Franklin Park Zoo may have to Close and Euthanize some Animals

by Amy Judd | July 11, 2009 at 09:22 am

1035 views | 55 Recommendations | 26 comments

Franklin Park Zoo in Boston may be forced to close and euthanize some of the animals as a result of budget cuts imposed on them by Governor Deval Patrick. With a lack of state funding, the zoo will run out of money by October and will be forced to closed Franklin Park Zoo and the smaller Stone Zoo.

The zoo would also have to lay off most of their 165 employees will have to find new homes for their 1,000 animals.

The zoo officials, in a written statement that echoed a letter sent earlier to legislative leaders, said they would be unlikely to find homes for at least 20 percent of the animals, “requiring either destroying them or the care of the animals in perpetuity.’’

Both zoos are run by Zoo New England, attract about 570,000 visitors and are funded by taxpayers and visitors. Zoo officials estimate it would take about $9 million to save shutting down the zoos, and although the Legislature provided $6.5 million to the zoos, the funding has now been cut to $2.5 million.

Every cut not only affects peoples' lives, but in this case, the animals as well.

Franklin Park Zoo was founded in 1913 and has faced closures in the past due to lack of funding.

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Amy Judd

at 16:09 on July 11th, 2009

It is, and the animals will suffer.

cyn.khoo

at 18:27 on July 11th, 2009

I completely agree. That they're even considering such an idea is practically the epitome of human selfishness/self-involvedness/self-centredness, disregard for the natural world, shocking objectification/desensitization, and most of all, throwaway-tissue consumerist culture (as in everything, no matter what, may be disposed of as easily as a used tissue just because it's not convenient or entertaining to us anymore).

Samir Joshi

at 11:01 on July 11th, 2009

This is very sad! There should be a drive to raise funds and save the animals as well as the peoples job. Is someone listening?

Amy Judd

at 16:09 on July 11th, 2009

I don't think so, but we can hope.

BenSpark

at 15:50 on July 11th, 2009

My family has only recently discovered the Franklin Park Zoo, some of my photos have been submitted to this article. I heard the news today and felt terrible. It is very sad to see a zoo, nearly 100 years collapse and fail like this.

Amy Judd

at 16:08 on July 11th, 2009

I agree, very sad indeed.

Lianne Devino (not verified)

at 16:16 on July 11th, 2009

First it's a zoo, what next an orphanage? And will we be murdering the children we can't find homes for? So many animals depend on this place to survive and now it's all going to be stolen away. If it can be done to a zoo and innocent animals just imagine what will happen to the rest of us when the gov. gets really needy.

Jon Howard (not verified)

at 16:20 on July 11th, 2009

If it's not possible to save the zoos themselves, I hope there can be enough public interest in this to ensure that every animal under these zoos' care is saved and placed in either another zoo or in a rescue park like Shambala, the one Tippi Hedren runs in Acadia, CA. This is really tough to read about. Boston's a great town and seems like it should have a beautiful zoo where kids can see and develop knowledge and appreciation of rare animals.

A. Tran

at 17:42 on July 11th, 2009

Thanks so much for covering this story. Some friends have been working hard to raise private funds to help save or find new homes the animals.

TEP (not verified)

at 18:11 on July 11th, 2009

I contacted PETA via email when I heard this story on the news! I was hoping that they could get involved! It is terrible to think that any option for the animals is death! What a terrible situation and the people involved better do all they can to make sure that it doesnt happen! I am willing to help any way I can! I hope they publish the amount they need to either keep the zoo open or the funds they need to transfer the animals to other locations!

Amy Judd

at 12:18 on July 12th, 2009

Good for you for contacting PETA, please do let us know if you hear anything.

Concerned Citizen (not verified)

at 18:21 on July 11th, 2009

I, as a employee of Zoo New England beg you all here to contact Governor Deval Patrick and implore him to revoke his decision reguarding the zoos. These incredible places have done amazing work in animal conservation publically and behind the scenes. It would be a crime against decentcy to allow this to happen.

The Governor's Contact information can be found here: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us

Amy Judd

at 12:19 on July 12th, 2009

Thank you for the link - I am contacting him now.

Anonymous ex-employee (not verified)

at 02:44 on July 12th, 2009

I would just like to add as someone who worked (quite recently) at ZNE for a number of years would like people to be able to get facts straight before they go and believe every story online. I do not know the details, but although the zoo, like all businesses, are struggling in these hard economic times, I doubt that they will definitely be closing.

