Phoenix Zoo reopens after storm, but 2 attractions still closed
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The Phoenix Zoo reopened Saturday after being closed due a monsoon storm that swept across the park Thursday afternoon, uprooting trees and spreading debris all over.
No animals were harmed in the storm.
Staff members spent Friday — and into the night — cleaning and repairing the zoo. By Saturday, most everything was restored to normal.
However, two attractions will remain closed for the next few weeks: the interactive stingray exhibit and the Enchanted Forest.
The tarp that provides shade for the stingrays did not survive the high winds and ripped in several places.
The stingrays were not affected, and there is still shade over a majority of their pool.
Mari Belko, the stingray keeper, said the exhibit has 30 stingrays, including five babies ranging from 5 days to 2 months old.
Belko said a new tarp has already been ordered.
In a few weeks, the public will be able to touch and feed these aquatic creatures again, Belko said.
Also closed is the Enchanted Forest, an area shaded by eucalyptus and palm trees where parents can watch their children explore the “Gnome House” and play in the stream.
One of the eucalyptus trees uprooted during the storm and crashed onto the Gnome House and the sidewalk where visitors pass by.
“As far as destruction, this is probably the biggest,” said Deniece Platt, park ranger at the Phoenix Zoo.
She said a tree company will have to come in over the next few weeks to take care of the roots and branches.
She also said it is unclear whether the Gnome House was damaged, saying they will not be able to tell until the tree is removed.
“Storms like this, and fire, are always our biggest concerns,” Platt said.
Some park rangers were at the zoo when the storm hit and were able to make emergency calls as well as assure the animals were safe, Platt said.
The damage didn’t stop a few hundred people from visiting Saturday.
Michelle and Aaron Benson had planned to visit the zoo Friday but rescheduled after they received the email about the closure. They said it wasn’t a big deal.
Others agreed.
“I had heard it was closed yesterday,” said Amanda Helton, another park visitor. “So I looked it up online and then decided to come today.”
Aside from the piles of tree branches and debris located at the back of the park, everything is back to normal, and visitors are welcome.
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Kerri Baumann talks about the zoo closing for clean-up after a large monsoon hit and damaged many trees and some awnings the night before. Patrick Breen/The Republic
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Images from the storm on July 14, 2017. Wochit
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