GULF SHORES — After enduring the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Sally in the same year of moving locations, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo marks five years there despite having "quite a few ups and downs."

Cyndi Johnson, the zoo's curator, has worked with the animals and staff for 26 years. Even though now her role is "more administrative than zookeeping," she still works closely in managing and caring for the staff and animal's health and welfare.

Johnson said it is "hard to believe" the zoo has already been in the new location, at 20499 Oak Road E, for five years. The first location, behind the Zooland Mini Golf course, originally opened in 1989.

"When we first opened (at the new location), we had a record week that first week, and it was amazing," Johnson said," and then COVID-19. Boy, that really took the wind right out of our sails."

While the private, nonprofit zoo "faced many challenges," mostly surrounding hurricanes in the old location, the pandemic was their "biggest struggle." Johnson said it has been a "slow and steady" process to continue to grow in the same way pre-pandemic.

Joel Hamilton, the zoo's executive director, said they shut down when COVID-19 first emerged. They reopened in May 2020 after being closed for nine weeks. Each time the CDC rules changed, the zoo amended their protocols and ultimately "lived through."

GOOD TIMING

Later in September of that year, Hurricane Sally made landfall in Gulf Shores.

"The old zoo was impacted quite heavily. We didn't get down there during it, but there was several feet of water in the old zoo after Sally," Hamilton said. "Evacuating the zoo in that time, in 2020, would have been different than it was in 2004 (with Hurricane Ivan) because most of the animals are now adults."

Many of the animals, such as the lions, tigers and bears, were all cubs during Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, so it was easy to transport them during evacuations.

Budda the bear, who was a cub, now weighs 400 pounds. While the big cats, Simba the lion and white tigers Raja and Rani, have died in recent years, they and Budda were all alive and fully grown during Sally.

Luckily, the zoo had already moved to its new home that had been "designed with most of the exhibits" having a concrete shelter area for the animals to take cover in during "inclement weather." Hamilton said these are "built to last a hurricane."

As previously reported by Gulf Coast Media, many of the animals also used these indoor enclosures during the 10-inch snowfall earlier this year.

"The (new) zoo came through the hurricane quite well," Hamilton said. "We had no impact to the animals. There was a collection of a lot of limbs and trees, and that was something that you clean up and it's done."

PHOTO PROVIDED

A few exhibits were damaged from fallen trees, but they were "readily repaired." Many of the animals moved back into their regular enclosures the day after the hurricane.

"The zoo did exactly what it was supposed to do," Hamilton said, "be a fortress against the storm."

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT HELPS FUND MOVE

After flooding through three different storms, two being Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, Animal Planet heard of the work the Gulf Coast Zoo was undertaking to combat storms that were "unprecedented in the zoo world."

They created a series called "The Little Zoo That Could," which Hamilton said "kind of put us on the map." After the series was released, "accolades and donations" came to the zoo from "all over the world."

"It really energized the zoo, and they got it rebuilt in a safer location," Hamilton said.

So, the zoo moved from the just over 6-acre property to the 25-acre property they are located on now, providing larger exhibit spaces for animals and a "more spacious zoo to walk through." Hamilton said he appreciates how the zoo continues to develop and grow as they "get more settled" and more involved in the community.

"And the zoo continues to get recognition. Twice in the time we've been here (at the new location), we've been the best zoo in Alabama and the Best of Baldwin, and all that is rewarding because you see your efforts get recognized by the community," he said.

After saving money and raising funds, construction started on the new zoo location in March 2018.

While Hamilton only started at the zoo in 2019, he has seen progress besides the new location. He has seen the addition of giraffes, close-up lemur and sloth enclosures, a beaver and new buildings such as the aviary and a sustainable garden for animal feed and herbs for the onsite restaurant.

From the perspective of a longtime employee, Johnson said some of the biggest changes she has seen involve animal care and health. She has seen an increase in "hard-working, dedicated people" working to ensure the "absolute best care and welfare" the animals can receive.

"Vet care has come a very long way in 26 years," Johnson said. "X-rays and ultrasounds, just to name a few. Nutrition has also made quite a few changes over the years, and that continues to change at all times. We always have to stay up-to-date and continuously research to make sure we have the best available diets for our animals."

She said while the zoo's infrastructure "has changed since we moved" with a larger facility requiring a larger staff, the number of animals and species are like those at the old zoo. While the specific species might be different, the variety and number remain similar.

"Besides having a larger staff, we have species that we have never had at our zoo before, specifically cheetah," Johnson said. "This was always a dream animal for me, and I was never so excited as when we were able to make that happen."

For Johnson, her favorite work memory is when she had the "absolute honor" of raising tigers, lions, leopards and "a variety of small cats and carnivores." She also had an "all-time favorite" animal, Trey the capuchin monkey.

According to a Facebook post from the zoo, Trey was born in 2003 and "accidently fell to the ground" from her mother, Chi Chi's, back. At the time, Johnson was the head zookeeper and rushed baby Trey to the zoo vet.

The results were serious, and the vet said Trey would likely not survive and that if she did, she would have severe brain damage.

"Cyndi's sixth sense and deep abiding devotion to animals told her not to give up, and she decided to care for this baby herself," the post reads. "For over 16 years, Trey lived with Cyndi and her family."

Trey did end up having severe brain damage as the accident left her with a brain seizure disorder, which she took medication for. Trey ultimately "had an extremely happy life" living "pampered and adored" by Johnson and the other keepers.

"She made a huge impression in my life," Johnson said, "as well as my family's as she lived with us at night and came with me to work during the day. My children grew up with her as part of the family."

THE ZOO DEPENDS ON YOU

Katie Winn lifts her niece to feed a Nubian mixed goat.

MICAH GREEN / GCM file photo

Johnson said the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, along with "all zoos in the United States," depend on the support of the community.

"Humanity needs to work together to ensure that these animals have a place to live and thrive," Johnson said. "We lose so many species every year to extinction, and that doesn't have to happen."

Hamilton said the zoo's goal is to "educate people" and inspire them to "do something about the environment," whether that's in an African safari or in a Gulf Coast backyard.

He said he hopes the zoo encourages its visitors take a "greater interest in animals all around them and across the world."

With a full month of activities celebrating their five-year anniversary in the new location, Hamilton encourages all residents and visitors to attend two specific events.

On March 25, Safari Sonda will host a storytime at the tortoise feeding area at 10 a.m. with free tortoise feedings from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Turtle themed items will be 20% off in the zoo's gift shop.

The big event, on March 29, will be the Cheers to Five Years: Wine and Whiskey Stroll set to celebrate the anniversary with a fundraiser supporting the zoo's mission and future goals. Tickets for this event are available at the zoo's website at www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.org.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out the website for more details on upcoming events, ticket prices and what's new at the zoo.