Debate over tropical rainforest aviary continued at Fresno Chaffee Zoo board meeting

FRESNO, Calif. — The debate over the future of Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s Tropical Rainforest Aviary continued during a public board meeting on Wednesday.

Petition organizer Cody Windwalker urged the Zoo Authority Board to reconsider the closure, arguing the decision goes against what voters intended when they approved Measure Z funding for zoo improvements.

“I think it’s absolutely absurd to demolish it or get rid of the birds,” Windwalker said.

He also said the public’s investment in Measure Z was meant to improve existing exhibits rather than eliminate them.

“We voted on the tax to rejuvenate these exhibits. So, for you guys to just pretend you don’t hear our voices, it’s absolutely absurd,” he said.

Although Windwalker was the only speaker on the issue at the meeting, he said he was representing supporters who want the exhibit to stay open.

“I’m speaking on behalf of around a thousand people of a coalition of multiple platforms, including your own Facebook page, which you guys tried to block me off of because you didn’t like that I was trying to get a petition signed,” Windwalker said.

Zoo CEO Jon Forrest Dohlin responded and explained why he says the change is necessary.

“The reason is because the existing aviary, which is now 30 years old, no longer meets modern zoological paradigms in terms of taking care of those animals. It’s actually an accreditation risk for us because the very things that make that beautiful exhibit for the public, and we understand that they love it, are the things that make it almost incredibly difficult for us to maintain birds in there,” he said.

He also says the space won’t disappear completely but will reopen later as a rainforest themed botanical attraction where visitors can escape the heat and learn more about rainforests.

Now, in FOX26’s accountability question of the day, Reporter Christina Rodriguez asked Dohlin one-on-one about a key concern the public has raised.

Christina asked, “For the critics who say, why wasn’t the public involved? What would you say?”

He responded, “Yeah. I guess, I would say, that there are all sorts of factors on this. As an operational issue, we make decisions all the time without public input in the same way that we would close, say, a concrete bowl that used to house a giant anteater without public input. We made a decision based on our professional input and perspective on what is best for the animals, best for the operations for the zoo on a day-to-day basis.”

Dohlin again, emphasized that animal care remains the zoo’s highest priority in the decision despite public pushback.

“Listen, it’s a beloved and beautiful exhibit, which is great, right? I guess, I would push back a little bit on your characterization of so many people. I think it is a small, devoted group of people and I appreciate that. But I think we’ve said, you know, in our statements about it, our choices are really around animal care, right? We are privileging animal care above all else,” he said.

He also said the aviary project has not yet reached a funding stage that would require public vote or Measure Z allocation, noting that large projects are typically funded through self-generated revenue.

The tropical rainforest aviary is scheduled to close July 5.

What’s next? Windwalker said in the board meeting, supporters plan to continue their efforts and won’t give up their fight.

He points there will be protests, attendance at future board meetings, and potential boycotts of yearly pass renewals.

FOX26 News previously reported that the San Francisco Zoo does take public comment during its meetings.

Dohlin responded that Fresno Chaffee Zoo also holds monthly public meetings where the community is welcome to attend.

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