SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is recipient of the Thomas R. Baines award at the 2023 Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) Annual Awards of Excellence.
The Thomas R. Baines award recognizes excellence in habitat design and development as well as the ability to apply unique approaches to animal care and welfare.
The Small Mammal House opened on June 10, 2023, following extensive renovations to the exterior and interior of the former Children’s Zoo. The interior features an open space educational area where participants can see, hear and smell the animals providing a fully immersive learning experience. There are also three new habitats on the second floor and enhanced spaces for zookeepers to continue critical conservation work and provide the highest quality care for the animals that call the zoo home.
“It has been so rewarding to have this new space for our animals and to receive this award recognizing this fantastic addition to the Zoo is amazing,” says Jeff Mitchell, zoo manager. “A big thank you to our zookeepers and our partner organizations including the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, that came together to make this transformation a reality.”
The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation raises funds for capital improvements for the Zoo including $250,000 dedicated to the Small Mammal House. The Zoo would like to thank all the organizations that contributed to the Small Mammal House including:
- Saskatoon Zoo Foundation
- CandorBuild Construction Corporation
- Krawchuk Construction
- WD Plastics
- Metalshapes Manufacturing
- Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture
- 4Twenty Designs
- Rockscapes of Canada
- Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is by donation until March 31. Check out the award-winning Small Mammal House on your next visit to the Zoo.
For more information on the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo visit saskatoon.ca/zoo.
For more information on CAZA visit caza.ca.
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