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Buildings that will eventually house new and improved exhibits for giraffes, pygmy hippos, jaguars, bears and birds are all under construction at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo. Initial work for a revamped entry plaza is underway, and there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, including moving utility lines to accommodate the new additions.
“It’s sort of like building a puzzle,” says Jim Fleshman, who was recently named Director. “You try to find all the outside pieces, and then you work toward the center before you can see the big picture. That’s sort of where we are right now—we’re putting together the borders.”
AT A GLANCE
Top executive: Jim Fleshman, Director
Phone: [225] 775-3877
Website: brzoo.com
It will still be a while before visitors can see hippos swimming underwater in their new exhibit or feed giraffes from a state-of-the-art platform. Fleshman anticipates those and other projects will be wrapped up by fall 2023, depending on weather conditions.
But, he says, excitement is building at the zoo—among himself and his colleagues as well as visitors—as the new structures begin to go up. They’re happy to see modern amenities and other improvements coming to the facility, which was founded in 1970. Additional educational programs are also being planned, as well as new private rental offerings.
Fleshman is optimistic that the changes will help the zoo reclaim accreditation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “We want to reach that gold standard,” he says, as it signifies a commitment to best practices for operations and animal care.
The revitalization work has been propelled by public input, and it’s important to reward Baton Rougeans with a zoo they can be proud of, Fleshman says. “BREC and the zoo heard what the community wanted, and we’re trying to do that. We’re going to have a lot more for the public to see, participate in and learn from. We’re going to provide unique and exceptional experiences for them and build pride and local support in what we’re doing.”
Support of the zoo has a global impact, too, Fleshman says. The zoo educates visitors about many types of animals and habitats from around the world and why they are important to conserve and preserve. And the zoo is increasingly becoming involved in research efforts, such as in Southeast Asia, where it is a partner on a project involving threatened species of hornbill birds, among others.
