Hollywild still open, in need of winter funds

Nearly nine months have passed since the Jan. 4 fire at Hollywild that claimed 27 of the park’s animals, and officials want the public to know that they’re open and the animals that survived smoke inhalation are doing well.

On Thursday, surviving tortoises, bear cubs, wolf puppies and baboons played while Hollywild Executive Director Kim Atchley talked about the park’s last several months.

“We had a real jolt to our heart in January,” she said. “We had a tragic fire, but we have had great survivorship coming out of that tragedy. And that’s what we’re celebrating today. We’ve been celebrating it all season. We also want to let you know where we are as an organization and with these precious animals that rely upon us to give them a good home.”

In order to continue giving them a good home, the animal park is in need of assistance from the community.

The fire left the park with the question of how to shelter its animals from colder weather.

Atchley said the baboons – Priscilla and PJ – are in need of a heated building once temperatures drop into the low to mid 50s.

“Winter’s coming. You feel it in the nip in the air today, and yet we have not been able to finish the primate barn restoration yet,” she said. “We’ve gotten some work done thanks to some donations, but we’ve launched a “Winter is Coming” fundraising campaign and that’s part of what we’ve been doing as an organization to survive through the winter to survive to at this point because we’ve had a lot of challenges this year.”

The campaign’s purpose is to finish the barn, but additional supplies and labor are needed. The nonprofit estimates the roof of the barn alone should cost $7,000, and they also have to figure in the new lighting and electrical work need. Overall the project is going to cost a minimum of $15,000.

“We are far from the goal needed to get that barn done and keep things moving,” she explained.

With the fire, many have assumed the park was not open. That’s not been the case, the director said, however, the perception that they have not been open has led to half of the admissions of a normal year. Consequently, Hollywild is looking at a shortfall of over $150,000, Atchley said.

“We really need our community to step up and realize not only are we here, but we need your help,” she said. “We’re inviting you to help us move forward, build for the future and get these primates their winter home.”

With cooler weather on the horizon, Hollywild is in need of assistance soon. Atchley said they need funding to come in for the barn by early October. If they do not receive the funding they need, the park will have to look to one of its off-site care partners.

“We really believe that the best place for our animals is here where we know them,” she said. “We know their behavior. We know the toys they like. We know the diets that they need and want.”

While Atchley conveyed the needs of the park, the animals continued to play as usual.

Lady, a Timber Wolf hybrid, only a month old at the time of the fire, continues to enjoy visitors and grow into a larger puppy.

“Lady is no longer a puppy,” Atchley said. “She’s a puppy in behavior, but not in size.”

Speedy the tortoise continues to skirt across the grounds, raising the interests of larger animals like Lady. While Speedy experienced some heat related issues, his shell was conditioned and he is fine now.

“He really is much faster than people give him credit for,” Atchley said.

The general public is still able to visit with these animals on weekends through Oct. 25. The park will also continue with its annual Holiday Lights Safari season, in its 25th year.

Those interested in giving to Hollywild may give online at www.hollywild.org or by calling 472-2038.

kmaple@greercitizen.com | 877-2076