A few years from now, visitors to the Santa Ana Zoo may be able to watch monkeys frolicking above them on an aerial trail system, or get a close-up view of giant river otters gliding through the water.
Redesigned exhibits, welcoming new species of animals and more visitor attractions are part of an estimated $70 million plan for the zoo’s evolution over the next 20 years.
The first master plan for the zoo since 1990 includes a new veterinary hospital and education building, a primate forest area, a “twilight house” with walk-through bat observation cave, more wildlife shows and demonstrations, and a relocated main entrance with more parking.
“Zoo design has evolved over the last 66 years,” Zoo Director Ethan Fisher said of the years since the zoo opened. “The public expects more, and we can do more for the animals.”
The planning is not just to modernize the zoo and attract more visitors, it also aims to earn back accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a professional recognition the Santa Ana zoo lost in 2017 because of outdated monkey exhibits.
Now that zoo officials have a formal plan – the Santa Ana City Council approved it in March – the next big challenge will be finding the money to carry it out.
Focus on conservation
The Santa Ana Zoo opened in 1952 as the legacy of J.E. Prentiss, a wealthy citrus rancher and monkey enthusiast who gave the city land for a public park on the condition that 50 monkeys be kept there at all times.
The original 12 acres grew to 20 acres with the addition of two smaller properties in the 1970s. The first comprehensive plan for the zoo wasn’t created until 1990, Fisher said, although new features have regularly been added over the years, including the Crean Family Farm in 2004 and the ocelot exhibit in 2015.
In the new plan, Amazon’s Edge will be the first exhibit to get an update, with more places for the monkeys to wander and the addition of a giant river otters exhibit. The changes will also allow more species to interact as they would in their natural environments, such as monkeys and birds in the same exhibit, Fisher said.
As public opinion has shifted on the ethics of keeping animals in captivity, many zoos now put more emphasis on education about animals, plants and conservation. Visiting the zoo and seeing the animals can help people develop compassion for them and understand the natural world, Fisher said.
“We try to make conservation at the forefront of the zoo, as part of our mission,” Fisher said. “A lot of the species that we have here come from habitats that are increasingly threatened, a lot of times by human action.”
Two moms who visited the zoo on a recent day said they’d like to see some new animals and more interactive exhibits, but the zoo is already a hit with their young children.
“They love it because it’s a mellow, easy walk,” said Cathy Yassa, a mother of seven from Downey. “Moms love it because it’s peaceful.”
Orange County resident Jennifer Peterson, who also has seven children, said the Santa Ana Zoo is great for a short trip with a gaggle of kids.
New attractions
Some of the planned improvements to the zoo won’t happen for years, but other changes will greet visitors in the near future, such as the 50 Monkey Ferris Wheel, which officially opens Memorial Day weekend, and a dung beetle maze that’s under construction.
The first big upgrade, the primate forest, is projected to cost $12 million, Fisher said. Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo, a nonprofit that sponsors zoo programs and raises money to support the zoo, will lead a fundraising campaign to cover the first five years of the long-term plan.
The zoo has about $2 million in grants and commitments for the otters exhibit and there is about $600,000 available for building a long-term endowment fund. The Ferris wheel will also be a source of income.
Having the master plan provides a road map of what the Friends will be focusing on, and makes it easier to explain to donors what the money is for, Executive Director Cathi Decker said.
Zoo officials hope their efforts will go a long way to getting accreditation. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums couldn’t be reached for comment, but its website says it has accredited 230 zoos and aquariums worldwide, with most of them in the U.S.
Having accreditation lets the public know the zoo is following modern practices in animal care, and it can give the zoo access to more grants, education and other resources, the association’s website says.
“A major part of the loss of accreditation was addressing the older habitats for the primates, We didn’t have a plan for it,” Fisher said. “Now we have a plan.”
About the Santa Ana Zoo
With a new, long-term plan in place, Santa Ana Zoo officials are preparing to raise money to fund new exhibits and other improvements.
Where: The Santa Ana Zoo is at 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana.
Visitors: About 250,000 people visit the zoo each year.
Up first: The 50 Monkey Ferris Wheel will open Saturday, May 26. A dung beetle maze should be ready in June.
First five years: A primate forest and giant river otter exhibit are proposed in the first phase of the 20-year plan.
Information: For zoo hours, admission and other details, call 714-836-4000.
