Zoo is nearing 40 years in business and are at their peak. But why?
SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News) — Nearing forty years in business, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is celebrating the most successful years in the organization’s history: adding new animals, new events and even new infrastructure. Many years have passed since the zoo’s renewal in the 80s, but Executive Director Carrie Large says the mission has stayed the same.
“Often people don’t have enough funds to go to the Disneyworld, the epic fun day,” Larges says. “We want Syracuse, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, to be the local Disney in a sense.”
Working at a zoo might not be your average job, but Large wants to push the narrative that zoos do matter.
“It’s not just entertainment. There is a connection, a mission here to make sure animals don’t go extinct. We care about our animals and in return we care about the planet,” Large says.
Multiple animals out and about at Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Halloween day.
© 2023 Chloe Smarz
Multiple animals out and about at Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Halloween day.
© 2023 Chloe Smarz
Multiple animals out and about at Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Halloween day.
© 2023 Chloe Smarz
Multiple animals out and about at Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Halloween day.
© 2023 Chloe Smarz
Multiple animals out and about at Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Halloween day.
© 2023 Chloe Smarz
Multiple animals out and about at Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Halloween day.
© 2023 Chloe Smarz
In addition to the twin baby elephants, the zoo added two tiger cubs and new koalas to their exhibits, creating a new buzz in Central New York. Nearly one percent of all zoos in the world have twin baby elephants and Large says the uniqueness of its animals draws in crowds worldwide.
“We are seeing people as far from Germany. I had a wonderful conversation with this couple, just standing by the two elephants, and just in aw,” Large says.
Large credits the success of the 2023 year because of her staff. From the friends organization to the animal team, they collaborate together to make sure the zoo is spectacular.
In recent news, the Zoo announced that National Grid recently made a 75,000 dollar donation to a wildlife park. The money will go to educating people on gardening, on native species of plants and potentially growing a lot of food that can feed the zoo’s animals. All of this supports the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s plan of sustainability and conservation. In the next five years, the zoo will add zebras and giraffes in the back part of their land with the remainder of the National Grid money.
The zoo’s mission is to make sure that zoo goers come and stay, returning monthly for the wildlife park’s events. The zoo recently hosted Zoo Boo, a trick or treating event for kids and parents to celebrate the holiday with animals through the month of October.
And with the holiday season around the corner, the Zoo will be hosting Holiday Nights from December 1st to 16th.
For more information of this event, visit https://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/events/view/holiday-nights23624.