The Great Plains Zoo is announcing major project to expand and renovate Bear Canyon, one of the Zoo’s oldest and most popular exhibits. The $2 million renovation begins next summer and will be funded through a combination of private investments, including individuals and foundations, as well as some federal, state, and city funding. The project will be completed in 2017.

The project will include the addition of a lush Bear meadow, a demonstration area where kids and adults can get an up-close look at Zookeeper training sessions, and more enrichment opportunities for the Bears. The project also includes a modern and efficient water filtration system that will reduce staff labor and cut utilities expenses. Additional animal holding will ensure the Zoo meets more modern standards for Bear management, as well as the opportunity to exhibit more Bears.

Currently, the exhibit is home to 21-year-old Kenai. Originally built in 1963, the Brown Bear exhibit was last renovated in the mid-1980s.

The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a greater understanding of our natural world through education, conservation, recreation and discovery. The Great Plains Zoo is an accredited member of the elite American Zoo and Aquarium Association.  Less than 10% of animal institutions in the United States have met the high standards for AZA accreditation.

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