Zoo Scales Back Arctic Exhibit, Budget cuts mean no room for belugas

2007-06-30

Kim Guttormson, Calgary Herald

There will be no beluga whales at the Calgary Zoo in the foreseeable future, after the mammals were removed from expansion plans as a cost-cutting measure.

In an effort to bring its projects in closer to the original $120-million price tag, the zoo has put plans to build a beluga exhibit, restaurant and banquet facilities on hold indefinitely.

"We said we would not bring beluga whales if we couldn't do it to world-class standards," said Grahame Newton, the zoo's director of education and corporate services. "And with the budget the way it currently sits, we just couldn't do that. It's just not an affordable proposition for us now."

The zoo still plans to proceed with other parts of the Arctic Shores exhibit, which will include polar bears, with construction slated to begin in 2009. However, Newton said that project -- now expected to cost $50 million -- and the

$28-million penguin and sea otter exhibit depend on whether the federal government comes through with a grant.

"That phase is very dependent on our ability to secure federal funding," Newton said of the zoo's $35-million request. "That's a critical issue for us right now as well, to be able to confirm the federal government is prepared to support the second phase of the project."

Animal activists, vehemently opposed to the zoo's planned addition of polar bears and belugas, applauded the move to drop the whales. And animal rights group Zoocheck took some of the credit for the zoo not having all the money it needs.

"It's very good news," said Julie Woodyer, Zoocheck's campaigns director. "When you take a fight public, funders start hearing, too. Whether it's their conscience or worry about their reputation, they look at what they're investing in.

"I suspect private funders in particular changed their minds because animal welfare is a concern."

Newton disputed that, saying private donors want to know the federal government is on board "before they commit fully to it. When that happens, we'll start to see the private sector come forward."

Ald. Joe Ceci said given the size of aquarium required for belugas, the zoo is being fiscally prudent in making this decision.

He called it a happy coincidence that living within their means doesn't include a beluga tank.

A report going to the community and protective services committee on Wednesday outlines a $7-million private donation to a separate conservatory project and says another $1 million has been donated in general.

The $7-million Enmax donation pushed the conservatory -- which will feature a waterfall, colourful flower collections and thousands of butterflies -- ahead of Arctic Shores on the construction schedule.

"We're certainly not panicking by any stretch of the imagination," Newton said. "We think there is strong support for the concept and it's just a matter of time before we start to see some of the private donors step forward as well."

The zoo initially planned to do its entire expansion for $120 million, but with the city's heated construction market, the cost ballooned to more than $200 million.

Removing the beluga tank and the two other components drops the budget to $133 million.

"The cost was prohibitive. I think it's just being realistic at this point in time, with the cost escalations across the board," Ald. Druh Farrell, adding her initial concerns about belugas being captured in the wild had been allayed by zoo officials.

The zoo has received a commitment for $30 million from the city and $35 from the province, with a portion of the provincial money having paid for the $11 million elephant enclosure that officially opened last week.

They are trying to raise the rest of the $133 million through the federal government and private donations.

The zoo hopes to have the conservatory and gift shop finished by mid-2009.