SPRINGFIELD – The earmark in the fiscal year 2021 state budget for the Zoo in Forest Park is designed to help sustain the zoo’s operations as it comes out of the pandemic.

The two sponsors of the earmark, state Sen. Eric Lesser and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez appeared at a press event on May 3 to announce the $125,000 allocation.

Lesser explained the goal of the funding would help insure the zoo would be here after the pandemic.

“It was the right thing to do,” he said.

The zoo’s Executive Director Sarah Tsitso explained that many zoos around the nation were forced to close permanently because of the economic issues caused by the pandemic.

Although the zoo was closed to visitors, she explained the work of the zoo had to continue.

During the course of the pandemic, she added, the zoo acquired 45 new animals from zoos that had been forced to close.

Tsitso explained the zoo’s purpose is education, rehabilitation and conservation.

Gonzalez said, “This is not just a zoo, it’s a sanctuary.”

The chair of the zoo’s board, Nathan Bazinet, not only thanked the legislators, but praised “this incredible and amazing staff” for their efforts to keep the zoo functioning while closed to the public.

In a tour around the zoo, Tsitso pointed out several new or enlarged environments for the animals as well as some of the zoo’s new additions.

Two fennic foxes were among the additions alone with another African created porcupine.

In the enclosure with the zoo’s bobcat is a new young bobcat who a rehabilitator evaluated could no longer live in the wild.

There are now two timber  wolves at the zoo, who came from another zoo.    

Tsitso said the zoo is open seven days a week – depending upon weather – with capacity limits still in place. For additional information go to www.forestparkzoo.org.