Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

4 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

4 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

4 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
Dr. Vohra: Chaffee Zoo Should Open 'Sooner Rather than Later'
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
May 21, 2020

Share

It’s been anything but “Zootopia” for Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last visitor passed through the turnstiles in mid-March. The only thing on display now is a donation website for supporters to help ensure the zoo’s future.

“I feel pretty strongly that we should get our zoo opened up sooner rather than later.” – Dr. Rais Vohra, interim Fresno County Health officer

But a glimmer of hope has emerged from an unlikely place: The Fresno County Department of Public Health.

In as radiant of a fashion as can be done on a Zoom call, Dr. Rais Vohra exclaimed, “I did advocate for our zoo (to state officials). I feel pretty strongly that we should get our zoo opened up sooner rather than later.”

The zoo doesn’t fall into either Phase 2 or 2.5 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s roadmap to recovery. It appears to fall into Phase 3 when entertainment venues can reopen.

Phone Call With the State

The county’s interim health officer explained that the zoo was one of his top items during a Tuesday phone call with state Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sonia Angell.

“I just kind of planted that seed in her mind, and hopefully that will inspire either a statewide or at least a local permission to get the zoo opened up,” Vohra said. “The zoo has been doing fantastic work preparing to get get to a point where they can reopen safely.”

Vohra emphasized the talent and expertise of the zoo’s employees.

“Because they’re biologists, and because they understand germ theory, and because they really take care of all of their animals which are very fragile organisms. I fully trust they will do a fantastic job with keeping the rest of the community safe,” Vohra said.

Financial Pain

The zoo’s director, Scott Barton, speaking Tuesday on KMJ’s Broeske and Musson Show, said there are still animals to feed, and $340,000 of expenses a week.

“We do get about 30% of our operating budget from Measure Z (sales tax). But, that leaves 70% that we have to self generate through entrance, memberships, birthday parties, education programs, and giraffe feeding,” Barton said. “We were fortunate to get a PPP loan which helped us keep our entire staff in place.”

Barton said that the PPP loan will run out soon, and the zoo will face revenue challenges.

Measure Z

Over the past 10 years, Measure Z has generated $110 million. About $33 million supports zoo operations, and about $66 million is dedicated to capital improvement projects.

The first Measure Z expired in 2014 and was extended by Fresno County voters in 2014 for another 10 years.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

DON'T MISS

Hamas Government Office Rejects US Accusation of Involvement in Gaza Aid Site Attack

DON'T MISS

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 78, Trump Plans Visit

DON'T MISS

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

DON'T MISS

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

DON'T MISS

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

DON'T MISS

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

DON'T MISS

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

DON'T MISS

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

DON'T MISS

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

UP NEXT

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

UP NEXT

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

UP NEXT

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

UP NEXT

Fresno Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint on Fourth of July, Boost Holiday Patrols

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

UP NEXT

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

UP NEXT

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

UP NEXT

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

11 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

17 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

18 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

18 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

18 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

18 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

18 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

18 hours ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

2 days ago

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

2 days ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

TikTok is building a new version of its app for users in the United States ahead of a planned sale of the app to a group of investors, The I...

11 hours ago

A logo is displayed over a door at the U.S. headquarters of the social media company TikTok in Culver City, California, U.S. January 17, 2025. (Reuters File)
11 hours ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

Boxes of aid are stacked as Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it has commenced operations to begin distribution of aid, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
11 hours ago

Hamas Government Office Rejects US Accusation of Involvement in Gaza Aid Site Attack

A volunteer searches for flood victims after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 6, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
11 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 78, Trump Plans Visit

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk listens as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington, DC, U.S. on November 13, 2024. (Reuters File)
11 hours ago

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

A 22-year-old suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked CHP motorcycle and tow truck on Highway 99 near Fresno, narrowly missing an officer and bystanders, CHP said Saturday, July 5, 2025. (CHP)
17 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A service member of a drone unit of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces controls a heavy combat drone while it flies over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
18 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

An Israeli tank maneuvers in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 6, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
18 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned nearly 80,000 acres as of Sunday, July 6, 2025, morning, prompting widespread evacuation orders and warnings across three counties. (CalFire)
18 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend