MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At the main entrance of the Memphis Zoo, vandals have once again left their mark.
Photos show the alligator gate entrance was covered with a red liquid that police said appeared to be blood.
Vulgar drawings and profanity were also found, and a zoo padlock had been glued and repairs had to be made.
James Wolfe and his family are from Byhalia, Mississippi.
They’re disappointed by what they saw.
“It’s kind of disgusting people would do that type of thing. It’s no reason to break the law and start vandalizing and tearing up things. Again, it’s going to cost money to fix,” Wolfe said.
One picture left behind seems to imply the vandalism was motivated by the ongoing controversy over zoo parking on sections of the Overton Park Greensward.
But in a statement emailed to WREG, the Overton Park Conservancy said “It condemns vandalism in the park and zoo property is no exception.
It also said “the vast majority of park visitors recognize that property destruction is an inappropriate way to show support for the park, and it’s unfortunate that someone acted otherwise.”
Jared Whitaker and Grace Bates are zoo visitors.
“It’s kind of ridiculous and childlike. This a major place in Memphis and in the country,” Whitaker said.
“People like coming here and when they do this, it’s like disrespecting what Memphis has,” Bates said.
Angela Jones said she can’t understand why someone would take these actions.
“It’s not going to solve anything by messing up someone else’s property,” Jones said.
The Memphis Zoo does have security patrolling the area, which we saw while we were here, but so far they haven’t been able to pinpoint the person responsible.
Zoo officials told WREG they’ve hired additional security to protect zoo property.
They also had Skycop police cameras installed nearby.
They said its unfortunate a great institution in Memphis has become the subject of crime.
Sara Pierce, with Skyline Church of Christ Summer Camp in Jackson, Tennessee agreed.
“It’s sad to know that people are want to vandalize that when it’s here for families and people of Memphis,” Pierce said.
The Zoo said anyone who knows anything about the vandals should call Memphis P
(Right) The Zoo said the alligator gates had the same message. Photos: Memphis Zoo
olice.
