the zoo. Do you remember the zoo in the 1980's - I do. It was not a pretty site. Please read more about our group, Generation Zoo, and what we are doing to assist the zoo with their long term goals.

http://www.zoofoundation.org/generationzoo.html
generationzoo@hotmail.com

My family has a membership at the Zoo and we enjoy it. Interacting with the Lorikeets is particularly nice. Touching an elephant is an experience. Rather like petting your house if it were covered in brillo pads. Check out the cannas blooming in the water feature at the end of the veldt. Does anyone know where the penguin exhibit will go?