Members of the work group tasked with determining the future of the more than 150 animal mounts once displayed in the Great Plains Zoo's Delbridge Museum said Friday they'd like to hear from nonprofits that may be interested in taking on some or all of the collection.
That could include the possibility of some of the specimens remaining in Sioux Falls in a "Reimagined Delbridge Museum," though that option received noticeably less interest among some members, possibly because its cost could be more than $7 million.
Work group members heard a summary of an extensive report from A.M. Art Conservation, LLC at the Friday morning meeting, which found the majority of the collection was both in good condition or better, and of an overall quality of good or better.
Of the 183 items surveyed, "almost all damage noted on the specimens can be treated," which would cost an estimated $847,600. That's not including pest remediation, transport costs, documentation or project management costs and the possibility of adding new habitats or temporary platforms for the museum.
The report also emphasized that even while performing survey work, air monitoring showed that "collection workers were not at risk of airborne exposure to arsenic even when handling and manipulating arsenic-positive specimens," though the use of proper safety equipment and procedures was still important.
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The report said the closing of the zoo due to detectable arsenic levels in some of the mounts, while "believed to be a necessary precaution, runs counter to the general practice of natural science museums and natural science conservation." Safe exhibition would be possible by following established guidelines and procedures, though the report added, "the Zoo may have other priorities, and there may be a more fitting place and manner with which to exhibit this collection."
For example, one item presented at the meeting was a preliminary budget summary that looked at what it would cost to create a "reimagined Delbridge Museum" sized at 4,000 square feet.
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Between construction, glass partitions, new dioramas, storage, arsenic considerations and restoration of mounts, the cost of a new museum could be more than $6.1 million, going up to $7.2 million if fully-enclosed glass partitions were used.
Where the group ended up was largely signing onto Councilor Rich Merkouris' suggestion to set up a 90-day request for quotes, with interested nonprofits showing their financial ability to care for the collection and display it.
Those groups could now be ones outside of South Dakota, thanks to a state law change specifically aimed at the Delbridge Museum that exempts "a collection of specimens preserved by a taxidermist" from requirements that otherwise disallow museum collections from being sent out of state.
“We’re not destroying this collection," said Great Plains Zoo CEO Becky DeWitz, pushing back against what she says is a misconception that still exists in the community.
The group did not immediately set a date for its next meeting, but said it would likely occur once the request had been put in place and quotes had been received.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Delbridge Museum seeks proposals from nonprofits to find new home for animal mount collection
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