Zoo to open $300K year-round tortoise exhibit

Dickerson Park Zoo and Springfield-Greene County Park Board officials on Friday will cut the ribbon on a $300,000, year-round exhibit for the zoo's Aldabra tortoises.

During a 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the zoo, 3043 N. Fort Ave., officials will open the 1,070-square-foot-building that will house four Aldabra tortoises, one of the world's largest species of land turtles at 250 pounds to 550 pounds apiece, according to a news release.

Built by Masonry Structures Inc. and designed by H Design Group LLC, the building includes two rooms, allowing officials to better control breeding; water pools; a sand pit for laying eggs; rubber-cushioned flooring; and a pyramid skylight to provide natural lighting.

“The new building gives us the option of separating the males and females, which will improve our odds of successful breeding,” Dickerson Park Zoo Director Mike Crocker said in the release.

Since arriving at the zoo in 1979 and 1980, the cold-blooded tortoises have only been visible to the public during warmer months; the animals were moved off-exhibit during times of cold weather.

Funding for the project came from the 1/4-cent countywide parks sales tax, approved by voters in 2006, according to the release.