EJ Rivers

REOPENING STATUS

As businesses and attractions re-open in a limited capacity, many have inquired if the zoo will reopen with them. Since the zoo was already closed to the public before the coronavirus pandemic, the necessary shelter-in-place order unfortunately slowed our progress.

Right now, repairs, improvements, and plans for CDC/Covid compliant practices are ongoing as we wait for the USDA to re-open for inspections. We will continue to announce any major developments affecting our re-opening as soon as we are aware of them.

We want to welcome our community back inside our gates, and are working as quickly as resources, Covid conditions, and the daily weather forecasts allow.

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CURRENT PROJECTS

The Sumatran Tiger Pavilion is being completely replaced and treated (pictured). The structure was originally built in 2010 so that guests could view the tigers’ completely upgraded tiger exhibit under shade.

Crews with City of Jackson have been working to clear and repair the perimeter fencing, as well as address certain trees inside the park that could be affected by strong weather conditions. They’ve also been checking, repairing, or replacing heating and cooling units in the animal “bedrooms,” and resolving issues with the water infrastructure.

NEXT UP

Contractors will be repairing and sealing roofs for Meeko the Asiatic Black Bear and Knox the Giraffe, and reconditioning the ground inside the Red River Hog pens.

JZ Keepers have been revamping inside the exhibits, making smaller needed repairs, and creating and placing extra enrichment for the animals daily.

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ZOO ENRICHMENT FOR HUMANS

The latest addition to the ANIMAL CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES is up on the website… have some fun while using common household items that might otherwise get tossed. Be like a JZ Keeper and practice ENRICHMENT to the kids, AND recycle!

(Please feel free to email ejrivers@jacksonzoo.org with finished crafts or ideas for new ones!)

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ZOO SALUTES!

The mowers are here! Thanks to everyone who made it possible to purchase new mowers, or offered their gently used mowers, to our JZ Animal Care Staff!

Although the city handles the large public grassy areas, we have 12 employees that need to mow over 20 exhibit and off-exhibit areas. Multiple mowers means more efficient daily care schedules, and more time for animal training and enrichment.

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Another YAY going out to our new Adopters and Boosters! This kind of support* helps the JZ Keepers with smaller projects, directly related to animal care and daily enrichment.

Check out the options HERE!

*Although donations to the zoo are not currently tax deductible, they are greatly appreciated by staff.

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Zoo Area Progressive Partnership is doing a second run of their Jackson Zoo YARD SIGNS! Zoo fans in Jackson and the surrounding communities can show support for our animals by popping one of these signs up. All you have to do is message the ZAPP facebook page.

You can also keep up with Keep Jackson Beautiful for other ways to help the zoo and our neighbors. They have scheduled a Virtual 5K Trash Dash on July 11th!

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Top Jackson Zoo Fan Hope Henry was sweet enough to supply a socially-distant lunch recently to the entire JZ Staff. She also continues her sponsorship of Iago the Blue and Green Macaw, and the other residents of the Bird Run and Discovery Zoo.

The love and care by our community members makes it easier to love and care for our animals, so THANK YOU, HOPE!

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CRAFTY ADDITIONS

Thanks to Mr. Mickey Hansen for some amazing cardboard art now residing in the Gertrude C. Ford Education Center Display Hall! Thousands of hours went into the making of these exotic creatures of cereal boxes, paper towels, and glue, and then he worked some more to adjust them to our ceiling heights!

A giant King Cobra, a Chimp, and a Python will greet visitors when the Display Hall eventually opens back up to the public. They are TRULY stunning, and we look forward to sharing his talent!

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Copyright 2020 The Jackson Zoo

BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAYS

The staff at the Jackson Zoo are making the most of the extended spring season as they work inside and outside exhibits. The animals seem to be enjoying the milder-than-normal temperatures, as well.

There is still much to do before we can invite the USDA for an inspection, but zoo staff and crews with the City of Jackson keep moving forward, especially as all businesses try to work safely around the coronavirus pandemic.

FRESH FACES

Discovery Keepers have counted at least three new additions to the Prairie Dog Town in the past week. Since the keepers do not interrupt or interfere in the exhibit unless there is an emergency, we often don’t know about pups until they emerge. Young often spend their first four to six weeks exclusively underground.

