Zoo, Aquarium, and Sanctuary Hurricane Irma Preparations
Everyone is wondering how places with exotic animals are planning to weather Irma. I’ve tried to create as comprehensive a list here as I can of facilities that have made public statements regarding preparing for the impending hurricane. If you know of a facility that has made a public statement that is not on this list, please message me so it can be added.
General hurricane preparations that all facilities permanently housing exotic animals will do involve: boarding up and reinforcing windows; removing anything that could potentially picked up by wind (or tying down anything that cannot be moved elsewhere); moving animals in low-lying areas or less physically robust exhibits to other holdings on site; reinforcing and preparing indoor exhibit spaces or lock-downs animals will be inhabiting during the storm; stocking up on food, water and generator fuel; reviewing and implementing inclement weather and animal safety protocols; and preparing spaces for human ride-out teams to live on site during the storm.
It’s very rare that a facility with exotic animals will choose to evacuate during the time leading up to a major disaster - it generally only happens when it is clear the site will risk sustaining such intense damage that the safety of the animals cannot be guaranteed. Moving exotic animals off-site is complex and can be dangerous for both animals and people when rushed, and requires that there is somewhere on the other end with appropriate enclosure space and husbandry knowledge to house them. Most facilities choose instead to shelter their animals in place, either in their normal enclosure areas (most of which are designed to double as safe shelter during inclement weather) or in other reinforced buildings on-site.
Amazing Animals Inc. is sheltering in place. It appears from Facebook posts that all of their animals have been crated and moved indoors.
Big Cat Rescue is sheltering in place. All big cats will be shut into outdoor roofed metal lockouts adjacent to their normal enclosures. Animals in the hospital will be brought into the concrete staff building.
Brevard Zoo is sheltering in place.
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is sheltering in place. They will be closed to the public for the duration of the storm but will still be accepting sick or injured animals.
Butterfly World has not made an official statement, but their Facebook page indicates they are sheltering in place. Photos show staff catching up butterflies from larger areas and housing them in small, portable mesh containers.
Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is sheltering in place.
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is sheltering in place. Small mammals and birds will be in kennels in secure buildings, larger animals will be locked into secure night houses. The ride-out team on-site will include keepers, facilities staff, the zoo vet, and the zoo director.
Center for Great Apes is sheltering in place. All animals will be locked into night houses for the duration of the storm, and the sixteen staff members comprising the ride-out team will be staying in those night houses with the animals to feed and care for them.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is sheltering in place after a week of site preparations. A ride-out team will be on site during the storm to care for the facility and the animals.
Dolphin Connection has evacuated their dolphins to Seaworld Orlando.
Dolphins Plus, Inc. is sheltering in place. Staff will remain on site to care for animals during the storm.
Dolphin Research Center is sheltering in place. Dolphins have been equipped with bright orange bands (positioned at the base of the tail) so they can easily be ID’ed if they get swept out to sea. DRC prefers this method to reinforcing their exhibits because they want their animals to be able to head for deeper water if there is so much debris being thrown around that their containment is breached. Dolphins are trained to respond to sonic transmitters for a recall, which DRC will use to collect their animals once it is safe for them to return to the site.
Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is waiting and watching the storm path. As of the evening of 9/9, they had a plan in place for a partial and total evacuation if needed.
Flamingo Gardens appears to be sheltering in place. Their Facebook posts indicate that their bears and flamingos are locked down in concrete buildings.
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is sheltering in place. Animals will spend the storm in their secure night houses. State-of-the-art video monitoring equipment will allow keepers to monitor them. A dedicated group of employees comprising the ride-out team will stay at the Zoo Sunday night to ensure animal safety.
Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary is sheltering in place. No full plan has been posted, but they appear to be moving as many primates as possible into the staff buildings in cages. Staff will be camping out in the ranch house on site during the storm.
Gatorland Orlando is sheltering in place. Gators will ride out the storm in their outside pools, while all other animals have been moved inside.
Lion Country Safari is sheltering in place. Lions, rhinos, chimpanzees and other dangerous animals will be placed in their night houses, while hoof stock will be free to roam in their normal enclosures. Reptiles, birds and primates will all be placed in inside enclosures.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center has evacuated 50+ sea turtles to the Georgia Aquarium.
Lubee Bat Conservancy is sheltering in place and has moved all their bats into a storm safety building.
Monkey Jungle is sheltering in place. Their small primate population will stay in their normal enclosure, while their gorilla and orangutan will be locked into heavily fortified indoor areas. They’ve brought in a generator to keep the exterior fence electrified and have contractors on standby in case of damage to animal areas.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is sheltering in place.
Mystic Jungle Educational Facility Inc. is sheltering in place. Small animals and lesser cats will all be secured in an indoor facility.
Palm Beach Zoo is sheltering in place. An 11-person ride-out team will be on grounds, including veterinary and keeper staff. All animals have been moved to hurricane shelters through the zoo.
Panther Ridge Conservation Center is planning to shelter in place, with potential for a need to evacuate.
Rare Species Conservatory Foundation is sheltering in place and may have evacuated some animals. As the site cannot be completely evacuated, all birds and primates have been crated/caged and will be riding out the storm in 9-ton decommissioned shipping containers on site.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens appears to be sheltering in place.
Save the Chimps is sheltering in place. They have locked all their chimpanzees indoors and have a ride-out crew remaining on site even as the storm trends away from their location.
Seaworld Orland is sheltering in place. Several trainers will remain on site with the ride-out team during the storm. The whales and dolphins will have access to a large number of pools of different depths during the storm. Any animals that can be brought inside will be. Manatees have been moved to a different, more sheltered pool. They have taken in five dolphins from Dolphin Connection for the duration of the storm.
Shy Wolf Sanctuary is sheltering in place. They are not in the expected storm surge zone and will be doing regular walk-throughs to check on residents and fencing.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is sheltering in place. Gators will stay in their pools, and it appears from Facebook posts that all other animals have been moved inside.
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is sheltering in place. A team of 12 employees comprise their ride-out crew, and they’ve laid in 2 weeks worth of animal food and fuel. They are not worried about flooding, but have pumps on site just in case. Large animals will be locked into concrete night houses and all birds will be brought inside during the storm.
Theater of the Sea is sheltering in place.
The Talkin’ Monkeys Project is sheltering in place. All primates, canids and cats will be locked inside.
Zoo Miami is sheltering in place. Dangerous animals will be locked into concrete and metal night houses. They have reserved a freezer and refrigerator truck to hold food and supplies during the storm.
Updates are rolling in and while some places have received structural damage, reports have been that no animal or human lives have been lost. We continue to look out for news from our friends and colleagues in hurricane affected areas. If any of my followers know of any facilities or people in need, please submit them to me and I will help get the word out.
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