"But officials of the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden are hoping to sell another $2.7 million in sponsorships, mostly to get exhibits named for corporations."

"To buy a brick or sponsor an exhibit, write to Friends of Mesker Park Zoo, 2421 Bement Ave., Evansville, IN 47720, or call 435-6143, ext. 409."

"They also are selling bricks for $100 each that can be engraved with a donor's name. They are hoping to raise money for an entry complex off what will be the new main entrance off Mesker Park Drive."

"Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel is scheduled to deliver a news conference at 4 p.m. today to give an update on construction of the zoo's Amazonia rain forest exhibit and to speak of the importance of the fundraising drive."

""It's coming along pretty well," said Charlotte Roesner, zoo spokeswoman. "We haven't even kicked off the big sponsorship drive yet. They're printing the brochure now.""

"Though the fundraising efforts will continue indefinitely, officials hope to make a big push by spring, when they need to design an entry complex to the zoo, which originally was designed to be three stories. The new plans will depend on how much is raised; the drive was organized to offset a shortfall caused by skyrocketing material costs after Hurricane Katrina."

"Zoo officials are hoping corporate sponsorships can rescue a proposed three-story building that was set to open with the Amazonia rain forest exhibit in June 2008. Plans for the building were scaled back when construction costs escalated last year after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The original design was supposed to cost about $4.2 million; officials estimate they will be almost $3 million short."

"The zoo has sold 80 bricks and $20,000 in sponsorships with little promotion, Roesner said."

"A $1 million sponsorship secures naming rights to the new Amazonia building. A $1,000 donation means your name on a park bench."

"One of the early sponsors is Pedia Research, which donated $5,000 for a giant anaconda sculpture."

""It just seemed interesting to us," said Davie Sue Wallace, who owns the clinical research company with her husband, Dr. Richard Litov. "We would like to challenge and encourage others to support the zoo.""

"Big construction is scheduled to start in the next couple of weeks, Roesner said. Animals could start arriving in the spring. Despite the wet weather, the exhibit is set to open early next year."

"I think the money for the fancy new entrance would be better spent on the animals. We've already lost the popular warthogs to this project. The lion's are in an old fashioned bird cage and only one tiger can be out at a time while the other is kept out of sight. Restaurants and fancy entrances are nice but ultimately this is a zoo and people come to see animals. Right?"

"I agree. Instead of spending money on what could spruce up and entrance the money NEEDS to go to help the animals. I know the last time I was there the animals needed new enclosures."

"I remember the animals being in the same cages when I was a kid that they are in today. New enclosures would be nice, you are both right. If they would take better care of the animals they have and bring new ones in with better homes for them then maybe their attendance would go up and then they could build the new entrance."

"I would like to have a brick with my children's names on it, but I can not afford $100.00 to do so. I agree with djh644 that a new entrance is not as important as redoing the enclosures for the animals. I went to the zoo this summer and could not see some of the animals because of the eclosures they were in. I also think special arrangements should be made for the eagle with only one wing. While we were there it fell over (it got spooked by a cart driving by and tried to fly off a branch) and took it 10 minutes to right itself. When finally a zoo employee drove by again he stated the eagle gets stuck on its back a lot.????"

"I also think that the animals should have better housing and more room. New enclosures with room to roam around would really be a great."

"More corporations should help to sponsor the zoo projects. Give them some advertising by putting the company names on or near the new enclosures."

"We have many companies in this town
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