Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaii News

Honolulu Zoo promises go unfulfilled

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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

It’s just over a year since the Honolulu Zoo lost its accreditation because of ongoing funding, management and animal care concerns The Mayor and the city’s Department of Enterprise Services director and the former zoo director Baird Fleming promised to get that accreditation back.

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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

As many as 53 percent of city taxpayers approved a charter amendment establishing a zoo fund. That would provide $5-$6.5 million, leaving the mayor and city council to decide how to bring the budget up to its normal $6.8 million or beyond.

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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

The reptile and amphibian complex, which shut down in 2014 for improvements, is closed despite Baird Fleming’s assurances that it would reopen in the fall of 2016.

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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

This is a Hamadryas Baboon. A visit to the 42-acre zoo on Tuesday did show improvement since the facility lost accreditation on March 31, 2016. Grounds were better kept and animal exhibits were clean.

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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Sonya and Angel Santos watch the zebras and giraffe in their exhibit. They are from visiting from Puerto Rico to attend the UH graduation ceremony. They said on their travels, they always go to visit the city’s zoo.

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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Carie Steed and his 10-month-old daughter enjoy the penguins swimming by. They are visiting from Tacoma, Washington.