Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo opened in June 1989 in Gulf Shores, Alabama
, United States
as Zooland Animal Park. It is operated by the Zoo Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and relies on admissions, memberships and contributions for its funding. It was the basis of the Animal Planet
show The Little Zoo That Could.
The zoo is several blocks north of the beach and is home to more than 290 animals including lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and macaws. It includes a petting zoo, reptile house, and aviary, and daily animal shows in the summer.
In July 1997 Hurricane Danny hit Gulf Shores. Then in 1998, Hurricane Georges hit, causing more flood damage. The zoo evacuated all of its animals in both cases, transporting them 15 miles (24.1 km) inland to higher ground and becoming the first zoo to have a full scale evacuation during a hurricane. These expensive evacuations, and the repairs following the hurricanes, almost caused the zoo to close in 1999, but fund raising efforts were successful in raising enough money to keep it open. Hurricane Ivan
in 2004
caused $500,000 in damage, forcing another evacuation and closing the zoo for 14 months. Several animals were not caught during this evacuation, and were lost. More evacuations resulted from Dennis
and Katrina
in 2005
, but the zoo was able to reopen fairly quickly in October 2005.
. Shooting for the series started in 2005, and the first of 13 episodes of "The Little Zoo that Could" aired in February 2006. The series focused on the zoo's efforts to reopen after being battered by 3 major hurricanes in 2004 and 2005: Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Dennis, and Hurricane Katrina. A one-hour follow-up on the series aired in February 2007. The zoo announced that they are in the process of making a new show, suspected to air about the same time the new zoo opens.
In 2009 the zoo unveiled a plan to move to new quarters that are farther inland and less susceptible to flooding. The 25 acres (10.1 ha) for the new zoo facilities were donated by Clyde Weir and his daughter Andrea Weir Franklin. The new facilities are scheduled to open in early 2011.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
-External links:*...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as Zooland Animal Park. It is operated by the Zoo Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and relies on admissions, memberships and contributions for its funding. It was the basis of the Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
show The Little Zoo That Could.
The zoo is several blocks north of the beach and is home to more than 290 animals including lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and macaws. It includes a petting zoo, reptile house, and aviary, and daily animal shows in the summer.
History
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo started as the private project of Joey Ward of Gulf Shores, and opened in June 1989 as Zooland Animal Park. The Ward family created the Zoo Foundation Inc. (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) in 1991 to operate the zoo, at the same time donating the 17 acres (6.9 ha) that make up the zoo today. An additional 13 acres (5.3 ha), which are still undeveloped, was donated by the Ward family and the Erie Meyer Foundation in 1994.In July 1997 Hurricane Danny hit Gulf Shores. Then in 1998, Hurricane Georges hit, causing more flood damage. The zoo evacuated all of its animals in both cases, transporting them 15 miles (24.1 km) inland to higher ground and becoming the first zoo to have a full scale evacuation during a hurricane. These expensive evacuations, and the repairs following the hurricanes, almost caused the zoo to close in 1999, but fund raising efforts were successful in raising enough money to keep it open. Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 2004
2004 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
caused $500,000 in damage, forcing another evacuation and closing the zoo for 14 months. Several animals were not caught during this evacuation, and were lost. More evacuations resulted from Dennis
Hurricane Dennis
Hurricane Dennis was an early-forming major hurricane in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the very active 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season...
and Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005
2005 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, repeatedly shattering numerous records. The impact of the season was widespread and ruinous with an estimated 3,913 deaths and record damage of about $159.2 billion...
, but the zoo was able to reopen fairly quickly in October 2005.
The Little Zoo that Could
The flurry of activity around the zoo attracted media attention during Hurricane Ivan, and the zoo was approached about doing a series for Animal PlanetAnimal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
. Shooting for the series started in 2005, and the first of 13 episodes of "The Little Zoo that Could" aired in February 2006. The series focused on the zoo's efforts to reopen after being battered by 3 major hurricanes in 2004 and 2005: Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Dennis, and Hurricane Katrina. A one-hour follow-up on the series aired in February 2007. The zoo announced that they are in the process of making a new show, suspected to air about the same time the new zoo opens.
The future
The local community and businesses have donated money, building supplies and services in the past. On-going funding through sponsorships, grants, and endowments from major corporations did not exist before 1998, but are now being pursued to ensure the zoo’s future.In 2009 the zoo unveiled a plan to move to new quarters that are farther inland and less susceptible to flooding. The 25 acres (10.1 ha) for the new zoo facilities were donated by Clyde Weir and his daughter Andrea Weir Franklin. The new facilities are scheduled to open in early 2011.