Potawatomi Zoo holds ribbon cutting ceremony for new giraffe exhibit, unveils new statue

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

Donors, alongside with elected and local community leaders collected to rejoice the zoo’s new giraffe show.

The task is in its ending levels. Grown ups gave the speeches, but young children took treatment of the ribbon slicing duties.

Beforehand, the group moved inside of to see the exhibit’s local climate sensitive stars.

“Many a long time ago, we did a study inquiring folks, you know, what was the amount one animal that people today want to see in zoos,” claims Josh Sisk, government director of the Potawatomi Zoo. “It always arrived back again to giraffes. People today journey to other zoos in our region to see giraffes and we realized that that, 1 day, was likely to be what modifications the Potawatomi Zoo.

“So, we know that this is going to be a huge alter for us,” he continued. “We’re likely to go from that little community zoo that absolutely everyone remembers as a kid that was nonetheless great to this regional spot. This contemporary zoo with all the upgrades we’re building. This is surely a changing point in the zoo’s historical past.”

All four of the zoo’s giraffes are males. Kellen is two several years aged. Max, Wyatt, and Seymour are 5 years outdated.

Through the ribbon cutting, the zoo also unveiled a bronze statue of a mom giraffe with her toddler that stands at the entrance to the new show.

The statue has been a calendar year in the earning. It stands 17-and-a-50 % feet tall and weighs about 2,500 lbs .. It was mounted Wednesday right after touring 13 several hours on a flatbed truck from northern Oklahoma.

“There’s a great deal of children that don’t have the opportunity to get near to animals,” Jocelyn Russell, the artist who created the sculpture. “And to be able to basically feel my interpretation, I guess, of a giraffe. And that’s entertaining for me because it’s something that is going to be below permanently, I hope. And using photographs of the young children this morning, it just provides it all alongside one another.”

Russell states it is the tallest statue she has created, but not the most important. She’s sculpted a comprehensive-sized elephant in the previous.

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 all through the 4 p.m. newscast. They will bring you a glance at all the fun you can have this calendar year.

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