Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Self Sustaining Green Zoo?

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Found this article about the Gulf Coast Zoo. Says they plan to open a new 25 acre zoo on a donated plot of land in 2012. (Seems a bit fast to me, since I think they have not started yet, to build an entire zoo in less than a year).

Anyway, the article touts it as the world's first self-sustaining zoo and the photo of the model touts it as a green zoo. But there are no details given, as the article is really more about the zoo director than about zoo plans. I am very curious what exactly that means? I would assume meaning no outside electricity coming in - everything self-generated by solar power or animal waste methane.

Does anyone have any information on this very intriguing development?

Reality show turned Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Director Patti Hall into a 'rock star' | al.com
 
Well I found the zoo website. Apparently construction has begun and the zoo will indeed open in Spring 2012. Highlight will be a large tiger exhibit with underwater viewing and a show called Tiger Splash, which I think may include human tiger interactions. (Not sure if they know there is already a show like that called Tiger Splash at Out Of Africa here in Arizona). The zoo already had a typical orange tiger and a white tiger (with stripes). They recently acquired a snow white (no stripes) cub and a golden tabby cub from the Marcan Tiger Preserve, so that they can have all four color morphs on display.

I know these are controversial on this forum, but if they have all four and a first class exhibit, as a cat fanatic and photographer I think I would go to see that.

If you follow this link about the new site, there are additional hotlinks to a press release with details and a 20 minute video (which rolls straight into a silent 4 minute video showing closeups of the zoo model).

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo | Gulf Shores, Alabama
 
Very interesting, thanks for posting this. Next time business takes me to Pensecola I'll have to check this out.
 
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