There are wonderful plans being made at this very time, and the zoo is constantly improving itself. Also, the staff are extremely caring about the animals and non of them would just sit back and think it okay for animals to be euthanised. The animals are a part of our lives and we care about them so much. Whatever people think about zoos, the staff really DO care and don't see animals as commodities in any shape or form.

Maybe this kind of publicity, although perhaps misdirected, may be good to show how zoos, that are an integral part of conservation and education, are often ignored in such things as stimulus plans, as they are catagorized as entertainment, which is as far from the truth as you can get. The zoo needs your support!!!

Anon ex-employee (not verified)

at 02:56 on July 12th, 2009

This article was the first that I had read of it and after doing more research, it does seem that the story has been verified, so I apologize for assuming that this was a rumor site.

This is therefore an opportunity for people to get out there and fight for the good of the zoos by contacting the governor. This is only a maybe and believe me, the zoos have fought before and survived.

Also, the animals will be taken care of as much as possible. Everyone at ZNE is a family and that includes the ones that rely on the humans to take care of them.

Amy Judd

at 12:21 on July 12th, 2009

Thank you for your apology, and I do hope the zoo does survive.

Amanda Byrnes (not verified)

at 08:50 on July 12th, 2009

I AM A KID WHO IS TRYING TO HELP THE ANIMALS. I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE KILLED JUST BECAUSE OF THE MONEY! ME AND MY FRIENDS DID A LEMONADE STAND BUT ONLY GOT $12, BUT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE POOR ANIMALS!!!! WE WROTE LETTERS, EMAILS, AND STARTED A PETITION (ONE ONLINE AND A REAL ONE) THAT WE ARE SENDING TO DEVAL PATRICK!!!

Amy Judd

at 12:23 on July 12th, 2009

Good for you guys - feel free to share the link to your petition.

A. Tran

at 09:13 on July 12th, 2009

This is an update on Sunday:

New details Sunday afternoon on the fate of the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and its animals.

The zoo's owner is speaking out.

Zoo New England says, it would not be the one to euthanize the animals.

The organization has released a statement, clarifying its role.

The group says if the zoos were to close, it would take two to three years to place the animals in other facilities and about 20% would likely have nowhere to go.

Zoo officials says if that's the case, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, not Zoo New England, would be faced with the prospect of choosing between two options: caring for these animals for many years to come or euthanize them.

The Governor's veto cuts the zoos budget from $6.5 to $2.5 million.

Zoo New England is urging lawmakers to override the cuts.

Amy Judd

at 12:26 on July 12th, 2009

Thank you for this important update helping to clarify what could happen to the animals if the zoo closes. I wonder what the 20% that may not be able to be housed somewhere else would be - if they are more exotic animals or the most common ones?

cyn.khoo

at 01:10 on July 13th, 2009

I think they kind of missed the point. The fact that it's someone else doing it doesn't make it better at all. The issue here is that the animals will be killed, not who will actually be the one to kill them!

A. Tran

at 16:07 on July 12th, 2009

CNN has covered this story, which hopefully will garner some assistance toward giving the animals new homes, if not enough funding support.

Hopefully, the lawmakers will override Governor Deval's unfortunate decision.

dennisgg

at 05:23 on July 13th, 2009

I have been a member of Zoo New England (Franklin and Stone) for several years and would be deeply saddened and angered if it closes. Why don't businesses also pony up some support for these zoos? If this closes and other parks, etc. what does that leave for our children (I am a father of 3)? I understand budget issues, what happened to corporate America - they used to be generous sponsors of parks, etc. Has corporate America just become too greedy and uncaring? What about the rich - what happened to their charity giving? I can remember growing up - my father worked for IBM and we had corporate summer picnics and they fostered family life and cared about things other than just the bottom line and stock price.

158

at 06:58 on July 13th, 2009

The main thing s to try to find a new place for all the animals.

Amy Judd

at 17:32 on July 13th, 2009

For some more photos, click here.

doreen rosanen (not verified)

at 20:53 on September 2nd, 2009

There is plenty money floating around, maybe state of washington can help. How dare you even think of killing any of those beautiful animals. Look at all the cars sitting around for people to buy to make more pollution - too many clothes, make-up, t.v.'s , too many people who want too much. Don't you dare kill those innocent animals. There's a lot of money being wasted in your state, and other states. Money is always used in the wrong places when needed. If you kill those animals you are murderers in the first degree.