Zoo's future is topic of chamber forum at PJC
Community raises nearly $400,000 toward goal
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Lisa Newell/Gulf Breeze News Gymnasts from Gulf Breeze Gymnastics and Cheer demonstrate skill at the Kids Fest on Saturday. The event, plus mild weather, brought thousands to the Zoo over the weekend.

On Oct. 10, The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce and Gulf Breeze News sponsored a forum at Pensacola Junior College featuring officials from The Zoo - Northwest Florida to answer questions about their plans for the future.

Approximately 50 people showed up, including about a dozen zookeepers, and most expressed their support for the Zoo in Gulf Breeze. Earlier this year, Zoo officials announced that they must raise $1 million by the end of the year to stay open. The Zoo racked up nearly $2 million in debt from Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis in 2004 and 2005. The storms also forced the zoo to close for six months in one year, resulting in a loss of over $900,000.

"We're very excited by the overwhelming response from little children doing lemonade stands, little kids bringing their piggy banks and breaking them at the zoo counter, all the way to adults spending money out of her own pocket to print a zoo calendar," said the Zoo's Executive Director, Doug H. Kemper, Jr.

Submitted photo Holley-Navarre Intermediate Assistant Principal David Sigurnjak (left) and gifted teacher Linda Matthews (right) present a check for $1,079 to the zoo's Director of Education, Susan Leveille.

During the forum, audience members were allowed to pose questions to Zoo officials, including: Executive Director Doug Kemper Jr.; Director of Animal Husbandry Diane Norris; Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Gus Mueller; Director of Education Susan Leveille; Director of Operations Terry Whitman: Director of Visitor Services Natalie Akin; and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chuck Emling.

Gulf Breeze resident Carol Mills asked why the facility's management continues to blame hurricane damage for the zoo's financial woes more than two years after the last major storm made landfall near Gulf Breeze.

"I think it's valid to blame Hurricane Ivan," Emling said. "Hurricane Ivan is the reason for the season. That's why we're here…We're going to blame Ivan for the rest of our lives because that's exactly what happened."

Zoo officials are still trying to reach a settlement with their insurance company regarding their hurricane claim.

Lisa Newell/Gulf Breeze News Roree Lange offers a Zoo Calendar outside the Gulf Breeze Wal-Mart on Saturday. She and April Ball began the project to raise approximately $200,000 for the Zoo. She is asking area merchants to offer them for sale by calling her at 626- 5664 or emailing email.savethezoo@ mac.com.

Audience members also heard from Danyelle Landz, an independent financial analyst who has been reviewing the parks financial situation since early September.

"The animals are taken care of first," Landz said. "The staff has not been paid from a payroll perspective. They have missed payroll several times. The priority is the animals, then it's payroll."

Landz assured audience members that fundraising capital is staying with the park and being used where it's most needed.

"From a review perspective, I can tell you I reconciled the bank statements and looked through every check. The money that came in stayed in the Zoo and was used in an appropriate way," Landz said.

The Zoo's Director of Visitor Services, Natalie Akin, said fundraising efforts have totaled over $400,000 so far. The recent Feast with the Beast fundraiser brought in approximately $45,000. Upcoming fundraisers include a poker tournament on Oct. 26 and an ongoing Zoo calendar sale, which organizers say has the potential to raise around $200,000.

Pam Brannon/Gulf Breeze News The West-Navarre Primary School raised $665 for The Zoo during a recent school fundraiser. Susan Levielle from The Zoo visited the school last week to accept the money from the students. The students also built 'animals' that served as collectors for the money and represented their favorite animals-- the bat, the snake, and the frog.

If the 50-acre zoo were to close, Kemper estimated it would cost somewhere between $20 and $40 million to open a facility of the same size and scope.