Cincinnati Zoo Receives $5 Million

A Zoo in America has just received its largest ever donation to help it build an eight acre exhibit. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden was bequeathed $5 million by Marge Schott who had been a generous benefactor while she was alive. Schott passed away some seven years ago but she still remains the zoo’s top donator.

Cincinnati zoo director Thane Maynard said: “This $5 million gift from the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation is the biggest single gift the zoo's ever gotten.” The donation will be used to help build an 8-acre Africa exhibit which will include a cheetah section and a giraffe enclosure which are now complete. However there are also plans to include lions, antelope and zebra in the Africa exhibit.

The donation is only a fraction of the money needed for the project which will cost an estimated £26 million. So far just over half of the money has been raised. It is hoped that the third phase of the project will be completed in 2013.

Schott died in 2004 aged 75, but the news of the donation has only just been released. She was the owner of the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team. Bobbie Unnewehr, who is Schott's younger sister and also a foundation board member, said: "I'm just so proud that the foundation has tried to carry on Marge's legacy with the zoo.”

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is also in need of donations as it is building its Elephant Eden project. Elephant Eden will be the largest elephant enclosure in Europe to rehome troubled elephants which are already in captivity. The project, which aims to create an elephant hotel and spa with various feeding stations and wallowing holes, will cost millions to build and Noah’s Ark is hoping to raise much needed funds in the new year. Improve your marketing with the best web directories This site is listed under Arts and Entertainment Directory and Content Rich.