In this episode of That’s Wild, hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock go behind the scenes of the Little Rock Zoo’s massive transformation: Project Zoo: Wildly Reimagined. Joined by Ben Beggs, President of Flintco Inc., the team discusses the unique challenges and fascinating details involved in building world-class animal habitats.
Highlights from this episode include:
- Building for Animals vs. Humans: From "dig barriers" that prevent escape to specialized "low-E" glass that lets in vital UV light for tortoises, learn how construction changes when the clients have paws and shells.
- The "Foreman" Orangutan: Ben shares what it’s like to work under the watchful, judgmental eye of the zoo’s primates during the construction process.
- Sustainable Foundations: Discover how the zoo recycled concrete from its historic 1970s structures to create the landfill for the new six-building complex.
- Nature-First Design: A deep dive into the artistry of hand-woven wire mesh and hand-selected forest trees used to create authentic, enriching environments for lemurs, squirrel monkeys, and capybaras.
- Wild News of the Week: The hosts discuss bizarre construction bans in China and the arrival of eight rescued big cats at Arkansas's own Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
As the Little Rock Zoo celebrates its centennial year, this episode highlights the pride and precision going into the next 100 years of wildlife conservation and community connection.
