Community support needed for Las Vegas Zoo’s improvements

On Monday morning at the Las Vegas Zoo, the Eurasian lynx yawned and stretched, but declined further comment.

I couldn't tell whether the cat was bored by my question, or hoping for an opportunity to tear off my face.

Hey, I get that a lot in this business.

For the record, I had asked the lynx what it thought of all the raking and painting and spiffing up of the diminutive animal preserve that stands on a bedraggled stretch of Rancho Drive between a Catholic Charities thrift store and a budget smog shop. On Monday, six high-ranking San Diego Zoo officials were present to help with the sprucing of the three-acre park.

The zoo's existence is a testament to the tenacity and optimism of director Pat Dingle and his few staffers and volunteers. Outside of Siegfried and Roy's backyard, and the state Legislature when in session, it's the oldest zoo in Nevada.

Against odds and the best efforts of its critics, the zoo has managed to survive nearly three decades despite a lack of institutional support. Dingle, a retired homicide detective, started with a bird sanctuary. He expanded with sweat equity and groomed a relationship with the San Diego Zoo and other world-class parks.

After so many baby steps and setbacks, including media criticism earlier this year following the death of the zoo's male lion, this week Dingle will attempt to take a giant leap with the help of the San Diego Zoo and legendary casino architect Joel Bergman. At 10 a.m. Wednesday, officials will gather to unveil plans for the creation of world-class Barbary ape and tortoise exhibits.

Dingle has been working behind the scenes with San Diego Zoo Curator of Mammals Carmi Penny and others for more than a year.

"What we see is that the Las Vegas Zoo is small, but it can be really, really nice," Penny says. "It could be a good educational and teaching experience for the children and their families. ... It might not ever be a San Diego Zoo, but it can benefit the community."

Dingle also called for help from his friend Bergman, designer of The Mirage, Treasure Island, and many other casino resorts.

"Pat asked and I jumped in," Bergman says. "When he mentioned an opportunity to get a new desert tortoise exhibit and ape exhibit, I had my guys make a couple quick sketches. They turned out better than we expected."

With a little community support, those sketches could become reality.

"To have a world-class zoo like the San Diego Zoo not only provide technical advice and counsel, but to stand with us, that means a lot," Dingle says. "It's a good, professional relationship developed over 30 years."

There have been challenges along the way, including the cancer-related death in June of Midas the lion.

"It was a tragic thing," Dingle says. "I bottle-fed him. It was a very sad day, but he was suffering and we did the humane thing. Taking criticism from certain elements of the community, that's part of my job. But the bottom line is, I do the right thing."

That honesty has won Dingle plenty of allies. Bergman is one.

"It looks like this thing has taken on a life of its own," the architect says. "We may finally get something seriously important with the zoo. We're willing to jump in and do whatever we can."

I've never understood why the zoo hasn't received more support. There are people here who claim to be animal lovers and could underwrite the improvements Dingle has saved for years to achieve.

Bergman doesn't get it, either.

"This is a community of almost 2 million people, and we just don't have a zoo of any considerable size," he says. "It's amazing to me. I just don't understand it."

Dingle could give a list of reasons, but he takes a different approach. The optimist simply refuses to believe the improvements won't be made.

He said the zoo is a "diamond in the rough with many facets. But we need the community support to polish them and make it the shining gem that Las Vegas deserves."

Against the odds, the Las Vegas Zoo has survived. Now it plans big improvements despite a poor economy and a history of indifference.

If we fail to seize this opportunity, what will it say about us?

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.