DENVER — Denver Zoo is seeing fewer people walking in during the winter months, which makes things tough when it's battling a six-figure price tag daily to stay open.
Denver Zoo is a non-profit organization that relies on visits, memberships, and donations to keep them open.
“Getting the experience to see the real thing, it’s not a video game, it’s not some website that you’re going to,” said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of Denver Zoo. “The smells, the sounds, all those experiences are really special for people.”
In the daylight at the zoo, you can see all it has to offer, but when the sun goes down everything changes.
“Animals do weird things, right, so you can be surprised on any given day,” Vescolani said. “When it gets quiet from daytime visitation, the evenings come alive."
“I love it so far,” said Riley Biekert, a vistor.
Riley bundled up and braved the cold to see the Denver Zoo Lights for the third year in a row.
“It’s kind of a tradition,” Biekert said.
Seeing the lights is a tradition for many, but still, when the temperatures drop, so does the number of visitors at the zoo.
“Winter is definitely a lower visitation time,” Vescolani said.
That means fewer dollars coming in at the door while they still have a lot of hungry mouths to feed.
“Over three thousand [animals] on any given day, they all have special diets,” Vescolani said.
They also have educational programs, create new habitats, fund new research work and more. The price tags add up. It costs Denver Zoo $120,000 every day to keep running and keep the lights on year-round, especially now.
“We have over three million lights,” Vescolani said. “This year I have to say is the best year ever for Zoo Lights, they’re absolutely gorgeous.”
“There are surprises along the way, you’ll see unique lighting, big gorgeous trees that illuminate in a way that you see how massive these trees are,” Vescolani said. “You may take them for granted in the summer when they’re full of leaves.”
There are one million more lights this year than last year. Denver Zoo starts setting up in the spring.
“They’ve added so many things since we’ve taken a look years ago,” said Maribelle Spellmann.
Frank and Maribelle Spellmann were here as a part of their 60-year wedding anniversary celebration.
“Trying to do all these things we have done years ago,” Maribelle Spellmann said.
The Denver Zoo hopes you’ll support them by taking a look around so they can give back to you.
“The best part about Denver Zoo is nothing is forever, it’s not stagnant, there’s change happening all the time,” Vescolani said. “New animals, new exhibits, new experiences, and new opportunities to see the wonders of the wildlife we have here."
Vescolani said winter is a time to see new things you can’t experience in the summer.
“Denver Zoo relies on our community donations, support, membership, all of that helps us accomplish our mission and take care of wildlife for generations,” Vescolani said. “Everything the community does when they visit and experience the zoo helps us make this place even better every year."
Denver Zoo Lights are open until January 7th. Tickets can be found on the zoo's website.
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