August 13, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 368

Contacts: Nancy Falasco, Director, Brandywine Zoo, 302-571-7788; Beth Shockley, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Brandywine Zoo Reopens Following Storm Cleanup

The Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington reopened at 10 a.m. this morning after damage caused by a powerful storm forced the zoo to close on Monday and Tuesday. The storm, which swept through the zoo on Sunday night, knocked down trees, damaged exhibits and caused a power outage. Power was restored on Monday evening.

“All of the [fallen] trees, limbs and debris are gone and all of the animals are back in their homes,” said Zoo Director Nancy Falasco, “except for the Sandhill Cranes.” That exhibit was destroyed in the storm. The cranes, Sandy and Spike, are “doing fine in a new, temporary home near the llama exhibit,” Falasco said.

Falasco says between eight and 10 fallen trees were cleared away, along with tree limbs and leaf debris. All of the sidewalks and animal exhibits have been cleared of debris as well. Tarps cover areas of the animal hospital roof and feed storage unit that were damaged in the storm.

Falasco and her staff had moved smaller animals whose exhibits were compromised to safety in the zoo’s hospital, and the larger animals, including the Siberian tiger, were secured in denning areas behind their exhibits. Backup generators provided power to the hospital, the exotic animals’ house and the commissary while power was out.

“Everyone has done a herculean job,” Falasco added. “The zoo staff and the Parks crews have worked continuously to get the job done. They’ve done an incredible job.”

Remaining work includes repairing the crane exhibit, the hospital roof and grain shed, and some perimeter fencing.

Falasco says it’s too soon to tally a total damage estimate. But she said Sunday’s storm is one of the worst she’s seen in terms of damage done. “We had damage in a storm a couple of years ago, but not to this extent; no buildings were damaged, we just lost power. We had much more structural damage with this storm.”

The Brandywine Zoo is managed by DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation with the support of the Delaware Zoological Society.