The Discovery Wildlife Park waded into the waters at a crucial moment to help the Calgary Zoo transfer animals during the floods and is hosting a day at the park to raise money to help the zoo rebuild.
On Saturday, July 20, Discovery Wildlife Park, in Innisfail, will donate all gate proceeds to assist the recovery of the Calgary Zoo.
“One hundred percent of the money that people pay for admission to our place, will go toward the Calgary Zoo”, said Park owner Doug Bos. “They can make a decent donation to the Zoo as well as have a fun day.”
When the flood waters started taking over St. George’s Island on June 21, professionals from Discovery Park were called in to help with the emergency evacuation of lions and tigers from the Calgary Zoo.
The zoo used the Park’s crates, equipment and animal handlers to take twelve animals out of the zoo.
“The day of the flood, they asked us to go down and help them move their lions and their tigers”, said Bos. “We assisted them in moving their lions and tigers to their own holding facility off of the island. We supplied them with our cat crates. The water was rising about 1 foot an hour.”
By the time crews completed the evacuation of the cats at 1:30 a.m., the water was only about 3 metres away from the lion house.
The island was shut down 30 minutes later.
Discovery Wildlife Park has honoured Calgary Zoo season passes at its facility since the floods and has hosted over 770 pass holders.
They have also accommodated three school groups that were originally scheduled to visit the Calgary Zoo.
Park officials say they will continue to accommodate season pass holders until the Calgary Zoo reopens.
The Calgary Zoo suffered over $50 Million in damages and officials will be at Discovery Wildlife Park on Saturday to talk about the devastation.
The zoo is scheduled to reopen July 31.
For more information, visit the Discovery Wildlife Park website.
