Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 19, 1990 TAG: 9007190176
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ED SHAMY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Beth Poff, the zoo's director, said the Roanoke Planning Commission and the City Council must approve the plans before any construction could begin.
The habitat as proposed would be built at what is now the rear of the zoo, behind the mountain-lion exhibit and the zoo's commissary. The area is now wooded.
The zoo already has in hand the $60,000 to build the habitat, but hopes eventually to expand the exhibit into a 20,000-square-foot home for as many as five tigers. The large habitat could cost as much as $600,000, but zoo officials want to move Ruby, the zoo's tiger, from her small cage as quickly as possible.
Poff consulted with Hughes Associates Architects and together they devised a plan to build a 5,000-square-foot corner of the originally proposed habitat.
"What we're shooting for is to not fence in an ugly little corner," said architect Don Harwood.
The habitat that would be built is part of the original plan and could be expanded, he said. The proposed habitat would include a walkway with a viewing platform for visitors and a sloping, grass and rock home for Ruby.
Two indoor tiger dens also would be included, he said. Another den, a pond, more viewing areas and a picnic area would have to wait until the next phase of the construction.
The zoo plans a major fund-raiser that could begin late this year to raise approximately half a million dollars to complete the full tiger habitat. Mill Mountain Zoo is bidding to become the nation's 60th zoo in the North American Species Survival Program for Siberian tigers by housing breeding-age tigers.
A local firm agreed to donate enough fencing to enclose the habitat now under consideration.
by CNB