Como Zoo Wants $20 Million to Replace Its Crumbling Big Cat Exhibit in St. Paul
What’s Happening at Como Zoo Right Now
Como Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul is asking the Minnesota state legislature for $20 million in bonding funds to build a new $25 million big cat habitat. The funding request was presented to the House Capital Investment Committee in late April 2026 and is expected to be considered as part of a broader 2026 state bonding bill.
The current exhibit, home to lions, snow leopards, and other large felines, is nearly 50 years old. Scaffolding is currently holding up the visitor walkways, and the building leaks when it rains. Erica Prosser, deputy director of parks and recreation for the city of St. Paul, told lawmakers the facility has reached the end of its useful life for both visitors and the animals housed there.
What Happens If the Funding Doesn’t Come Through
The stakes are significant. Without reinvestment, Como Zoo has identified three potential outcomes: being forced to relocate its big cats to other facilities, closing nearly one-sixth of the zoo’s total visitor experience, and potentially losing its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
That last point matters for a zoo that is completely free to visit and welcomes up to 2.2 million people every year. Accreditation affects the zoo’s ability to participate in national animal care and breeding programs, which are central to how modern zoos operate.
What the New Exhibit Would Look Like
The new habitat is designed with animal welfare as the primary focus. According to the project narrative, the facility would support natural behaviors and species-specific needs with updated living spaces. One of the most visible changes for visitors would be the shift from looking down on animals from elevated walkways to standing eye-to-eye with the big cats through new glass panels.
Jill Erzar, a zookeeper at Como Zoo, told lawmakers the current elevated design makes it difficult to connect visitors with the animals. She also noted the current facility lacks the infrastructure to properly care for newborn or older animals, a gap the new design would address.
The Project Timeline
If the bonding bill passes, the zoo plans to bid out the project between May and June of 2027, begin construction in July 2027, and hold a grand opening in spring 2029.
The project funding includes $20 million requested from the state, $3.4 million committed by Como Friends (the zoo’s nonprofit partner), and an additional amount to reach the full $25 million project cost. The House Capital Investment Committee has not yet acted on the request. Negotiations over the overall size of the 2026 bonding bill are ongoing, with estimates ranging from around $1 billion to upward of $1.4 billion depending on which legislative caucus is leading the discussion.
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