Discovery Wildlife Park is ready to open for its 14th season in Innisfail and even with a bad economy, owners and staff are moving confidently forward with big plans for this year and the future.
The local zoo is having a “soft” opening for the season on April 30, but will make louder noise on Mother's Day – May 8 – when it will offer all visitors a free family photo.
“In the past we've done things like half price (specials) for moms, a special tour or a draw, but we are going to do free family photos. There are lots of people who want them. They will get a free four by six (inch) photo,” said park co-owner Doug Bos, adding the downturn in the economy has required him and staff to become more creative with specials to attract guests.
“We are going to try to do a lot of specials and different events. We have our ZooFest on the Saturday on the August long weekend coming up. We will try to be more creative, like with what we are doing on Mother's Day,” he added.
Last year, the big news at the zoo was the long-awaited arrival of the brother and sister lion cubs, Griffin and Zendaya. Both are now about 16 months old and are certain to be big attractions, especially at night if they let out a big roar, which could be rivalled by the wild howls from young timber wolves Nissa and Lupe, who came to the zoo in 2014.
More importantly, those calls of the wild could be thrilling for guests who come to camp during the second season the 30-unit non-serviced amenity has been offered at the zoo.
“It's about getting people used to the fact that we do have camping here, and what is unique about it is all the things you can do during the day, and we will have a number of evening tours you can book,” said Bos, whose operation will continue to offer guests evening golf cart tours, behind-the- scenes specials with the big cats, a walk with the wolves and the always popular “up close encounters with the bears. It will be a little more personalized and exciting in the evening, and hopefully this year the lions will come into their natural voices, and you will be able to hear the lions roar at night and the wolves howl.
“They really enjoyed the concept and uniqueness,” added Bos of the feedback from campers. “Being in a campground at night, everybody was worried about animals getting out, but it is all fenced in. It keeps the people in and the animals out.”
But what is more exciting for Bos and future guests, is the planned development of the new serviced 66-unit campground on nearly nine acres of land at the northeast corner of the zoo's 90-acre property. When completed, the area will be landscaped with new trees, have power, public washrooms and showers and a large pond that will be stocked with rainbow trout. There is even a dock at the west end of the site, part of an old bridge from past Highway 2A upgrades that was moved to the zoo to accommodate paddle boats for future guests.
In the meantime, it is possible more animals could be arriving at the park, as the Innisfail zoo is always ready to acquire orphans rescued by provincial Fish and Wildlife. Over the past year, two mule deer have been rescued, and are now being carefully and lovingly raised by a new mother.
“The season is just starting and we don't know what might come up,” said Bos, whose operations this year will see a second barn installed at the park to provide more exotic species warm winter accommodations. “We have to have the facilities before we get the animals.”
For more on Discovery Wildlife Park visit the website at www.discoverywildlifepark.com or go to its Facebook page.
