The Jackson Zoo continues to deteriorate. WLBT's Anthony Warren reported Friday:
A year after a Jackson city councilman proposed de-funding the zoo to help cover other city expenses, the West Jackson park continues to see dwindling attendance, stagnant revenues, and more dead animals.
Records obtained by WLBT show that between January 1 and mid-July, Jackson Zoological Park reported 8,354 visitors and around $40,000 in revenue.
These figures represent a roughly 1,400 drop off in attendance when compared with the same timeframe the year before while revenues were about $1,600 more than the amount reported.
Meanwhile, animals at the century-old facility continue to die off. Since our March 2023 investigation into the zoo, an additional 13 animals there have passed away, including an 11-year-old beaver, a 16-year-old fishing cat, and a 12-year-old cougar.
During WLBT’s visit to the park Friday morning, multiple exhibits there were empty and overgrown, including several near the entrance....
During budget deliberations last summer, the Jackson City Council made headlines when they discussed closing the zoo to raise the money needed to cover rising insurance costs.
At the time, the city needed an additional $2 million to cover premiums. Parks and Recreation was seeking between $1.6 million and $1.8 million to fund park operations for the 2023-24 fiscal year....
The zoo appeared to still be on a downhill trajectory during 3 On Your Side’s visit Friday morning, with multiple empty and overgrown exhibits, and dilapidated facilities....
Additionally, air conditioning in the Backyard Creatures exhibit was off, and two city employees pointed out that an Anaconda housed there had what appeared to be a black band wrapped around its body....
Air conditioning also was not operating in the aquatics building, with glass doors on both sides of the facility being propped open. Just past that, multiple cages that at one time housed numerous exotic birds were empty, with the fencing around at least one of the cages having been completely removed....
Rest of article and video. The story includes a list of animals that have died since March 2023.
Kingfish note: Check out the attendance numbers provided by WLBT:
Although the numbers are bad, they are much worse when compared to earlier years. JJ reported these attendance statistics in previous posts:
2019: 48,114
2018: 73,000
2017: 100,963
Thus during the reign of Chokwe Antar Lumumba, zoo attendance plummeted 82%.
The zoo is in a death spiral. The West Jackson activists scream and shout but that is about all they do. The aged animal collection continues to shrink. The city provides minimal support. The Parks & Recreation Director talks like the Mayor but governs like Ron Swanson as he says the zoo needs to advertise while spending little money on advertising.
Of course, the city needs money for traffic lights, street repairs, code enforcement officers, and other basic services. The zoo is a luxury but frankly, it gets little support from the community. It is a patient on life support with no forecasts for improvement.
32 comments:
Close it. Turn it into a housing project for the poors
Truly sad. Every child should have the opportunity to visit a zoo. Unfortunately, this one is located in a part of the city where every child should avoid. I miss the zoo.
9:48 Have you been to the zoo area lately? Is it really an area that "every child should avoid?" Try going over there. Look at the improvements that have happened between I-220 and the zoo.
“If we’re spending $1.6 million and the revenue is less than $50,000, $100,000, we’ve got a problem,” he said. “We have to make some tough decisions because there are other things that need to be prioritized that are not getting done.” - Councilman Banks.
In what world, does the Mayor, city official, and the Council think it is a good idea to piss away 1.6 million a year on this Zoo? What else could be done with that money - maintain cemeteries, parks, build a road, etc.?
Seems like the Zoo is run like the city, imagine that.
This is about pride. Jackson's current leadership cannot admit failure. Because the admission of failure imputes to African-Americans and their ability to self-govern. Many people blame white flight. But that is a code word meaning "you left with the tax dollars." The Mayor doesn't want to live with white people. His problem is revenue. A large chunk of revenue leaves as white flight occurs. So instead of governing and making difficult choices, the Mayor and others continue to underfund a zoo and pridefully say "We have a zoo." The reality is that the zoo is not much better than a few acres in the country with penned-up dogs starving.
