Southern Tier Close Up: Big News at Ross Park Zoo!

There are huge developments at Binghamton's Ross Park Zoo ranging from new displays and the addition of some new residents to a long-discussed solution to visitors' navigation of the Zoo's challenging mountainous terrain.

Zoo Director Phillip Ginter is the guest on the April 23-24 edition of the weekly, local public affairs program, Southern Tier Close Up and says the zoo will be taking delivery in a few months of an enclosed, climate-controlled electric tram!

Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News- Ross Park Zoo Executive Director Phil Ginter

For decades, the administration of the zoo on Morgan Road on Binghamton's Southside, Broome County natives and visitors to the nation's 5th oldest zoo have struggled with the issue of accessibility as the trails wind up the side of an escarpment that is more mountain-goat than human-visitor friendly.

Golf carts, trams and even a sky bucket cable contraption have all been bandied about in discussions about how to better share Ross Park's entertainment, educational and environmental treasures with the public.

Ginter says the new, environmentally friendly transport is expected to arrive in June.

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More exciting news: Ginter says the tram ride will be free and the route will connect the zoo with the Discovery Center hands-on children's museum located on the Morgan Road property.

Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News

Ginter also talks about developments in the Species Survival program involving the adorable Fennick Foxes, Red Pandas and the zoo's waddle of penguins. (Yes, a group of penguins is called a "waddle." Store that tidbit for trivia night.)

You can hear more about Ross Park Zoo, the development of the Imagination Forest, the opening of the carousel and the ongoing work into re-design and development of the historic property on Southern Tier Close Up, Saturday morning at 6:03 a.m. on News Radio 1290, WNBF and on the zoo website: rossparkzoo.org.

If you miss any editions of Southern Tier Close Up on your busy weekend, you can find them in their entirety on the WNBF podcast!

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