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MEDIA
RELEASE
June 30, 2010
CONTACT:
Kara Bussabarger
kara.bussabarger@louisvilleky.gov
502-238-5331 (502-744-5639 Media Cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louisville Zoo opens new Seal and
Sea Lion Habitat at Glacier Run
 LOUISVILLE,
KY (June 30, 2010) – Today the Louisville Zoo and Mayor Jerry Abramson
gave their final “seal of approval” to the Zoo’s new Seal and Sea Lion
Habitat at Glacier Run during a public Grand Opening.
“The Louisville Zoo is known for its
award-winning, innovative exhibits and Glacier Run continues that
tradition with a world-class zoo experience right here in our own back
yard,” Abramson said. “Glacier Run is an investment that will provide a
major boost to our community and region’s quality of life and will be a
tourism attraction for years to come.”
In September 2008, the Zoo began construction
on the Glacier Run Village, the “heart” of Glacier Run, which now
features pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and will feature polar bears in
the spring of 2011.
“Our
Seal and Sea Lion Habitat offers a high-quality, exciting experience
that fundamentally advances your Zoo’s mission of ‘bettering the bond
between people and our planet’ through education, recreation and quality
family fun,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This exhibit
gives visitors a unique opportunity to connect with playful and
intelligent seals and sea lions through interactive Zoo keeper trainings
and fun, educational presentations.”
 To date, the Zoo’s Glacier Run Capital Campaign
Steering Committee has raised more than $24 million for the entire
project—the most ever raised for a single capital campaign in the Zoo’s
41-year history. The Zoo continues its efforts to raise the
approximately $3 million remaining to complete the other originally
planned components of Glacier Run, which will include polar bears,
Steller’s sea eagles, sea otters and an animal sanctuary.
Once Glacier Run is totally complete, the
estimated economic impact of the Zoo on the region will increase to
$33.6 million while adding more than 400 new jobs to the local economy.
“The Louisville Zoo is truly a gem in our
region and state,” said Louisville Zoo Foundation Board Chair Mark
Wheeler. “The Zoo and Glacier Run are part of the solution to strengthen
the economy of our community. The Zoo exists for the citizens of the
greater Louisville area and the Commonwealth, and we are committed to
doing our part to help.”
Paul Varga, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Brown-Forman, agrees. Brown-Forman has given $1 million to
the Seal and Sea Lion Habitat.
“Louisville
is home to our corporate headquarters and we have demonstrated a strong
commitment to support our city for 140 years. We believe in doing our
part to help our community continue to be a wonderful place to live,
work, and raise our families. We know that our support of local groups
such as the Louisville Zoo helps our community to grow, and in turn also
benefits our business, our employees, and others within the community,”
Varga said.
 Walczak said the exhibit is a tremendous
triumph for the Zoo.
“This isn’t just an exhibit. It is a place for
understanding conservation and preservation,” he said. “For example, we
currently have a young sea lion rescued from the Pacific coast that you
will meet over the summer. This exhibit is already making a positive
impact on conservation and saving animals. Your Zoo is a place dedicated
to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors
and leadership in scientific research and conservation education.”
Seal and sea lion training demonstrations will
be held daily at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. For more information
on Zoo’s Glacier Run exhibit, visit
www.louisvillezoo.org/glacierrun.
GLACIER RUN OVERVIEW
Once completed, Glacier Run will not only tell
the dramatic story of the polar bear, one of the most charismatic
species on the planet becoming more threatened every day, it will also
engage visitors of all ages and educate them about the most pressing
environmental challenges of our time. Glacier Run will inspire visitors
to actively participate in the Zoo’s mission of bettering the bond
between people and our planet.
Glacier Run will be a truly unique experience
where one can visit the animals, talk to the keepers about conservation
and become temporarily immersed in life on the tundra. The exhibit will
recreate the natural habitat for some of the Zoo’s most popular
residents like polar bears, and the addition of species like the
Steller’s sea eagles, reindeer and Arctic fox will add to the feeling of
being surrounded by wildlife. The town of Glacier Run will include a
schoolhouse and general store in addition to the newly opened
amphitheater that makes viewing the seal and sea lion enrichment
demonstrations more enjoyable.
The first four phases of Glacier Run have now
opened. They include the expanded Australian Walkabout, the Calistoga
Splash Park at Glacier Run, Alice S. Etscorn Tiger Tundra exhibit and
Seal and Sea Lion Habitat.
SEAL AND SEA LION
HABITAT DETAILS
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General Contractor for the project was
Whittenberg Construction Company.
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Architects were Peckham Guyton, Albers and
Viets, Inc. (PGAV) and Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Chovan, Inc.
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Landscape is by Korfhage Landscaping and
Design.
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The new Seal and Sea Lion habitat has the
potential to hold a total of 14 seals and sea lions.
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The habitat’s state-of-the-art outdoor pool
holds 108,000 gallons of salt water.
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The pool depth goes from 0 to 9 feet.
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The chilled salt water temperature is
maintained at 66 degrees year round.
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The salt water is recirculated through
high-rate sand filters and ozone disinfection.
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It took 25 tons of salt to acclimate the
108,000 gallon pool to the desired salinity. Salinity concentration
is tested by staff on a regular basis using a digital refractometer. Sea
water salinity is 32 parts per thousand. Drinking water has salinity
of less than 0.5 parts per thousand. Salt water is equivalent to
about 5 ounces of salt in 1 gallon of water.
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The spacious, shaded seating for visitors
in the amphitheater seats 200.
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Most of the “wood” you see in the exhibit
is in fact concrete painted to look like weathered wood.
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Seal and sea lion training demonstrations
will be held daily at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
Photos by Robert
Kemnitz, courtesy of the Louisville Zoo
***
The
Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is
dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by
providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors,
and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The
Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Follow us on
Facebook and
Twitter.
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