A Local Treasure with an International Impact RED RIVER ZOO

WRITER: MARIE LASKA

PHOTOS BY: REBEKAH SICKELS PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE RED RIVER ZOO

In urban Fargo, North Dakota there are limited opportunities to connect with nature inside the city limits. However, Lisa Tate, the Executive Director of the Red River Zoo, has made it her mission to ensure that Fargo residents are aware of the treasure that lies at their doorsteps.

Located at 4255 23rd Avenue South, Fargo’s Red River Zoo is only twelve years old but has a national reputation that belies its young age. As one of the few non-profit members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Red River Zoo boasts a renowned conservation program for some of the world’s rarest cold climate species. Ms. Tate proudly describes how the zoo plays a pivotal role in international and national conservation processes, listing the Chinese Red Panda as a flagship example in that one quarter of the captive population in the United States was bred at the Red River Zoo. As these efforts are undertaken with no public funding support whatsoever, the Red River Zoo relies heavily on community partnerships and donations. However, the zoo is also extremely affordable, offering among other deals a year-long family pass for only $65.00, which allows unlimited visits to the zoo and all of its attractions for up to four individuals. Additionally, as part of the AZA, a membership pass at the Red River Zoo will also provide discounted or free admission to over 150 zoos and aquariums nationwide. to a Species Survival Plan to ensure the highest level of genetic diversity in a captive population. This plan directly affects which animals can be brought to the zoo and which species need to receive consistent support through conservation processes. Though the Red River Zoo has a stellar reputation for its conservation efforts—notably with the Chinese Red Panda and Pallas Cat species—it can be an extremely difficult process, notes Tate, as “boys and girls don’t always like each other, and there is a lot of expense to see if the chemistry will be there.”

Open from 10am—7pm during the spring and summer, the zoo showcases several world-class exhibits over 22 developed acres, and focuses on three main biomes: North America, Northern Asia and the Scandinavia/Arctic. Throughout the biomes threads a well-thought-out walking path (which is lit up at night, welcoming couples seeking a romantic stroll), natural prairie grasses and the not-so-distant howling of wolves. Specific exhibits such as the stunning Trapper’s Cabin—an exhibit designed in a log-cabin style to showcase a striking pack of grey wolves—allow visitors an up-close-and-personal viewing experience; all from the safety and comfort of a room that has hosted many business lunches, grooms’ dinners and children’s sleepovers.

One of the most dynamic surprises for visitors to the zoo is its 1928 Allen Herschel carousel, which has become a huge hit for many on-site birthday parties. The carousel was donated to the zoo by Fargo’s Dietrich family, and is one of the few consistently-used carousels still in existence.

The zoo is excited to announce that not only will a new crane exhibit be introduced this summer, but due to the generosity of a local community member next year will beget a stunning river otter exhibit designed to make visitors feel as if they’re underwater in an otter den. As explained by Tate, the Red River Zoo adheres

Along with birthday parties, formal dinners and wedding celebrations, zoo staff are kept busy with animal presentations and facilitating summer and day programs such as Junior Zookeeper and Zooniversity. This dual focus of conservation and education underlies one of the zoo’s founding principles found in the words of Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.” [AWM]

More information on zoo programming and exhibits can be found at www.redriverzoo.org