Detroit Zoo

Legislation proposed to block communities from keeping funds for Detroit Zoo and DIA

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:12:22 +0000

The Detroit Zoo and the Detroit Institute of Arts are supposed to get a cut of taxes collected from the greater metro region.

But dozens of cities and townships have been holding out, thanks to tax loopholes.

Republican Representative Eileen Kowall says the people of Metro Detroit voted to send these taxes to the zoo and the DIA.

Some Wayne County towns use money intended for Detroit Zoo for other projects

Steve Carmody — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:23:46 +0000

Some communities in Wayne County have been using tens of thousands of dollars in property tax money intended to support the Detroit Zoo for their own civic improvement projects.

Voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties approved a property tax increase in 2008 to help fund the Detroit Zoo.

But the Detroit Free Press reports some Wayne County cities have collected the tax and spent it instead on sprucing up their own downtowns. In some years, the money has added up to more than $200,000.

Detroit Zoo gets 4 crocodiles from Zoo Miami

The Associated Press — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:03:15 +0000

The Detroit Zoo has some new residents: four crocodiles.

The zoo located in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak says the four African slender-snouted crocodiles - two pairs of 21-year-old brothers - are from Zoo Miami.

They'll be on display for the Detroit Zoological Society's annual Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser tonight. Their new home is the Detroit Zoo's former hippo habitat.

The new crocodiles are about 5 feet long and weigh around 30 pounds. They can grow up to 13 feet and weigh as much as 500 pounds.

Exotic animals killed in Ohio puts spotlight on Michigan bill

Mark Brush — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:43:11 +0000

The tragedy that unfolded for the exotic animals near Zanesville, Ohio on Tuesday night and Wednesday highlighted the lack of regulation in Ohio for a particular type of animal compound.

Terry Thompson kept bears, tigers, lions, monkeys, and other animals on his property.

He reportedly did not display them to the public for compensation, and was not required to carry a permit from the USDA. And an Ohio state law regulating exotic animals had expired.