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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
When visiting Utah's Hogle Zoo, the animals you're seeing are ambassadors for their fellow species out in the wild. How else would you see a polar bear or an 850 pound sea lion up close? And, when you can see them face-to-face, suddenly the choices we make every day matter so much more in how we affect animals worldwide.
Rocky Mountain Shores exhibit at Utah's Hogle Zoo should be on your short list this summer. It's a state-of-the-art mixed species facility that will showcase Rizzo (rih-zoh), the polar bear; grizzly bear cubs; otters; harbor seals; California sea lions and bald eagles. Rocky Shores is the largest and most expensive facility ever opening at Hogle Zoo.
However, it's the rehabilitation stories behind the animals that will really make the exhibit memorable. The two bald eagles have been together for 30 years. You'll notice they're both missing a wing on sides that face one another. This is because they were injured in an electrical wire.
The mother of the exhibit's three grizzly cubs — Dolly, Lou-Lou and Koda — was considered a nuisance bear. If these three cubs hadn't come to Hogle Zoo, they would've been put down. Or how about Big Guy, the sea lion. Big Guy was a blind sea lion with nowhere to go until he was rescued and brought to the zoo. Now he and his neighbors, including Rizzo, can enjoy nice cool water in the summer. Ninety-five percent of the 390,000 gallons of water used for this exhibit is recirculated because of miles of pipes below Rocky Shores.
If you're interested in seeing the seals in action, they'll do shows daily at 9:30, 11:30 and 3:30. Their keepers love working with them … and you can tell.
Utah's Hogle Zoo is also making a culinary impact with their brand new Beastro café. In addition to churros and corn dogs, you'll now find fresh paninis, wraps and pizza with the zoo's first indoor seating. Hats off to the Hogle family for starting this Utah treasure.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Utah's Hogle Zoo 2600 Sunnyside Ave. Salt Lake City, UT 84108 1-801-582-1631 www.hoglezoo.org
