The dedication of the recently completed black-footed ferret breeding center on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at the Phoenix Zoo represents the commitment to conservation and tireless efforts of many community partners.
Phoenix Zoo President and CEO Bert Castro noted that, although the zoo had to temporarily decommission its ferret breeding efforts in 2008 when the orangutan exhibit encroached on the original building, he was happy to see the old building demolished in December 2009. Castro said it was an “outdated, inadequate facility that did not represent the world class vision for the Phoenix Zoo and the zoo’s commitment to the conservation of the black-footed ferret.”
After 14 months of planning, design and construction, the new facility is a reality, thanks to the approval of a grant from the Arthur L. “Bud” and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation, which fully funded construction of the facility. David Hammerlag, Trustee for the Foundation, stated that it was an easy decision to fund this project, noting that the Phoenix Zoo is “taking the lead in North American conservation,” and that the Phoenix Zoo “can and does have a global impact.”
It is behind the conservation center (which is also closed to the public, but has windows you can look in). All you can see is the part shown in this photo, which you can see by looking past two sets of closed gates in the center section of the conservation center.
If you still cannot picture it, the conservation center is between the cheetahs and the walk-in monkey area.
They are strictly nocturnal, though, so seeing one in the wild requires spotlighting and would likely require special permission to be on the preserve at night.
Black-footed ferrets have been released in a colony of Gunnison's prairie-dogs near Seligman, AZ. The Phoenix Zoo does an annual spotlighting survey, you could look into volunteering for that.
Black-footed ferrets have been released in a colony of Gunnison's prairie-dogs near Seligman, AZ. The Phoenix Zoo does an annual spotlighting survey, you could look into volunteering for that.
