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The zoo’s 200 animals were not injured, but massive trees were uprooted and enclosures were destroyed, the zoo said.
Springfield’s The Zoo in Forest Park will remain closed until further notice after sustaining massive damage during Saturday’s storm, the zoo announced.
A state of emergency was declared in Springfield Saturday after severe thunderstorms and intense winds caused power outages and downed trees, the City of Springfield shared in a press release. A building in Springfield collapsed during the storm, displacing 45 people.
While none of the nonprofit zoo’s 200 animals were injured or killed, “the damage to The Zoo itself, however, is substantial,” the zoo wrote on Facebook.
Massive trees were uprooted and enclosures were destroyed. Zoo personnel are still assessing the damage, and it is still too early to tell when the zoo will be able to reopen, the zoo said.
The zoo is typically open from late March through November and “every day we are closed during our open season has a significant financial impact,” the Zoo wrote online. “The loss of admission revenue, combined with the unexpected costs of cleanup, repairs, and rebuilding, will be a tremendous challenge for The Zoo.”
Donations to The Zoo in Forest Park can be made at www.forestparkzoo.org/donate.
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