Fresno Chaffee Zoo gets pushback on closing Tropical Rainforest Aviary

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a special place for many in the community. Over the decades, it's been the site of several renovations.

The most recent change -- the announcement of the closure of the Tropical Rainforest Aviary.

Chief Executive Officer Jon Forrest Dohlin says there are many reasons for the decision, including health, safety and infrastructure concerns.

"It is no longer meeting modern standards for animals," he said. "It's very difficult to care for the birds. There are a lot of water conservation issues, there are a lot of labor costs, so we are re-imagining that exhibit."

During the board meeting on Wednesday morning, he highlighted that there's a rumor the aviary will be demolished but said that's not true, sharing the vision for its future.

"We are re-imagining the exhibit," Dohlin said. "It is going to now just be a botanical exhibit about the rainforest, and in order to do that, we need to close it."

The birds will be moved to a different facility for their safety.

Meanwhile, community members like Cody Windwalker started a petition, fighting to keep the birds where they are and believe the change is a mistake.

"He announced that one of the concerns is avian flu, but that flu doesn't go away," Windwalker said. "They have birds throughout the park and migratory birds that go into the exhibit and fly here."

Despite his effort, the aviary will be closed on July 5 until further notice. Windwalker hopes there will be a change of heart.

"I know they still need to do updates and stuff, but our hope is that when they reopen, they will still have the animals in there," he said.

Dohlin is hopeful that the community will understand.

"Hopefully, what they realize is that we want to save what is best of that exhibit, but at the same time keep up with modern zoological standards," he said.

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