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Could Cincinnati Zoo cat farm be in works?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Warren County officials say discussions they've had with the Cincinnati Zoo about the 528 acres it owns in Turtlecreek Twp. have been pretty vague.
Warren County Commissioner Pat South said she's been getting e-mails from people regarding a recent news article about a rare cat breeding farm the zoo might locate on some of its property located south of Ohio 63, west of Ohio 741 and north of Brewer Road.
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"Somebody said, 'Oh boy, just what we need a cat breeding center, with all the cats we've got running around,'" she joked. "We've been getting all kinds of responses."
South said she and other county officials met with some zoo officials several weeks ago, and they indicated they are thinking about breeding the rare cats on the smaller 100-acre parcel — the zoo has several parcels in the township.
Bob Craig, executive director of the Regional Planning Commission, said the zoo hasn't offered a development plan, but it sounds like they want to set up an operation similar to what they are doing in Clermont County, one that is a money-maker he said.
"My understanding is, just from visiting the zoo, that program makes money," said. "They can do like a test tube baby and invitro-fertilization program, and it's so successful they can sell kitten and pups for a profit to other zoos."
Recently the zoo properties popped on the radar screen of the newly formed performing arts council, but it is only of many potential sites.
The Warren County Convention and Visitor's Bureau has also eyed the property as a potential location for a sports park. Executive Director Shirley Bonekemper said she is still tweaking those plans and will be looking for private donations as seed money before she takes it to the county.
Three years ago, zoo officials said they planned to build a zoo annex on the land, but Bonekemper said the zoo switched the focus on Warren in favor of a $25 million capital campaign for its main zoo.
Despite several attempts, zoo officials could not be reached for comment.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
