GREETINGS FROM THE COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM AND THE WILDS!
We are pleased to present our 2022 Impact Report. We hope you enjoy reading about some of our accomplishments, all made possible through your generous support. From a financial perspective, it was another very successful year. Despite significant inflationary pressure, we kept our operating expenses within budget, and with operating revenue well above projection, we ended the year in a strong position. Net income, along with grant and event funding and, most importantly, significant philanthropic support from so many of you, will help fund new construction and renovations at the Zoo and The Wilds over the next 12-24 months. One of these projects includes our new RV campground at The Wilds, a major renovation to our bonobo habitat at the Zoo, and a completely new experience in our North America region. One of the oldest regions at the Zoo, our North America region is home to our Mexican wolves, North American river otters, black bears, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and more. We are well into the design and engineering phase for this major habitat reconstruction and are targeting this fall to begin construction. 2022 was also a busy year for our Animal Health and Animal Care teams. We returned three orphaned manatee calves to Florida—all three were released on Feb. 14, 2023—and we welcomed three orphaned Alaskan moose calves.
A pioneering medical collaboration occurred at our Animal Health Center as we worked with our partners at the Great Ape Heart Project, OhioHealth, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Medtronic. Our veterinary team implanted electronic cardiac monitors in several of our great apes, including a world’s first-time implant into a bonobo, providing a powerful new medical diagnostic tool for us to monitor their health. You can read more about these projects in this report. As we look to the future, we focus on a new strategy to guide our growth and development over the next several years. An intentional re-focusing of our wildlife conservation, science, and animal wellbeing work will drive the first pillar of our new strategic plan. Moving the Zoo and The Wilds from regional attractions to year- round destinations, and a long-term commitment
to sustainability, wildlife, people, and the environment, rounds out our strategy.
And finally, we have begun work on our 2040 Framework, which sets our longer-term master plan. With the approach of our 100th anniversary in 2027, we are inspired to think big and chart a bold new course for the next century. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment. As we scale our conservation work, we need it now more than ever to empower people and save wildlife.
With gratitude,
Tom Schmid President & CEO
Keith Shumate Chairperson, Board of Directors Columbus Zoological Park Association 2021-2022
Katie Wolfe Lloyd Chairperson, Board of Directors Columbus Zoological Park Association 2023-2024
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