This Zoo's For You

Growing up in Grand Rapids, my family made occasional visits to the John Ball Zoo. We saw the peacocks fan their feathers, waved at the polar bears, and watched the monkeys scratch themselves. Small black and white plaques gave the name of each species and its native land. On the way back to the car my siblings and I insisted on the obligatory climb onto John Ball’s bronze shoulders.

As a teen there were a few trips to the upper part of the property to carve our initials into a tree. And as a young mom I took my two daughters to the Zoo for outings.

But, I have to admit, I hadn’t been there in years. So it was quite a revelation when I received a recent tour from Director Bert Vescolani.

Three years on the job, Vescolani is the vision and the energy behind the many good things going on at the John Ball Zoo. The June 14th opening of the Lions of Lake Manyara exhibit is just one fine example. Building from a theme of the “Grand Rivers of the World,” the $4 million lion exhibit replicates the lush forest landscape of Lake Manyara in Tanzania.

Three young lions – one male and two females – are gradually adapting to life in their new habitat. A large, grassy area with water, rocks, trees and plenty of elevation makes for a comfortable home. Hydronics, a man-made heating and cooling system, keep a 30-foot artificial tree and rocks at comfortable temperatures. Two bomas, traditional thatched African meeting places, give zoo goers shaded spots to watch the lions and also house museum quality artifacts of the African region.

Lending even better vantage points for lion-watching is a three-story viewing tower. There is colorful and instructive signage, native music and cultural sounds of the village playing, lots of educational information to read, interactive components and a live TV screen for people who can’t climb up to the observation decks. This is definitely not your parents’ zoo.

“Historically speaking, people were happy to see one of each kind of animal in a cage,” Vescolani says. “Then came Marlin Perkins and his television show Wild Kingdom. It was the first glimpse many people had of animals from around the world in their native habitats. That evolved over the years into today’s philosophy of immersive habitats that are open, accessible, safe and aesthetically pleasing.”

Vescolani assembled a team of 10-15 staffers to develop a comprehensive plan for the future of the Zoo.

“River systems are in trouble throughout the world,” Vescolani says, “and both animals and people depend on water for life. We thought carrying this theme out would be a great way to highlight the fact that we need to care for our waters while showing some of the animals that quite naturally live by the water’s edge. Running water and elevation create a sense of place and make the Zoo more exciting.”

Attendance has grown under Vescolani’s leadership; one million visitors have enjoyed John Ball since he took over, making it the second most attended zoo in the state. Funding comes from both public sources and private donations.

“In Chicago (Vescolani was formerly with the Shedd Aquarium) we had many people giving medium-sized gifts," Vescolani says. "In Grand Rapids we have fewer people giving larger gifts. The philanthropy here is wonderful. The donors realize the importance of our goals and location in the city. They know we need to continue to be visionaries for the area.”

"Great cities always have great zoos," he continues. "I would argue that we’re the most culturally diverse attraction in Grand Rapids. We have folks walk through the gate who can barely afford the ticket prices and others who are potential major donors. There are things for families, dating couples, and people for whom English is their second or third language to enjoy. We are handicapped accessible and strive to make a better experience for those with various limitations. There is something for everyone here.”

Vescolani sees the Zoo as an anchor for the west side neighborhood.

“We are here for the community and the community supports us," he says. "We have many events here throughout the year. People talk about ‘dual bottom lines’ these days and that’s exactly what we do. There is the social bottom line of our mission to provide education and teach conservation. We also have to be mindful of the financial bottom line. That’s why we love projects that we can do inexpensively in-house.”

What else is new at the Zoo? Vescolani said not to miss the frog exhibit, which was totally planned, designed and built by John Ball staff. He is also proud of the improvement in staff vitality and their willingness to go the extra mile for the animals and the visitors. There are two different petting corrals, one with a pygmy goat for toddlers and another with farm animals for a little bit older youngsters. Visitors can touch sting rays in a lagoon and walk through a bird aviary featuring hundreds of colorful budgies.

And what are the coolest draws for tweens and teens? Without a doubt, the 300-foot, four-story Zip Line and the new Sky Trail Ropes Course with seven different climbing elements are very appealing.

“It’s not just a tag line,” Vescolani says. “We really do have something for everyone at the John Ball Zoo.”