Lake Superior Zoo preparing to announce Master Plan for development

DULUTH - Excitement is building at the Lake Superior Zoo, as staff managers work on a secret plan.   It's the blueprint of how they're going to revamp the zoo to regain something it lost several years ago.  And based on the number of visitors the zoo staff says they are seeing, part of the plan is already working.

Pulling into the parking lot of the Zoo, a peacock struts around.  Peacocks aren't the only proud creatures at the these days.

"It's a lot cleaner, the animals are healthy and happy," said Heidi Faris, education program coordinator for the zoo.  "You can just tell. They're not pacing.. They're very active."  Faris spoke as she held Smithers, an albino corn snake, one of the newest faces at the zoo.  He was donated by a private owner.  "He wasn't handled a lot by his previous owner so we're just getting him used to being handled and touched on a regular basis," said Faris.

Zoo staff said they saw a record number of visitors in March.  Perhaps they found Felix more pleasing to the eyes than Smithers.  Felix is the zoo's new siberian lynx.

"The zoo's been very busy" said Anita Johnson, marketing director for the zoo.  She said 5,400 people came through the zoo in March, nearly double the number of March 2009.  "Things are changing and good things are happening here," Johnson said.  She spoke standing on the newly finished tiger observation deck and added  the new pumping system for the polar bear, seals and river otters is working very well.  "It almost worked too well.. It's caused some leaks in the older pipes and we're still working out those bugs."

But the most exciting thing happening at the zoo is the announcement of the master plan, which happens in two weeks.  "It'll lay out a process for a 20–year development of the zoo and the facilities and the programs," said Johnson.  She said over the last year, the city and the Zoological Society have spent about $1 million on improvements, with another $800,000 in projects planned for this year.

Then, they'll apply for accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in March 2011, which they lost in 2006. 

The next big event for the zoo is Earth Tracks 2010, which promotes preservation of the environment.  It's set for May 7th and 8th.