(Syracuse, NY – Jan. 14, 2013) In a year of unprecedented births, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo also broke several attendance records in 2012. Total visitation to the facility was 372,139—the highest total attendance at the zoo in more than 15 years, and an 8.3 percent increase over 2011.
The zoo experienced attendance highs in February, March, May and August with monthly attendance totals not seen in more than a decade.
| 2012 attendance | Increase over 2011* | |
| February | 19,253 | 60% |
| March | 30,804 | 114.7% |
| May | 52,151 | 15.8% |
| August | 57,591 | 4.8% |
| TOTAL | 372,139 | 8.3% |
*Numbers are rounded to the nearest tenth
Zoo Director, Ted Fox, attributes the spike in attendance to the opening of new exhibits, a variety of zoo babies and recent improvements, such as Primate Park and Asian Elephant Preserve.
“Guests are coming from all over to visit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo,” said Fox. “We experienced a ‘baby boom’ in 2012. The community loves seeing new animals, and with the hatchings and births of everything from penguins and turtles to fennec foxes and snow leopards, there was something new to see nearly every month of the year.”
“More and more people are realizing how wonderful the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is and they are visiting in record numbers,” said Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. “Newer attractions like Primate Park and Asian Elephant Preserve, combined with the incredible programs put on by the zoo, are really drawing attention and we have much more in store for the future.”
The 2013 season begins with half-price zoo admission in January and February and the annual Winter at the Zoo Photo Contest. And the changes that have been bringing people to the zoo will continue in the coming year.
The zoo is currently undergoing improvements to the main entrance and parking lot, which will be followed by modifications to the main pond and picnic area in the interior portion of the zoo.
The community is eagerly anticipating the opening of the giant Pacific octopus exhibit, slated for early in the year. Funded by Friends of the Zoo, the new exhibit will be located in the upper lobby, near the Jungle Café and will feature sea stars, anemones and rock fish, in addition to the octopus.
Significant Births, Hatchings & New Arrivals at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in 2012
| January | 2 Banggai cardinal fish hatched5 Humboldt penguin chicks hatched
Patas monkey, Ty, born Bald eagle, Ben, acquired |
| February | Humboldt penguin chick hatchedPanther grouper, Spot, acquired |
| March | 17 fish (11 species) acquired |
| April | 2 fennec fox kits, Todd & Vixey, born27 yellow-spotted Amazon River turtles hatch
Harris hawk, Aniken, acquired |
| May | 2 kookaburra chicks hatch5 green & black poison dart frogs hatch |
| June | 2 snow leopard cubs, Bajen & Ramil, born 2 rabbits acquired3 guinea pigs acquired Meerkat, Chamberlain, acquired |
| July | Markhor, Marisa, born2 troupial chicks hatch
2 Flemish giant rabbits acquired |
| August | 2 fennec fox kits, Peapod & Pumpkin, born2 alpacas, Finnien & Avernus, acquired
3 grey wolves, Romulus, Remus & Sylvia, acquired 2 chuckwallas hatch |
| September | 8 seahorses acquired Dragonface pipefish acquired |
| October | 3 ringed teal hatch |
| November | Patas monkey, Zarina, bornAsian elephant, Doc, acquired
Sand cat, Alina, acquired |
| December | 5 Banggai cardinal fish hatchedMarkhor, Thor, acquired |