Editing Queens Zoo (section)

==== Opening and early years ====
[[File:Inside Queens Zoo dome jeh.jpg|thumb|right|Inside the aviary]]
The first animals began moving into the Heckscher Children's Farm in February 1968,<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 1056">{{Cite NY1960|page=1056 }}</ref><ref name="Scarborough 1968">{{Cite news |last=Scarborough |first=Linda |date=February 27, 1968 |title=Cow's Kidding Gets Builders' Goat at the Children's Farm in Queens |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-cows-kidding-gets-builders/153879219/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=18 }}</ref> and Moses dedicated the children's farm on February 28 of that year.<ref name="nyt-1968-02-29">{{Cite news |last=Asbury |first=Edith Evans |date=February 29, 1968 |title=Another Opening, Another Closing for Moses |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/02/29/archives/another-opening-another-closing-for-moses.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> Moses opened the rest of the Flushing Meadows Zoo on October 26, 1968.<ref name="Cohn 1968" /><ref name="nyt-1968-10-27" /> The children's farm was initially free to enter,<ref name="Martin 1968a">{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Jo |date=March 8, 1968 |title=Farm for Fun |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-farm-for-fun/153879339/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=48 }}</ref><ref name="Amon 1968">{{cite news |last=Amon |first=Rhoda |date=March 8, 1968 |title=With A Quack, Quack Here: Children's World |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-with-a-quack/153879463/ |access-date=August 23, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-with-a-quack/153879489/ 5B] |id={{ProQuest|915882235}} }}</ref> as was the rest of the zoo.<ref name="nyt-1968-10-27" /> The zoo also had pony rides and a carousel, for which an additional fee was charged.<ref name="Martin 1968a" /> Tatiana Gillette-Infante, a former [[debutante]], was hired as the Flushing Meadows Zoo's first supervisor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Herzig |first=Dorris |date=November 4, 1968 |title=Zoo Proves Exciting Habitat for Ex-Deb |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-zoo-proves-exci/153880109/ |access-date=August 23, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=3A |id={{ProQuest|915116202}} }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Medina |first=David |date=August 25, 1974 |title=Transfer to B'klyn Ruffles This Zookeeper's Feathers |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-transfer-to-bklyn-ruffles-th/153900100/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=4 }}</ref> Soon after the zoo opened, there were reports of people cutting fences, abusing the zoo's birds, and stealing animals from the children's farm for [[Joyride (crime)|joyrides]].<ref name="Dallas 1970">{{Cite news |last=Dallas |first=Gus |date=October 16, 1970 |title=Mama Bird Shuts Aviary |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-mama-bird-shuts-aviary/153899841/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=4 }}</ref> In addition, the zoo frequently experienced [[power outage|blackout]]s,<ref name="Dallas 1970" /><ref name="nyt-1970-08-08" /> as the park's underground electrical ducts ran through marshland.<ref name="Dallas 1970" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1971 |title=City to Repair Old Singer Bowl on Fair Grounds |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/02/28/archives/city-to-repair-old-singer-bowl-on-fair-grounds.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> The zoo recorded 100 blackouts in its first three years,<ref name="Daily News 1971" /> some of which had lasted as long as five days.<ref name="nyt-1970-08-08" /> These issues prompted Gillette-Infante to request that the city hire more zookeepers.<ref name="Dallas 1970" />

By the early 1970s, Gillette-Infante alleged that the city government was neglecting the zoo.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Devlin |first=John C. |date=February 21, 1971 |title=Keeper of Small Zoo in Flushing Meadow Says City Neglects |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/02/21/archives/keeper-of-small-zoo-in-flushing-meadow-says-city-neglects-it.html |access-date=August 23, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref><ref name="McMorrow 1971">{{Cite news |last=McMorrow |first=Tom |date=June 13, 1971 |title=2 Keepers Back, Zoo Opens After 4 Days |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-2-keepers-back-zoo-opens-aft/153898361/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=161 }}</ref> She temporarily closed the aviary in October 1970 due to staffing shortages,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dallas |first=Gus |date=October 19, 1970 |title=Queens Zoo Is for the Birds Again |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-queens-zoo-is-for-the-birds-a/153899460/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=297 }}</ref> and she closed the entire zoo the following June for similar reasons.<ref name="McMorrow 1971" /> Gillette-Infante also wanted the city government to upgrade the zoo's electrical system,<ref name="nyt-1970-08-08">{{Cite news |last=Devlin |first=John C. |date=August 8, 1970 |title=Supervisor of Queens Zoo Says Electric Losses Peril Animals |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/08/archives/supervisor-of-queens-zoo-says-electric-losses-peril-animals.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref><ref name="Daily News 1971">{{Cite news |date=February 25, 1971 |title=Tatiana Blasts Parks Dept. For Blackouts at Zoo |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-tatiana-blasts-parks-dept-fo/153899064/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=353 }}</ref> and NYC Parks added a secondary power supply to the zoo in 1970.<ref name="Dallas 1970" /> The aviary temporarily closed in May 1971 because visitors frequently attacked the birds and because the aviary's paths kept collapsing.<ref name="nyt-1973-07-23">{{Cite news |date=July 23, 1973 |title=Aviary's Plan to Reopen Is Plagued by Problems |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/23/archives/aviarys-plan-to-reopen-is-plagued-by-problems-design-criticized.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> Due to a lack of city funding, City Council member [[Thomas Manton (politician)|Thomas Manton]] warned in 1971 that the zoo might have to scale back its activities or even close altogether.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 9, 1971 |title=Asks Funds for Culture in Queens |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-asks-funds-for-culture-in-que/153900368/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=360 }}</ref> The city government began regularly checking up on the zoo's animals in 1972,<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 19, 1972 |title=City Begins Regular Medical Checks on 800 Animals |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/19/archives/city-begins-regular-medical-checks-on-800-animals.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> and Gillette-Infante wanted the city to add an animal clinic and a [[quarantine]] facility for newly arrived animals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=David |date=May 20, 1973 |title=Woman Rides Herd on Queens Zoo |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/20/archives/woman-rides-herd-on-queens-zoo.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> As part of a planned [[United States Bicentennial]] celebration at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, there were proposals to renovate the zoo.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Peter |date=July 5, 1972 |title=Want Flushing Park for the Bicentennial |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-want-flushing-park-for-the-bi/149066585/ |access-date=August 22, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=206 }}</ref>