Economics
Hippo Home Renovations Stall as Cities Scrimp for Zoo Funds
- One generation’s beloved attractions are modern-day money pits
- In Honolulu, Rosey died before her new pond was finished
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Rosey and Louise, the hippos at Honolulu Zoo, were supposed to spend the rest of their days loafing in filtered pond water. Then Rosey died unexpectedly, halting a $1.8 million, taxpayer-funded project to upgrade their habitat.
Now the city that owns the zoo is spending more public money, on new hires, maintenance and an exhibit for reptiles and amphibians. Without the improvements, the zoo risks losing its breeding programs and animals on loan, potentially disastrous for a business built on customer demand for rare creatures and the newborns that become media sensations.