New exhibit, new faces: Big summer ahead at the Abilene Zoo

After months of renovation and construction, Zoo Director Jesse Pottebaum said both the Caribbean Cove and parking lot projects are near completion.

“We’re not only renovating Caribbean Cove, but we’re renovating our parking lot. We’re getting a whole new surface area of asphalt, as well as expanding the parking lot to actually double, actually almost triple in size. That should be complete by the end of July,” Pottebaum explained.

As they prepare to complete those and move on to the $15 million bond improvement project, Pottebuam said the improvement will double the size of the zoo and be ready for visitors to enjoy within a year and a half of the construction start.

“Once we break ground on that project, it’s going to take about a year and a half to complete. So we’re looking at opening the expansion about eight acres to the north of the zoo in the summer of 2027,” Pottebuam said.

A part of that project is a new lion habitat. Pottebuam said the current lions moved to a different zoo temporarily until their new home is ready.

“Unfortunately, our lions had to leave our zoo. They were recommended to go to another zoo for breeding purposes. One of those animals out of that group will actually be coming back to us with a pride to the whole new expansion for lion habitat that will actually double the number of lions that we have here at the zoo,” Pottebaum said.

In the meantime, Pottebaum said residents can look forward to a new friend to take the lion’s place…

“Replacement lions, we’re going to bring in a temporary species that represents this majestic animal that needs to be saved from extinction. And they’re on that brink. We’re expecting that new species in the next two weeks,” Pottebaum said.

The Caribbean Cove exhibit will have a grand opening in mid-August.