The Buffalo Zoo held a press conference today to outline its plan to deal with the loss of $1.4 million in Erie County Funding.

"Our primary consideration in making decisions must be the health and welfare of our animal collection," stated Dr. Donna M. Fernandes, President/CEO of the Buffalo Zoo. "We will take several steps in our efforts to provide proper care for our animals and have the Zoo remain open to serve the people of Western New York."

The Zoo will cut nearly $1 million from its $5.3 million operating budget for 2005. The budget cuts from a variety of lines, most notably the elimination of 20 full time positions, or one third of the Zoo¹s full time work force. Beginning Monday, February 14th, the Zoo will be closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Wednesday evening hours in the summer months have also been eliminated as have all free days at the Zoo.

Starting Wednesday, February 16th, it will cost more to visit the Buffalo Zoo. Adult admission will increase to $ 8.50 and child and senior rates will rise to $5.00. This is the first increase in admission rates in six years.

One of the most painful decisions was to put the new Master Plan for the Zoo on hold.  The Master Plan is a 15 year, $70 million program to completely renovate the 23 acre footprint of the nation¹s third oldest zoo. 

Otter Creek, the first new construction at the Zoo in decades, opened to wide acclaim in October of 2004. Sea Lion Cove is scheduled to open this coming summer.  The next exhibit in the Master Plan is the South American Rainforest, scheduled to open in 2007.  The Rainforest will remain a dream for the foreseeable future. Added Dr. Fernandes, "I have always said that we will not build exhibits that we can¹t afford to operate."

Even with the deep budget cuts, the Zoo is facing a budget gap or more than $500,000.  The directors of the Zoological Society have already made personal commitments totaling $50,000 to respond to immediate cash flow needs.  It is hoped that the Western New York community will also respond to the need for bridge funding for the Zoo to keep all of the animals here and keep the Zoo operating for the people of Western New York.

"Today, we have taken serious steps designed to ensure the short term viability of the Zoo," said Mark J. Czarnecki, chair of the Zoological Society. "Over the next few weeks we need the support of all of our elected officials and the entire Western New York community if the Zoo is to remain a viable community asset."

Zoo President Statement

Good morning. First, I would like to thank all of you for being here today.  I would also like to extend a special word of thanks to our members, visitors, our sponsors and donors for the outstanding support you have shown to the Buffalo Zoo, over the past few years. 

We remain very grateful. The Buffalo Zoo has made and continues to make incredible strides over the past five years.  With the support of the community, we have invested more than $10 million in capital improvements beginning with Vanishing Animals and EcoStation. 

We have implemented an ambitious Master Plan with the first new construction at the Zoo in decades. Otter Creek opened in October and Sea Lion Cove is scheduled to open this summer.    These improvements, enhanced customer service and aggressive marketing have allowed us to remain the number one tourist attraction in Erie County welcoming more than 363,000 people in 2004 and growing zoo membership to nearly 15,000 households.

Yet, with all of this great news and our on-going quest to be less reliant on public support, today we are here to address the future of the Buffalo Zoo in light of the critical situation facing Erie County.  Over the last twenty years, we have completely reversed the ratio of self-generated income to public support. By 2004, the Zoo was responsible for 65% of its $5.1 million budget with about 30% coming from Erie County. 

Clearly, we have been going in the right direction. But, unless we receive some assistance to replace county funding which we used to assist us through the leaner months of the winter like most of our colleague institutions in cold-climate cities our future looks very bleak indeed.  Our board and staff have analyzed this situation with as clear an eye as possible and have begun to develop a strategy to weather the crisis and remain viable. We will move forward with a plan to continue operation for the public and ensure the health and welfare of our animals.  This plan is not sustainable in the long term. 

It is a responsible attempt to keep the Zoo operating for the next few months. With the prospect of no county funding, we have taken action to decrease our expenses while also looking for ways to increase our revenues. 

This situation leaves us with some difficult decisions.  Unlike other cultural institutions, our primary consideration in making decisions must be the health and welfare of our animal collection. We will enact several steps in our efforts to provide proper care for our animals and have the zoo remain open to serve the people of Western New York.

The most difficult decision we have had to make is the elimination of 20 full time positions. That is close to one third of our full time work force.  Let me again state that this will not compromise the health and welfare of our animals, but this decision will have some unfortunate and immediate results that we simply cannot escape. Beginning next week, we will, for the first time in six years, increase all of the Zoo¹s admission fees. 

We must also abolish free days at the Buffalo Zoo. Also beginning Monday, February 14th, the Buffalo Zoo will be closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. Our popular Wednesday evening hours during the summer season have also been eliminated. For many of us the reality of this situation hits home in a particularly painful way. 

The implementation of the Master Plan has been suspended.  I have always said that we will not build exhibits we can¹t afford to operate. So the dream of our Rainforest and new entry complex will be put on hold for the foreseeable future.

With nearly one million dollars in budget cuts, we will still have a significant shortfall to overcome.  The directors of the Zoological Society have already provided personal commitments totaling $50,000 to respond to our immediate cash flow crisis and will be working diligently to close that gap. 

These funds are over and above the board¹s pledge of nearly $1 million for our capital campaign. All I can say is thank you. We will ask foundations and other funding sources for assistance in helping the zoo continue to operate through this critical period, until the zoo begins to generate operating revenues through increased attendance.

Finally, we are asking animal lovers and zoo lovers to assist us in bridging this lack of funding the county crisis has brought to us. We ask you to consider making a gift to keep the animals here and keep the zoo operating. On behalf of the staff I want to thank the directors of the Zoological Society for standing steadfast in the face of this crisis situation and moving forward to stabilize our organization.

Once the public understands the dire situation the Zoo is facing, I believe they too will be moved to keep one of the oldest zoos in the United States open and strong.

Thank you.