One of the projects in progress is the cleaning, repainting, and repairing of the Prairie Dog exhibit barrier so that visitors will be able to safely view the animals when we re-open.

ZOO ENRICHMENT FOR HUMANS

Modern zookeepers are very aware of the need for daily exercise of the body and brain, which is why ENRICHMENT is so important in daily animal care schedules. JZ Keepers keep the zoo animals engaged every day – often several times a day – with treats, activities, and scents. Of course, humans are animals, so it works on us, too!

We’ve taken a page from our keepers and come up with some ANIMAL CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES that get everyone engaged both physically and mentally, AND utilize common household items that might otherwise get tossed. You can enrich AND recycle while you’re at home with the family!

(Please feel free to reply to this email with finished crafts or ideas for new ones!)

SUPPORT ANIMAL ENRICHMENT

There are now TWO levels of support for the JZ Staff while the zoo is closed to the public, and both help the keepers and staff with smaller, animal-based projects. All donations go towards additional ENRICHMENT, or towards IMPROVEMENT, which allows us to beautify exhibits and the park in small ways*.

Individuals or groups can join the KEEPER BOOSTER CLUB, at either the Primate Level for $25, or Hoofstock Level for $50, which gets them a digital official certificate, zookeeper and enrichment facts that are easy to print and display.

There is also the Adoption: Keeper level for $75, and Adoption: Guardian level for $100. Each animal sponsorship comes with a certificate, animal facts, conservation notes, keeper facts, enrichment notes, AND either a 6″ zoo plush (Keeper) or a 10″ zoo plush (Guardian).

*Although donations to the zoo are not currently tax deductible, they are much needed and greatly appreciated by staff.

The JZ Keepers thank long-term partners Tyson Foods for their 12-month sponsorship of the American Alligators! They have generously donated the chicken for the weekly feedings for the 2020 season!

Many thanks also to Zoo Area Progressive Partnership for their commitment to us. They are currently giving out these YARD SIGNS to zoo fans in Jackson and the surrounding communities to show support for our animals. If you are interested in getting one, ZAPP is asking $5 per sign to fund the next order. Just reply to this email for details.

We do not currently have a re-open date at this time, but continue to share information as it becomes available to us.

There have been many inquiries to the status of the Jackson Zoo lately, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire staff sympathizes with all our local community partners, as well as our sister zoos and aquariums around the world, that are dealing with the difficult circumstances of sheltering in place.

Special thoughts and prayers to the Bronx Zoo as their animal care staff deals with the illness in both their staff and tigers. That is a constant and deep seated concern for those in animal care, and our hearts go out to them. Wishing a quick recovery for all.

We’ve been closed to the public since September 31st of 2019 for repairs and inspection preparation, so basic operations stay the same. At this time, no keepers or animals have shown any COVID-19 symptoms, but all staff are using all available precautions.

A small staff means that the daily routines have always been pretty solitary, but the coronavirus has forced us to tweak some things. For instance, keepers and staff try to arrange their tasks in a way where they don’t share communal space; most communication between staff is handled via phone or radio; and when interaction cannot be avoided, everyone uses the 6 foot social distancing rule, even if outdoors.

Strict cleaning and disinfecting protocols of both animal and human spaces remain in place, but there is extra focus on human self care, as well. For Keepers, getting sick is scary not only from a personal standpoint, but with such a small staff, it means even more work for coworkers. So everyone is doing their best to stay healthy for the animals and each other.

When it comes to repairs and improvements, the work is still in progress, but it has been slowed. With services and businesses having to close or reduce hours, which is absolutely understandable, the staff does what we can with supplies we already have on hand. We look forward to picking up right where we left off as soon as everyone is back in business.

We still consider ourselves fortunate to be thought of by so many in our community. Several zoo sponsors and patrons have donated to animal enrichment, including Ms. Hope Henry, Zoo Crew member, with some fun enrichment items. Plus US Foods in Flowood, and Salad Days of Flora gave our animals some fresh produce – some of it very different from daily diet requirements – which has been a nice addition for both animal and keeper. (Want to donate to the staff for the animals or repairs? Check out our enrichment page, look into “adopting” an animal, or you can make a monetary donation HERE.)

We want to assure everyone that our plans for completing repairs, undergoing USDA inspection, and reopening to the public have not changed, just the timeline.