My fiance' and I recently went to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. It had been a while since I have been there, and wow, what a change for the worse.
When I was a kid, I can remember the zoo being full of animals, and people.
There were a few things that caught our attention, and caused concern.
1. The animals, particularly in the petting zoo, looked malnourished. Several
goats, and one cow had their spine, and hip bones protruding out, as well as bloated bellies. I know that stomach bloating (when everything else is skin and bones), is a sign of malnutrition. These animals appear to not be getting enough to eat.
2. Some of the animal enclosures (cages if you will) are simply too small. For example the Oscolot was pacing back and forth in its approx. 8ft. by 12 ft. enclosure. This is a cat, that needs room to run and play.
I understand that in Jan. of 2006 measure "Z" was approved, a Zoo tax that is supposed to benefit the zoo. Will this money really benefit the animals, or sustain them? See, http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/board/pdf/quarterly-1st-06.pdf
Nearly a year later, and we felt the way we did leaves one to wonder.
The entrance fees are simply not big enough.
People complain, and state that this is not the Sandiego Zoo, but it's the closest thing we have to it, so why not support it and help these animals out?
I asked the girl at the entrance booth why the prices are so low? Her answer was, we get too many complaints from people that the prices are too high. Good grief! People will pay more than their entrance fees to take their family to eat fast food for goodness sakes. Cheap skates.
There is a rule in business, , that you get what you pay for, ,
you also attract people in certain income levels based on what you charge. So in other words, charge cheap prices, get people that are not willing to pay more. In my opinion poor management is probably to blame here.
Currently the fees are as follows:
| Adults (Ages 12 through 61 yrs.) | $7.00 |
| Seniors (Ages 62+) | $3.50 |
| Children (Ages 2 through 11 yrs.) | $3.50 |
| Toddlers (Under 2 yrs.) | Free |
| Zoo Members | Free |
| Strollers and Wheelchairs | $4.00 |
| Red Wagons | $6.50 |
| Safari Wagons | $7.50 |
| Electric Scooters | $20.00 |
What do you think of these prices?
A happy meal costs more or equivalent to the entrance fee they are charging for a child entrance. Come on!
I spend more than $7.00 at the drive through than I would getting entrance to the zoo.
Here's what I think the fees should be if I were the Zoo god.
| Adults (Ages 12 through 61 yrs.) | $12.00 |
| Seniors (Ages 62+) | $6.50 |
| Children (Ages 2 through 11 yrs.) | $6.50 |
| Toddlers (Under 2 yrs.) | Free |
| Zoo Members | Free |
| Strollers and Wheelchairs | $5.00 |
| Red Wagons | $6.50 |
| Safari Wagons | $7.50 |
| Electric Scooters | $20.00 |
What they're charging now, is simply not enough to make the animals both happy, and healthy. The animals right now, are simply circus freaks, that cheapskate people don't care enough about to pay a little more to see.
Mark
