Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens looking to raise $250,000 by Sunday

Jacksonville FL — Since the coronavirus pandemic forced the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to shut down, they are now asking for your help raising $250,000 to make up some of the $6 million lost through the ZOO-A-THON.

The zoo says the money will go towards operating costs which includes caring for than 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants.

“Many people are surprised to learn how expensive it is to maintain our day-to-day operations, even after we closed to the public on March 14. We still had to feed and care for our animals daily, as well as employ the dedicated staff who worked through our closure. We were closed during our busiest season and we’re still feeling the effects, even after reopening, because our attendance has averaged less than half of what we usually see,” Executive Director Tony Vecchio says.

If you’d like to donate to the ZOO-A-THON you can donate online at JacksonvilleZoo.org/ZOO-A-THON or you can text the word ZOO to 904-560-5600. We’re told the person who donates the most money will receive the naming rights to the mandrill infant born on August 1st.

Steven Ponson

Steven Ponson, News 104.5 WOKV

Steven Ponson is the Co-Anchor of Jacksonville's Morning News. He has been with Cox Media Group since the summer of 2015, and with WOKV since mid-2017.

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