The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
High winds during Wednesday night's storm knocked over a tent and destroyed the Virginia Zoo's Zootique.
The tent, which landed on the zoo train's railroad tracks, was held down by stakes and was designed to be wind-resistant, a zoo news release said.
The damage was estimated to be as high as $15,000, including the cost to replace the tent, according to the release. Most of the hand-blown German glass ornaments were destroyed. Those ornaments were donated, and they represented about 10 percent of Zootique's inventory, spokesman Winfield Danielson said. Proceeds from the ornaments would have helped fund the zoo's new Veterinary Hospital and Animal Wellness Campus. Now profits also will help to replace the damaged goods, Danielson said.
The Zootique is closed indefinitely, but other ornaments can still be purchased from the gift shop. The train also will be halted until the tent can be removed and the tracks inspected.
For more information, visit www.virginiazoo.org.
Cindy Clayton, (757) 446-2377, cindy.clayton@pilotonline.com
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I kind of
question the idea of having delicate hand blown glass ornaments outside under a tent.
I just asked a question concerning who would pay for
the damages and the loss.
I was criticized for asking the question and "insinuating" that taxpayers would pay for it.
It appears taxpayers WILL pay for at least some of it.
I happen to be a zoo supporter. I volunteer at the zoo. I have taken my school classes on trips to the zoo. I take my grandchildren there often
My concern is that SOMEONE, taxpayers, foundation, supporters,... whomever ... will have to pay for damages and losses that may have been prevented, or at least mitigated, with a bit of preparation and pro-active actions.
The weather forecasts clearly predicted high winds. My neighbors and I were securing trash cans, bird feeders, house flags, etc.
On-duty zoo personnel should have been preparing likewise.
Vriginia Zoo Organiation
I'd like to clarify how the Virginia Zoo is structured.
We're a hybrid organization composed of the City of Norfolk and the Virginia Zoological Society, our nonprofit arm. Roughly half of our paid staff are city employees and the other half work for the society. Depending on the project, some expenses are borne by the city, others by the society, and some are shared.
In the case of the ornaments, they were donated to the Zoological Society, and the society intends to make up the losses through private donations and future ornament sales. We still have a significant amount of ornaments in stock and will continue to sell them through our gift shop.
Our focus now is on cleaning up and continuing to raise funds for the new vet hospital.
Glad there are still
Glad there are still ornaments...I will try my best to get there and buy some!
Curious too about no taxpayer money
The employees for the Virginia Zoo are city of Norfolk employees. The job postings for the Zoo are listed on the Norfolk City's web site. The Virginia Zoo is listed as part of the Norfolk's Parks and Rec.
I understand that, like the Botanical Gardens, the Virginia Zoo is expected to be self-sufficient. The reality is that residents of Norfolk have footed the bill of the Zoo's operations for a very long time.
My guess is they operate on
My guess is they operate on a public-private situation. Buildings and their maintenance, and employees are under the city budget. Animals and their exhibits, as well as other collection type aspects, are probably under the donation (private) side of things. The city kicks in some for new exhibits and such but the rest is up to private donations. I may be wrong, but that is how most zoos, museums, and aquariums operate in many cities. This tent was probably all on the donor side since it was being used to raise funds.
I was there yesterday
I was there yesterday morning when the winds were already kicking up. I really wanted to buy some of those ornaments; they were beautiful. Unfortunately I had to exit the zoo early due to a cranky child. This particular tent was helping to raise money for their animal care clinic they are hoping to build soon. I'm sad this happened; but can't help but feel it may have been a poor planning idea from marketing or sales. They should have had the tent nearer to the main building or in a place where straight winds would not have blown it over. Even yesterday morning the tent was flapping like crazy; I felt bad for the lady working in there!
Curious
I'm curious - didn't the zoo personnel not know about the storm? It's been all over the news for several days, not to mention the severe thunderstorm watch that was issued hours before it hit. I know weather-guessers are only as accurate as the Weather Channel they use, but a look at any website radar would have shown a huge storm front approaching.
who is going to pay for this...
Those who have joined the zoo, those who go to the zoo, and those who just donate to the zoo...this zoo isn't ran on Tax payer money....I just talked to them and they are not going to ask the city/state/feds to help with this....so stop bashing this place...you allow for the tax payers to pay for all of these services and even allow the YMCA to receive Millions of dollars and yet you don't do anything about this...yet, the Zoo which is a resource for all of the local cities/schools/and groups...your bashing them....over 15,000 which is the price of a new car....This will get fixed so don't worry about your money going to be wasted on something that is so stupid in your eyes.
where did yyou not learn english??
It's no wonder you post as 'anonymous'.. it's not 'ran' and it's not your it's you're.. and so on... stop posting