MACF grants $250,000 to Roosevelt Park Zoo

Posted: Mar 11 2021

The Minot Area Community Foundation (MACF) is excited to announce a grant awarded to The Roosevelt Park Zoo’s Amur leopard habitat in the amount $250,000.
 
The Roosevelt Park Zoo (RPZ) is North Dakota’s oldest zoo. After enduring two major flood events in 1969 and 2011, an effort was launched in 2017 to dramatically improve the quality of the zoo with new exhibits for the big cats. The first phase of the New Habitat for a New Century opened in September of 2019 with the African Lion Savanna and was quickly followed by the Amur Tiger River Valley in June of 2020.
 
The Amur leopard habitat, which is phase 2 of this effort, will work to help save the world’s most endangered big cat from extinction. There are currently only about 85 Amur leopards left in the wild. Through breeding efforts designed into this new habitat, RPZ has the opportunity to participate in an international effort to save this animal from extinction. 
 
"The Amur leopard habitat will create a modern, natural and dynamic living environment for the animals; a space that will inspire a connection between our guests and the Amur leopards; a space that meets a new habitat standard we as a community have set together.” says Jennifer Kleen, GMZS Executive Director. “By investing in the quality of life for the animals in our care, MACF is also improving the quality of life for our community."

The $250,000 grant from The Minot Area Community Foundation is made possible by The Mike & Dorothy Dolan Fund and The Arnold I. Besserud Fund and will go towards the east and west Leopard Mountains.
 
Jason Zimmerman, MACF President says, “The Minot Area Community Foundation is once again pleased to be partnering with the Roosevelt Park Zoo to complete this new exhibit that will not only enhance the wonderful facilities of the Zoo but build on the Foundation’s desire to positively impact the quality of life in our community.”