SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Hogle Zoo is expanding by adding to the east side of its current property.  An all-Utah Native Species exhibit and a new center will house animals used in education.

The project will begin Wednesday and is expected to be completed in 2023.

Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall are expected to attend a ceremony Wednesday to kick off the project. All three elected officials are expected to give brief comments. 

Utah’s Hogle Zoo expanding

When completed, the Aline W. Skaggs Wild Utah Exhibit will feature wildlife such as cougars, bobcats, wild burros, and bighorn sheep. Additionally, there will be a nature trail. The new exhibit will also feature the Norma W. Matheson Education Animal Center with some of the state’s smaller animals that make trips to schools around the state each year. 

Wednesday’s event caps the culmination of years of planning for the expansion of the zoo’s east side. 

Zoo officials said the space will be expanded by three acres and will cost $22 million. 

Read more:

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• Utah’s Hogle Zoo introduces new Amur tiger, Sasha
• 4 African lions at Utah’s Hogle Zoo test positive for COVID-19 Delta Variant

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