Salisbury Zoo getting ready for habitat upgrades

SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury Zoo will be undergoing upgrades to several of its animal habitats over the coming weeks.

The upgrades include the installation of energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems to mirror species’ natural environment. Animal-safe epoxy coatings will also be applied to floors and walls within animal holding spaces.

“Some of the animal habitats that we are currently working on is our lynx exhibit, we’re doing a lot of upgrades in the back area for them,” said Chuck Eicholz, Director of the Salisbury Zoo. “The anaconda, her habitat is getting a whole new filtration system, again, not fun for the public but it’s going to be really cool cause we’re adding a new waterfall feature in there as well as upgrading the lighting.”

The inside of the flamingo animal holding building will also be getting a total redo.

“We’re sandblasting all the paint off of the wall and the pools and it’s getting a brand new coating in it, new lighting and upgrading the HVAC system,” said Eicholz.

These improvements are the next steps the zoo is taking in hopes of receiving accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), what Eicholz calls the gold standard in his field.

“You know if you walk into an AZA institution, those animals, the guests, everybody has the highest standard of care, guest interaction, it’s just the best thing,” he said.

The zoo will also begin construction of a new education facility, which will house the Zoo’s wildlife ambassador animals.

To ensure animal safety and well-being during construction, some species will be temporarily be located. That includes the flamingos, anaconda, spiny-tailed iguana and the lynx.