Oakland Zoo Breaks Ground On New Veterinary Hospital

OAKLAND (KCBS) – Animals residing at the Oakland Zoo will soon have a brand new place to be cared for, as officials have broken ground on a new Veterinary Medical Hospital.

The $10.2 million project will take up 17,000 square-feet near the upper parking lot of the zoo.

It will replace a 1,200 square-foot facility that was built in 1961. The new facility will also allow for more animals to be treated and have the latest technology for treatment.

KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:

Oakland Zoo Executive Director Joel Parrott said the facility will allow for the treatment of a variety of different animals and be fit for each of their specific needs.

"This is going to enable us to do a lot more technical procedures on the animals themselves," he said. "It will also allow us to have better care for them and also help with our program with UC Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine."

Currently, Parrott said that if they can't treat the animals at the zoo, they ask for assistance from UC Davis, either shipping the animal up to Davis or bringing down a specialist to the zoo.

Eighty percent of the funding for the new hospital has come from private donations. Construction is expected to be completed by next summer.

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