Disappointment from the Cherry Brook Zoo over Saint John council’s decision to slash funding to the zoo by a whopping $40,000.
The zoo’s executive director says the impact of those tens of thousands of dollars will be felt immediately.
“It will definitely make things a lot more difficult during this time. This is a hard season for us…and it just makes it that much more difficult to find the funds,” says Martha McDevitt.
As for councillor Gary Sullivan’s comments that the City of Moncton contributes a lot more money to their zoo in the six-figure range, McDevitt says she’s not asking for $800,000 — they’re asking for a small amount to allow them to expand and improve what they have to draw more tourists to the zoo.
They have not, according to McDevitt, been able to appear before Common Council to explain their side and what direction they’ve taken the zoo in.
“It’s a little bit frustrating because I’ve offered many times to just share sort of our heart in this, and where we’ve come and what we’re fighting for.”
She calls the community the moral owner of the zoo, and she hopes members will fight for it.
