After 94 years of calling Land Park home, the Sacramento Zoo recently announced its potential move to the city of Elk Grove.
The zoo would be getting a major upgrade, going from 14 acres to 60 acres of undeveloped land. Originally, the zoo was looking to relocate to North Natomas Regional Park but had to search for other options after the City of Sacramento denied it.
The main purpose of this move is to further conservation efforts according to Jason Jacobs, the zoo’s director and CEO since January 2018.
“In my opinion, conservation has three different branches,” he said. “The first is education and exposure; the second is fundraising to support wildlife conservation in the field; and the third is building the capacity in zoos to house rare and endangered species.”
He also said that a part of wildlife conservation is housing animals that face threats if they go back to the wild. The Sacramento Zoo’s conservation efforts were impacted during the shutdowns of 2020, but through 2021 the zoo has progressed and even announced some new species, like the Capybara rodent and two new cheetahs.
With animals such as hippos, grizzly bears and gorillas having had to be relocated from the zoo because of lack of space, and with no plans to return, the zoo is taking action to expand the animals it can accommodate. The zoo partners with conservationists in the field in order to prepare to potentially house rare species that the zoo specializes in.
“We also have staff that work on local conservation projects like garter snakes and western pond turtles,” said Jacobs.
The next six months will bring more answers as the City of Elk Grove and the zoo have just entered their exclusive negotiating agreement to explore the feasibility of this relocation.
“Elk Grove is well positioned to provide space and support for a new zoo that will be a major attraction for visitors throughout the Sacramento region and northern California,” said Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen in a news release.
Jacobs put an emphasis on the conservation efforts that will go into this new location.
“People think it’s all about money, but that’s not the case,” he said. “With a new facility we will be able to do more for the animals. We can raise more funds, build capacity with an enlarged footprint and educate the visitors on conservation because that’s what makes an impact.”