This is the last week to see your favorite creatures that go bump in the night at Woodland Park Zoo.  The zoo’s Night Exhibit closes its doors on Monday, March 1.

(Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo)

Several animals will transfer to other exhibits within the zoo.  Currently the north end of the Adaptations Building is closed to make modifications to house the Rodrigues fruit bats (seen above), tamanduas and springhaas that will move there.  Construction is also being done for a new meerkats exhibit that brings them back to the zoo after a 10-year absence.  Both the meerkat exhibit and Adaptations Building will re-open on May 1.

Closure of the Night Exhibit is due to the need for the zoo to reduce annual expenses by $800,000 to $1 million in order to prevent a budget shortfall.  Since the Night Exhibit’s closure date was announced, the community has donated $5,500 to help modify existing areas for the remaining animals and to support their long-term care.  Donations are still being accepted online or by mail to the “Nocturnal Animal Fund” at Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St, Seattle WA 98103.

Despite local efforts to keep the Night Exhibit open, the Woodland Park Zoo is moving forward and closing it on March 1. 

(Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo)

According to a press release issued by the zoo, they needed to reduce their annual expense by $800,000 to $1 million for 2010. 

“Like everyone else in the region and the nation, the zoo also has been hit by the economy and we, too, need to trim expenses to allow us to operate sustainably over the long term,” said zoo President and CEO Dr. Deborah Jensen. “No one at the zoo is happy about closing an exhibit. We know our visitors feel a strong emotional connection to the zoo and each visitor has a favorite exhibit or animal they feel especially connected to. We are touched by the outpouring of support the community has expressed on Facebook and through emails, but we need to make sound, responsible decisions to help prevent a budget shortfall.”

It’s possible you may still get to see some of your favorite nocturnal creatures, though.  Several of the animals housed in the Night Exhibit will transfer to other exhibits within the zoo.  A pair of two-toed sloths will head over to the Tropical Rain Forest.  The Rodrigues Fruit bats (pictured below), tamanduas (South American anteaters) and springhaas (small Southeast African rodents) will all relocate to the Adaptations Building.  And a three-banded armadillo will be used as a presentation animal for the zoo’s up-close education programs.

(Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo)

Remaining animals will be transferred to other zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).  Three pygmy lorises will live in an exhibit off-view from the public so they can continue to participate in the zoo’s Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding program.  The hope is that they will return to view in the future.

A Facebook group banded together to try to save the Nocturnal House from closing but Jensen says funds raised could only provide a short-term solution.  She adds, “We can’t accept donations to keep the exhibit open but we would be very pleased to accept donations to help make modifications to existing areas for the Night Exhibit animals that will remain at the zoo and to support their long-term care, as well as for the evaluation of the building to determine its long-term operation.”

Donations can be made online to the ”Nocturnal Animal Fund” or you can mail them to: Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103.