SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) — The director of the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park is calling it a career after 30 years with Brown County.
Neil Anderson started at the NEW Zoo in 1992.
“It started as kind of a roadside municipal zoo, and now we’re a major regional attraction,” Anderson said Wednesday. “An accredited zoo, one of 214 accredited zoos and aquariums nationwide.”
The zoo has been accredited for 25 years. Anderson says the community has taken ownership of the zoo.
“I am blessed that we have such a wonderful community,” said Anderson. “And I believe zoos are a reflection of their community.”
Anderson says he’s particularly proud of the improvements they’ve made to a number of animal exhibits, such as expanding the lion exhibit to 30 times its original size.
“I remember, the Lion stepped out of the cage, stepped onto the grass for what may have been the first time in its life, looked up, didn’t see any bars, and just roared for 15 minutes,” recalled Anderson.
He officially retires next month.
Comments