The Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) hosted its highly anticipated Zoofari event last night, which provided a first look at the new $8 million lions and meerkats exhibit and also revealed a $25 million gift from T. Denny Sanford to the zoo.
Zoofari is an exclusive 21+ fundraising event, offering attendees a night filled with global cuisine, animal meet-and-greets, adult beverages and unique zoo experiences, all while supporting the zoo’s various initiatives. Tickets were sold for $100 each, which included one complimentary drink ticket.
Denise DePaolo, GPZ’s Marketing and PR Director, emphasized the event's goal of allowing adults to reconnect with their inner child.
“It's just a night for adults to have fun at the zoo with their friends or partner, and enjoy the exhibits without the distractions,” DePaolo said. “When you connect with an animal, they don’t care about anything other than the moment they're having with you. And I think that’s one of the reasons why everyone loves animals.”
This year’s Zoofari saw an increase in attendance of about 350 guests compared with last year’s event in July with 300, according to GPZ’s Director of Development, Kate Johansen.
The move to June was in hopes of cooler weather, allowing guests to comfortably explore the zoo's numerous booths and activities spread throughout the grounds.
“Zoos and aquariums should never be a privilege," said COO Audrey Otto-Pepper. "It’s something that all kids, all families should be able to experience because it is such an important part of growing up and experiencing the world,”
One of the most anticipated aspects of this year’s Zoofari was the first public viewing of the new African lions, Simba and Amahle , in their new state-of-the-art exhibit. Simba, a 15-year-old lion from the Detroit Zoo, and Amahle, a 10-year-old from the Smithsonian's National Zoo, have quickly acclimated to their new home.
Director of Animal Care Joel Locke said Simba is laid back and seems rather fond of Amahle. Sassy and playful Amahle, he said, needs a bit more time to warm up to her potential mate.
The $8 million exhibit, featuring indoor viewing spaces and expansive outdoor yards, aims to be one of the largest lion habitats in North America, according to Becky Dewitz, President and CEO .
More: Great Plains Zoo breaks ground on the future home of Sioux Falls' lions
According to the World Wildlife Fund, African lions, though not currently endangered, are considered "vulnerable" to extinction, with only an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 wild lions left in the wild.
“This is a monumental addition to our zoo, bringing lions back to Sioux Falls for the first time in 30 years,” Dewitz said.
The new lion and meerkat exhibit was expected to officially open to the public at 11 a.m. Friday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Guests indulged in a variety of international tapas menus crafted by Vespa Catering , which provides catering for Maribella Ristorante , R Wine Bar and Brix Wine Bar .
The menu included African Doro Wat with naan bread, Asian Negima Yakitori, Australian Spag Bol, smoked pulled pork slider with coleslaw and American bison meatballs served with a local mushroom bourbon cream sauce. Desserts featured Pavlova of Australia and Wojapi, a traditional Native American berry sauce, served over waffles.
More: What is wojapi? Why this berry sauce became a South Dakota food favorite
The event consisted of various interactive experiences such as feeding Olivia Dee the giraffe, meeting ambassador animals, learning more about the animals from animal care and education experts and touring the zoo's veterinary clinic led by GPZ Veterinarian Dr. Jenny Clementson.
Thursday’s Zoofari event also included a raffle to support “ongoing efforts to unite all elements of land, sea and sky on one campus,” with packages like:
- Bourbon and Bears
- Tea Time with Olivia Dee the Giraffe
- Rhino Spa Day
- Splash into the Aquarium
- One with the Butterflies
The evening’s program, beginning at 7 p.m., opened with Jeanelle Lust, community volunteer and chair of the Zoo and Aquarium Board of Directors .
“I really do believe we live in one of the greatest cities in the world," Lust said. "The generosity people show when something like a flood occurs is just amazing."
Mayor Paul TenHaken then shared how for the second year, Southeast South Dakota tourism recently surpassed the Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association for the number of tourist revenue dollars generated. And he attributes this largely in part to the Great Plains Zoo.
“The zoo has been a great partner with the city for many, many years," TenHaken said. "This is one of our best city assets, which is growing by five to 6,000 residents each year."
TenHaken also praised the zoo’s many investors and leaders for its success.
“We got a great philanthropic support of the zoo,” he said. “I can't thank this community enough for stepping up and being a great community partner. This is what we talked about with One Sioux Falls - this zoo is a One Sioux Falls effort.”
T. Denny Sanford was in attendance during Thursday’s program and commended Dewitz’s and others’ leadership in this endeavor. T. Denny Sanford contributed $1.5 million to the Great Plains Zoo Lions exhibit in 2018 , as well as the zoo's new splash pad this year, confirmed Paolo.
More: Great Plains Zoo debuts new splash pad
“Especially for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we are so lucky to have a team to put this all together,” Sanford said.
Dewitz and Otto-Pepper took the stage next, where Dewitz announced the recent completion of the GPZ’s 15-year master plan, which includes a new education center, a large aquarium, a butterfly rainforest exhibit, a new home for the penguins and future improvement plans for older portions of the zoo.
“We call that 'rezoovenation,'" she said.
More: Butterfly House to eventually move to Great Plains Zoo; merger announced
The other significant highlight of the evening was the announcement of the $25 million gift from Sanford to the zoo.
"This $25 million gift depends on securing matching funds for the new aquarium, education center and butterfly rainforest. After achieving the $25 million match, Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium will receive an additional $10 million gift from Mr. Sanford to further enhance the campus," according to Friday's press release from the Great Plains Zoo. "A capital campaign will launch in the coming months, encouraging philanthropic support from local organizations and individuals to bring this bold vision into reality for the betterment of our community and the animals in our care.
Dewitz said this will enable them to complete Phase 1 of the $56 million master plan campaign for the zoo.
“It is exciting, it is bold and it is exactly what we need for our community,” Dewitz said. “Our community is so vibrant and continues to grow. And our zoo and aquarium must mirror that vibrancy.”
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Great Plains Zoo unveils new lions exhibit, $25 million contribution from T. Denny Sanford
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