Luna, the Asian black bear occupies the 1960's era Bear Grotto. Renovations were made earlier this decade to combine the two enclosures into one and add plants and substrate. Further renovations are planned in the future. 2009
The current superintendent of the zoo has set out to completely redefine what a zoo is. In his vision, a zoo is a place where captive animals act as fundraising mechanisms for their wild counterparts. He has been a catalyst in the movement to establish "conservation fees" in zoos which are then linked to guests choosing which field conservation programs they would like the zoo to fund. This started at Zoo Boise and has now spread to many, many zoos throughout the AZA. Hopefully someday, we will see some similar type of program established at every single AZA zoo. THAT will be meaningful conservation work. Since 2007, the Zoo Boise Conservation Fund (Zoo Boise Conservation Fund) has given out over $685,000 in grants. This is in a metropolitan statistical area that as of the 2010 census only had around 616,000 people.
Zoo Boise should be commended for its outstanding conservation program, and I've seen many zoos adopt similar methods to raise cash and awareness for endangered animals. Also, filling in the moat and extending the size of this old bear grotto is an excellent idea. Detroit Zoo recently filled in the moat and added huge viewing windows to its 1928 lion grotto and the interaction between visitors and lions has been beneficial as the big cats are an exciting creature to see up close against the glass.
Is there an update on this exhibit's renovations? Or is it the current Sloth Bear exhibit? (I have never been to Zoo Boise but I really would like to see it)
