A popular Chippewa Falls attraction will get much needed renovations thanks to over $16,000 in funding approved by the City Council.

The approved funding will go towards the replacement of the panels and gates on the containment pens of the vacant tiger exhibit at the Irvine Park Zoo. The exhibit has been vacant since Lulu, the zoo’s white tiger, passed away nearly a year ago.

John Jimenez is the Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry for the City of Chippewa Falls. He says the renovation work is critical to ensuring the safety of the animals in their care.

“It’s critical for our animals to have the added renovations there so that we can ensure their safety with rust building on the key team doors that allow them to transfer in from on section to another,” he said. “On top of just the rust that has accumulated on the actual fencing that’s in there, if the animal were to, you know, lean up against it or you know put their paws up on it, it could lead to potentially hurting the animal. So we want to make sure that that is fixed right away.”

Irvine Park Zoo officials are planning to add a lynx species to the vacant exhibit over the coming months, and are hoping to use the renovation to naturalize the space. According to Jimenez, the zoo’s bear and hyena have also lived beyond their expected years so they’re planning additional improvements for those exhibits in the future.

“The long term goal and vision for all three of those exhibits is to continue to naturalize them as best as possible,” he said. “Right now there’s a lot of concrete, cement in those exhibits. Our goal is to try to put some different type of material there for them to walk on. Whether it’s pea gravel, dirt, sand, different types of elements there to create a more natural setting for the animals.”

In addition to the renovation funding approved by the Chippewa Falls City Council, Jimenez also says the zoo can always use community donations for other restoration and improvement projects.

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