CLOSE IT. They missed their chance at relocating, time to cut losses and stop hemorrhaging money and resources. The City complains about lack of employees in numerous departments so close the zoo, sell the remaining animals to other zoos or habitats and offer transfers to other City departments for zoo employees.
CLOSE THE ZOO-
They had a chance to relocate to a much better place and chose not to do it. Just another reason why everyone in office in the city of Jackson need to be replaced. Too much grandstanding and not enough action.
That two story brick building on Lakeland Drive owned by BCBS was costing them money. What did they do? They bulldozed it. There can be a lot of parallels between Jackson/Rankin/Public/Private made there.
It's just a W. Jackson annex.
I contacted Peta years ago to alert them of this abuse and they never bothered to respond at all. But they sure were making news going after McClains Lodge at that time.
These animals will all become casualties of the culture war that we are all trying to survive in the name of Equity and Inclusion.
I miss the days of merit based achievement and leadership and I bet these abused animals do too. But sadly, they are alive in the wrong century.
If this was a Republican run city PETA would have a branch office in Jackson until they got the zoo closed.
10:10, they could also use it to pay the late fees owed to Hemphill.
The zoo was a popular place for kid’s birthday parties back in the 80s and 90s, especially when Walter Hazzlerigg was driving the miniature train.
This is so stupid. Can anyone with anything larger than a brain stem not figure this out. Close the damn zoo for God's sake. I drove by there yesterday and I would not even think about taking my grandkids there.
This is "our" zoo.
The zoo can only be successful as a destination. This means attracting visitors from outside Jackson, and even those who are willing to drive from distant parts of the state. Almost nobody from outside Jackson goes to that zoo anymore, and even within the city there are few who do.
Any democratic run city is overrun by crime, corruption, poverty, failure & lack of leadership. Don't close the zoo. Move it to safer area in Jacktown & close the leadership!
What's the big deal? What's out of the ordinary?
In your dreams 10:08............nothing significant. If you're stupid enough to take your "kids" to the Jackson Zoo, you should be charged with "Child Endangerment". Every day news broadcast at 6 AM, 4-6 PM & 10 PM voids anything you have to say. What some people will do & endure just to be called "progressive".
And reporting that funds were lost due to electronic payments not being accepted by debit or credit cards. I don’t believe that for one minute !
August 12, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Yes. Next.
True story - I went with an open mind to the Jackson Zoo yesterday. From the moment I walked in i knew i was in for an experience. Literally when I went to check out the first animal exhibit listed as a brown tailed fox, I come upon a damn dog. I am not an expert but I know a dog when i see one. This was indeed a shitzu.
There's an obvious reason why they're only accepting cash.
Turn the zoo over to the State of Mississippi to be revived and operated by MDWFP as the Mississippi Zoological Park. There’s precedent - Riverside Park became LeFleur’s Bluff State Park.
Will someone please get the remaining animals relocated to another zoo with the funds to properly care for them?! While the zoo deterioration is tragic, it is inhumane to force the remaining animals to exist under steadily degrading conditions.
Rome continues to burn.
Only cash? What a shock. A target rich environment for the State Auditor.
Ya'll may as well get ready to read about the remaining animals being found dead at the zoo. Nobody is going to save them. They are literally dying on camera broadcast on the news and still nobody will come. This has been an obvious problem, but because the city knows that nobody is going to stand up against them. Anyone that might help is too afraid of being labeled racist. Anything done to try to help the city is translated as "making the city less black".
The Jackson Zoo in Jackson, Mississippi, is a cherished community resource that offers a wonderful experience for families and animal lovers alike. The zoo is home to a diverse collection of animals from around the world, providing educational opportunities for visitors of all ages. With its beautifully maintained grounds and engaging exhibits, the Jackson Zoo plays an important role in conservation efforts and inspires a love for wildlife in the community. It's a great place to spend the day learning about and appreciating the natural world.
7:11, is that from a Dale Danks era Zoo brochure?
Post a Comment