By Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register
Blank Park Zoo has broken ground on a new facility to expand space for its African lions.
The Marjorie A. Foster Lion Conservation Center had a ceremonial groundbreaking on May 20. The new facility will more than triple Blank Park Zoo’s space for African lions while growing the zoo’s conservation efforts, according to a news release.
The expansion, first announced in April 2024, is part of a larger expansion of the zoo on Des Moines’ south side. The project is the largest Blank Park Zoo has undertaken in the last 40 years.
Where will the new lion conservation center be in Blank Park Zoo?
Visitors can find the new conservation center at the Jamaa Kwa Africa Section of Blank Park Zoo. It is between the Holmes Foster Event Center and the giraffe yard.
The center is named after longtime Blank Park Zoo supporter Marjorie Foster. Her gift was “instrumental” in making the addition come to fruition, according to the news release.
The Marjorie A. Foster Lion Conservation Center can house up to eight lions. The zoo currently has two lions on display. This will allow Blank Park’s lions to play a greater role in international breeding and species management efforts with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
“Lion populations in the wild have plummeted by more than 40% in just three decades,” Anne Shimerdla, president and CEO of Blank Park Zoo, said in a news release. “From advancing breeding efforts to helping our guests build deeper connections with these animals and the challenges they face, this new facility will link Iowa to a global mission to save African lions.”
When will the Majorie A. Foster Lion Conservation Center open at Blank Park Zoo?
The new lion conservation center at Blank Park Zoo will open in the summer of 2026. It will include two connected outdoor habitats and multiple immersive viewing experiences, according to the news release.
The space is designed with an airplane hangar theme, with an area that features real airplanes that guests and lions can interact with.
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