Following a budget shortfall of 15 million dollars, the Bronx Zoo has announced that it will be closing several exhibits and sending away hundreds of animals.
The World of Darkness and the Rare Animal Range will both be closed. Animals from porcupines to guanacos, and Formosan sika deer to sugar gliders will be sent away to other zoos. Primates from the World of Darkness like bushbabies, night monkeys, and lemurs are also on the list of evictions. It has been reported that the eviction decisions were made partially on the relative popularity of the animals.
Being endangered has not granted animals a respite either. The Arabian oryx exhibit will also be closed; the IUCN Red List classifies the oryx species as endangered. In the 1970s the species went extinct in the wild due to overhunting, attempts at reintroduction in the wild are ongoing.
The Bronx Zoo lost $1.7 million due to budget cuts from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. In addition, the organization lost a further $13.3 million from depressed donations and other government cuts.
The Bronx Zoo, one of the oldest in the United States and one of the highest rated, is run by the Wildlife Conservation Society. It received over 2 million visitors a year.
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