Just four months after he celebrated 20 years at Zoo Boise, Executive Director Steve Burns says he’s leaving the familiar attraction.
In May, Burns marked his 20-year anniversary at the zoo. He left a job at the Nature Conservancy in Washington D.C. to head up the Friends of Zoo Boise. After three and a half years, he took on the job of Executive Director, too.
Over the last 20 years, Burns has replaced most of the attractions at the zoo, and raised more than $18 million for capital improvements. The zoo is currently building a Gorongosa National Park exhibit that will feature baboons and Nile crocodiles. It’s also working on a new primate exhibit.
Burns also brought a mission of conservation to Zoo Boise. For the past ten years, the zoo has charged an extra 50-cent conservation fee from each admission ticket. Over time, more than $2 million has been raised to support wild animals in Idaho and around the world.
KTVB–TV reports Zoo Boise announced Tuesday that Burns is going to work for the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A nationwide search to replace Burns begins immediately.
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