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Fort Worth Zoo Announces $18 Million Creation
Zoo solidifies efforts to
save amphibians and reptiles with 30,000-square-foot,
state-of-the-art complex
FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 24
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fort Worth Zoo's Executive
Director and Fort Worth Mayor unveiled plans today to
construct an $18 million, 30,000 square-foot herpetological
facility, which will house 165 amphibian and reptile species,
representing about 900 animals.
In response to the recent
global amphibian crisis (32% of the world's amphibians are
facing extinction in the next five to 10 years), the Fort
Worth Zoo prioritized housing, research and breeding
amphibians in a building specifically designed to meet the
animals' needs. The new facility, dubbed Museum of Living Art
(MOLA), will include spacious, humidity-controlled exhibits
and state-of-the-art conservation tools, such as quarantine
rooms and hibernaculums that facilitate the breeding of rare,
endangered and critically endangered animals.
Open encounter areas
encourage discussion and education and allow guests to come
face-to-face with exotic reptiles such the Fiji Island iguana,
or the Puerto Rican crested toad. Complete with an Outdoor
Classroom and correlating activities such as backpack tours
and keeper chats, MOLA will also share messages of
environmental stewardship with guests, students and teachers
throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Scheduled to open spring
2009, the Zoo's new Herpetarium will represent the only one of
its kind in the world --- impressive not only for the diverse
and rare animal collection it houses, but also for its rare
architecture and building design.
"The building's design
incorporates the latest concepts in efficient energy use and
use of sustainable materials," said Gary Lee, senior principal
of CLR Design, Inc. "MOLA encourages visitors to explore art
from the living world, and is literally the next generation of
zoo architecture and habitat design."
MOLA
design plans also include an iconic and architecturally
significant snakeskin sky covering throughout the building's
interior. The sky covering was conceptualized by architectural
firm Lake:Flato of San Antonio, TX.
The design of this building
will help introduce a concept we term eco-realism --- "green"
with a twist. Eco-realism embraces the idea that with wise use
and sustainable practices man can make practical, real-life
choices while minimizing the effects on the environment. This
concept will become reality as water, our most important
resource, plays a leading role in MOLA. Rain collection
systems and cisterns will be on display as prime examples of
practical and self-sustaining practices.
MOLA
will replace the Zoo's current Herpetarium built in 1960.
Although the world renowned facility has witnessed many
first-time breedings in the last 46 years, time has taken its
toll, and major sections of the 9,000-square-foot building are
in complete disrepair (collapsed plumbing, sub-par holding
facilities, no quarantine areas, outdated electrical support),
creating conditions that challenge future breeding and
conservation efforts, not to mention guest enjoyment and
comfort.
Source: Fort Worth Zoo
CONTACT: Lindsay Nantz
Hoover, PR Director, +1-817-759-7362,
lnantz@fortworthzoo.org, or Remecka Owens, Communications
Manager,
+1-817-759-7360, both of the Fort Worth Zoo
Web Site:
http://www.fortworthzoo.org/
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