Salisbury Zoo breaks ground on new Coati habitat

Salisbury, Md. – Officials broke ground on the zoo’s new Expedition Ecuador Habitat, featuring a white-nosed coati on Wednesday.

Coatis are mammals native to Central and South America and are members of the raccoon family. Zoo officials say this project will be the first new habitat at the Zoo in more than 15 years and is expected to be completed by the end of this year, though more funds are needed.

Salisbury Zoo leadership was joined by Mayor Randy Taylor who said the habitat is going to help draw people to Salisbury, after improvements were made to the exhibit in the last year.

“This exhibit kind of marks a new direction, new energy for the zoo,” Taylor said. “It’s a directional change in terms of the new animals to the city and the zoo, and just making it even more of an attraction than it’s always been.”

For the zoological team, it marks the coalescing of years of hard work.

“These folks worked tirelessly to bring us these great exhibits and to take care of these animals,” Zoo Chairperson Dr. Clifton Griffin said. “It’s not a trivial thing to be a small, community based zoo and have access to endangered species and to be a part of species survival plans … that doesn’t happen unless you have highly qualified and dedicated staff people.”

Sawyer Allen co-owns Mid Atlantic Energy Solutions and is donating electrical services for the exhibit.

“We’ve lived here for almost ten years, so seeing the zoo progress, and how far it’s gotten, it’s awesome to see it,” he said. “And we’re now even more excited to be a part of the next step of the development here.”

He said he looks forward to seeing his family spend time at the zoo.

“As our little one continues to grow, it’s a spot where he can come and hang out,” Allen said. “And, you know, him and mom can spend an afternoon doing something fun.”

Salisbury Zoo officials say more donations are needed and appreciated for the new habitat.