Potawatomi Zoo retains ribbon reducing ceremony for new giraffe exhibit, unveils new statue

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – Opening working day at the Potawatomi Zoo is Friday, but Thursday was a monumental working day that officials say marks a turning stage for the zoo.

Donors, together with elected and neighborhood leaders gathered to rejoice the zoo’s new giraffe show.

The task is in its ending levels. Older people gave the speeches, but small children took care of the ribbon reducing obligations.

Beforehand, the crowd moved within to see the exhibit’s weather delicate stars.

“Many several years back, we did a survey asking men and women, you know, what was the number a single animal that folks want to see in zoos,” states Josh Sisk, executive director of the Potawatomi Zoo. “It usually arrived again to giraffes. People today travel to other zoos in our area to see giraffes and we knew that that, a single day, was going to be what modifications the Potawatomi Zoo.

“So, we know that this is heading to be a enormous adjust for us,” he ongoing. “We’re going to go from that smaller group zoo that every person remembers as a child that was even now great to this regional vacation spot. This contemporary zoo with all the updates we’re generating. This is surely a altering issue in the zoo’s background.”

All 4 of the zoo’s giraffes are males. Kellen is two a long time outdated. Max, Wyatt, and Seymour are five many years old.

For the duration of the ribbon cutting, the zoo also unveiled a bronze statue of a mom giraffe with her child that stands at the entrance to the new exhibit.

The statue has been a 12 months in the creating. It stands 17-and-a-fifty percent ft tall and weighs about 2,500 lbs. It was put in Wednesday following touring 13 several hours on a flatbed truck from northern Oklahoma.

“There’s a large amount of little ones that never have the opportunity to get shut to animals,” Jocelyn Russell, the artist who designed the sculpture. “And to be equipped to in fact experience my interpretation, I guess, of a giraffe. And that’s enjoyment for me due to the fact it’s a thing that is likely to be below without end, I hope. And taking photographs of the little ones this morning, it just provides it all with each other.”

Russell says it is the tallest statue she has produced, but not the major. She’s sculpted a entire-sized elephant in the earlier.

And a reminder: 16 Information Now is headed to the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend for opening working day on Friday.

Lauren Moss and Matt Engelbrecht will be live at the zoo throughout the 4 p.m. newscast. They will convey you a glimpse at all the fun you can have this calendar year.

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