COAL VALLEY, Ill. — Niabi Zoo is re-opening its doors to the Quad Cities on April 30 after record-breaking snowstorms damaged numerous exhibits.
Early January snowstorms dumped about 25 inches of wet, heavy snow onto the Quad Cities in just a few days. All of that snow piled up on top of the animal enclosures at Niabi, adding an estimated nine tons of extra weight to the roofs of several exhibits. No animals were outside in their enclosures when the collapses happened. The animals were safe, inside buildings to ride out the winter storm, according to the zoo.
The snow collapsed the wire meshing and steel roofs above all four big cat exhibits. When the tops fell down, it also pulled the barrier polls along the outside of the enclosures up and out, bending and cutting the steel into twisted heaps on the ground. All of the falling metal created structural problems for the big cat building. When the mesh was pulled down and compressed by the snow, the interior walls and concrete blocks of the building itself started to separate, creating even more dangerous conditions for the animals and staff.
Nearby, the netting on bird exhibits such as the bald eagles was stretched out from the weight of the snow. The roof of the pallas cat enclosure bent in on itself. The lorikeet hut completely collapsed. Damage was also sustained to the guinea pig areas and great horned owl enclosures.
Gutters were ripped off of buildings while melting and refreezing snow damaged the masonry and concrete of several animal exhibits including the giraffe and red wolves.
The zoo told News 8 it was planning to open April 15 but anticipated delays from the damage.
To help fund the repairs, the zoo has opened a snowstorm recovery fund for the public to send in donations. According to the zoo's website, the funds are 100% guaranteed to go directly to supporting their recovery from the record snow.
You can donate to support the recovery here. Tickets are also available for the 2024 season and can be found online.
Here are some of the events happening this year:
April
- April 30: Opening Day!
May
- May 4: Earth Day Everyday Celebration
- May 12: Mother's Day Brunch (Mothers get free admission with paid child admission)
- May 18: Endangered Species Day
June
- June 17: Father's Day (Fathers get free admission with paid child admission)
- June 22: World Giraffe Day (Breakfast with the giraffe)
July
- July 13: Reptile Day (Breakfast with the reptiles)
- July 25: Members Only Night
August
- Aug. 3: Pollinator Day
- Aug. 24: African Painted Dog Day (Breakfast with the Painted Dogs)
September
- Sept. 1: Primate Day
- Sept. 7 & 8: Animal Enrichment Art Show (Weather permitting)
- Sept. 8: Heroes Day (Free admission for police officers, firefighters, EMTs, military)
- Sept. 14 & 15: Animal Enrichment Art Show (Weather permitting)
- Sept. 20: Pints for Preservation
- Sept. 21 & 22: Animal Enrichment Art Show (Weather permitting)
October
- Oct. 5: World Animal Day
- Oct. 19: Snow Leopard Day
- Oct. 26 & 27: Boo at the Zoo
- Oct. 27: Last day of 2024 season
December
- Dec. 14: Breakfast with Santa Paws
- Dec. 15: Brunch with Santa Paws
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