Q: What makes the Oakland Zoo special to Alameda County? A: The Oakland Zoo is a regional cultural attraction that thousands of children and families from all over Alameda County visit and enjoy. Almost 60 percent of our 600,000+ annual visitors and 25,000 member households are from Alameda County.

Q: What are the conditions at the Oakland Zoo? A: Animals living at our Zoo deserve quality, humane care. We must maintain the ability to care for and meet the basic needs of the animals, including providing food, heating and cooling, and repairing and maintaining aging animal shelters. Some of the Zoo's sewage, drainage, and plumbing systems are over 40 years old and need important repairs and seismic upgrades. Lighting and electrical systems also need improvements for energy efficiency and safety.

Q: Why should I be concerned about needs at the Oakland Zoo? A: In today's era of state cuts to education, it's more important than ever for local children and youth to have access to quality education programs that teach them about animals and their habitats. The Zoo ensures quality education programs that teach students about animals and their habitats and actively supports classroom science learning. The almost 250,000 students who visited the Zoo last year experienced hands-on, personalized learning. We must protect and maintain affordable, accessible educational programs for children and youth from throughout Alameda County.

Q: What can be done to address these needs? A: The Oakland Zoo is researching ways to ensure ongoing support for the animals and education programs. These programs will continue to benefit thousands of Alameda County children and families that rely on the Zoo for family-oriented, accessible recreation activities. Community supporters of the Zoo are working with the County to develop a fiscally responsible plan specifically to address quality animal care and science and nature education programs. A potential county-wide Zoo Measure to Support Humane Animal Treatment and Protect Zoo Education Programs may be considered at the end of this process.