FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:January 12, 2006
Contact: Debbie Rios-Vanskike
Phone: 734-7184, ext. 1043
Email: dvanskike@sazoo-aq.org

SAN ANTONIO ZOO BRINGING BUSINESS SENSE TO THE ANIMAL WORLD

San Antonio Business Journal
by Mike W. Thomas

Bad news for the Edwards Aquifer can sometimes turn into good news for the San Antonio Zoo.

This past year, while San Antonio suffered through a drought that left it more than 11 inches shy of normal rainfall levels, San Antonians took advantage of the rain-free weather and flocked to the zoo in record numbers. The record attendance of 939,000 helped the zoo achieve its most successful financial performance in its 93-year history. The zoo ended 2006 with $11.1 million in revenues and $1.7 million in net earnings -- increasing total net assets to $22.8 million.

"We give a lot of credit to the weather," says Stephen McCusker, executive director of the zoo. "Too much rain tends to keep people away." But McCusker also credits the zoo staff's marketing efforts, which he says are helping to get the word out to more people about the zoo and its exhibits. "We've been doing more marketing recently in conjunction with our successful Africa Live campaign," he adds. Africa Live is the zoo's latest feature exhibit that is expected to open to the public sometime this fall. Phase I of the project cost an estimated $17 million and includes a concentration of exhibits covering nearly four acres that tell the story of Africa, its people, flora and fauna and its wildlife.

Africa Live is one of the zoo's most ambitious projects to date. It is designed to give visitors a safari-like experience as they trek through a wild place where animals appear to roam free. It will include a two-story retail, concession and education facility and several large glass tanks giving visitors an up-close, underwater view of the zoo's hippopotamus and Nile crocodile collection. McCusker says the zoo tries to open a new exhibit every year.

The San Antonio Zoo is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for the animal and plant collections while offering a recreational and educational experience for our many visitors.  The Zoo is accredited by the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums and is open 365 days a year.  Gates open at 9 am and close at 5 pm and the grounds remain open until 6 pm.  Admission for children ages 3 – 11 is $7.  Admission for visitors ages 12 and older is $9.  Seniors
over the age of 62 pay a discounted rate of $7 and children two and younger are free.
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Photos courtesy of the San Antonio Zoo.