Capron Needs Zoo Keeper to Keep Accreditation

Association of Zoos and Aquariums has tabled re-accreditation after September 2012 until the zoo hires another zoo keeper.

Capron Zoo Director Jean Benchimol said the zoo, which of the 2,000 zoos in the nation is only one of 219 that are accredited, needs to hire a zoo keeper in order to keep that designation. The $45,000 annual cost of hiring one, however, is a problem.

Benchimol said there is no room in the $900,000 budget (which grew from $90,000 in five years) to add another zoo keeper, and removing an item from the current budget is not immediately feasible.

Tasked to the Max

Currently the zoo staff, which includes eight animal keepers, two educators, an assistant director and Benchimol, is extended to the max.

"There's just no wiggle room," Benchimol said of adding more tasks to her staff's already heavy workload. "When you factor in holidays, sick and personal days and trying to schedule coverage when someone is out, it really throws a wrench into it."

According to Benchimol, the zoo was told that they need to get to a safe number of zoo keepers. "Another zoo keeper balances it out," she said.

The zoo currently relies on volunteers known as the for help with non-animal related efforts at the zoo and relies on financial help from the for things that do not fit in its budget.

Budget Woes

Taking expenses out of the budget is not possible, according to Benchimol.

"There is just no way," she said. "It all goes to paying our bills, daily operations (including caring for and feeding the animals) and salaries. We earn our money and work very hard for it."

"Maybe we can't have pretty flowers to make the zoo look nice," she said. "The problem is that doing things like that is the very reason more people visit us. They raised the bar (on accreditation) and we have to raise the bar with them."

The need for another zoo keeper did not come as a surprise to Benchimol. "I certainly talked with the Mayor and the budget folks that this could be an issue," she said.

Mayor Kevin Dumas said the zoo is under accreditation until 2012 and that receiving re-accreditation will be made possible once it is addressed during the budget process.

"Our re-accreditation is simply tabled until there is an additional zoo keeper hired," Dumas said. "We are not required to do this immediately and this will be handled through the budget process after a review is done of all revenues and expenses."

Benchimol said the plan is to revisit the budget and look at each line item. She said she feels the city will do what it can to keep Capron Zoo on the map. "He wants to make sure we keep our accreditation, I'm confident about that."

Even with all of the city's budget constraints, Mayor Dumas said he does believe they can be creative to find room in the budget for an additional $45,000.

"We will rise to meet the challenge as this an important issue for us," he said.