Editing Queens Zoo (section)

==== Mid- and late 1970s ====
The Flushing Meadows Zoo continued to experience maintenance, funding, and staffing issues during the mid-1970s, and electricity was still inconsistent.<ref name="nyt-1973-07-23" /><ref name="Lisker 1973">{{Cite news |last=Lisker |first=Jerry |date=July 15, 1973 |title=Seeds of a Future in Ailing Park? |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-seeds-of-a-future-in-ailing-p/147581134/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=62, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-seeds-of-a-future-in-ailing-p/153902466/ 63] }}</ref> The lack of money and staff forced the zoo to postpone a planned renovation of the aviary in early 1973.<ref name="nyt-1973-07-23" /> There were discussions about reopening the zoo's aviary in mid-1973,<ref name="nyt-1973-07-23" /> though the aviary remained closed over the following months.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peck |first=Richard |date=October 21, 1973 |title=In Flushing Meadows The Glitter Is Gone But Hope Still Flourishes |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/21/archives/in-flushing-meadows-the-glitter-is-gone-but-hope-still-flourishes.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 8, 1974 |title=World Fair Tarries at New York Park Site: Fixtures Torn Out |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=3B |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|511663957}} }}</ref> The zoo's insect house was also shuttered.<ref name="Lisker 1973" /> Security at the zoo was increased in 1974 following several incidents at the [[Prospect Park Zoo|Prospect Park]] and [[Central Park Zoo|Central Park]] zoos. Additional policemen were stationed in the surrounding area, and the zoo began employing curatorial staff 24 hours a day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wyatt |first=Hugh |date=March 13, 1974 |title=Zoos to Guard Against Beasts |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-zoos-to-guard-against-beasts/153904940/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=61 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Franks |first=Lucinda |date=March 13, 1974 |title=New Security System Installed at Zoos |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/13/archives/new-security-system-installed-at-zoos.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> Shirley Weinstein of the Mid-Queens Community Council alleged that the zoo was being neglected;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rabin |first=Bernard |date=October 7, 1974 |title=Clamor Rises Over Grand Prix |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-clamor-rises-over-grand-prix/153906402/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=302 }}</ref> at the time, the zoo had over 100 animals.<ref name="Duggan 1975">{{Cite news |last=Duggan |first=Dennis |date=January 2, 1975 |title=Zoo Story: The City Wants Out |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-zoo-story-the/153906736/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=180, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-zoo-story-the/153906853/ 195], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-zoo-story-the/153906894/ 196] }}</ref> Gillette-Infante recalled that local residents often left unwanted pets there in the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirkman |first=Edward |date=December 6, 1979 |title=She'd Keep Politics out of Zoos |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-shed-keep-politics-out-of-zo/154002885/ |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=908 }}</ref>

NYC Parks commissioned the naturalist [[Roger A. Caras]] in 1974 to study conditions in the city's three municipal zoos at Flushing Meadows, Central Park, and Prospect Park.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 14, 1974 |title=Metropolitan Briefs |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/04/14/archives/metropolitan-briefs-cut-in-subway-fare-draws-riders.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=O'Flaherty |first=Mary |date=September 8, 1974 |title=Getting Jungle Out of Prospect Zoo |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-getting-jungle-out-of-prospec/153906289/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=116 }}</ref> Though Caras found fewer problems at the Flushing Meadows Zoo than the two other zoos,<ref name="The New York Times 1975">{{Cite news |date=January 30, 1975 |title=Central Park Zoo Plan Would Ban Big Animals |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/30/archives/central-park-zoo-plan-would-ban-big-animals.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502185504/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/30/archives/central-park-zoo-plan-would-ban-big-animals.html |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=May 2, 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref><ref name="Duggan 1975" /> he recommended that all three zoos be taken over by the [[New York Zoological Society]].<ref name="The New York Times 1975" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=November 24, 1974 |title=Animal Lib: Taking the Zoo Seriously |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-animal-lib-taking-the-zoo-se/153906155/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=21 }}</ref> City parks commissioner [[Edwin L. Weisl]] also supported the takeover,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Devlin |first=John C. |date=November 16, 1974 |title=City Urged to Forgo Control of Its 3 Zoos |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/11/16/archives/city-urged-to-forgo-control-of-its-3-zoos-advantages-summarized.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=November 16, 1974 |title=Urges City Give Up Zoos |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-urges-city-give-up-zoos/153906257/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=5 }}</ref> and he preferred that the zoos be closed if the Zoological Society could not take over operations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 30, 1975 |title=Metropolitan Briefs |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/30/archives/metropolitan-briefs-25-indicted-in-betting-scheme-large-animals-may.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> By the beginning of 1975, the city was negotiating to transfer operation of the zoos to the Zoological Society.<ref name="Duggan 1975" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Coutros |first=Peter |date=January 30, 1975 |title=City Getting Out of Monkey Biz |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-city-getting-out-of-monkey-bi/153906596/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=5 }}</ref> Protestors wanted the zoos to be closed entirely,<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnston |first=Laurie |date=November 18, 1974 |title=Protesters Demand City Shut Its 3 Zoos |work=The New York Times |page=72 |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|119987241}} }}</ref> and the Society for Animal Rights sued in April 1975 to compel the city to close the three municipal zoos.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 10, 1975 |title=Suit Seeks to Shut 3 Zoos in City Parks As Cause of Cruelty |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/10/archives/suit-seeks-to-shut-3-zoos-in-city-parks-as-cause-of-cruelty.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> The city government also sold off some of the zoos' animals, citing overcrowding.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Barbara |date=April 16, 1975 |title=City Auctions 90 Surplus Zoo Animals |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/16/archives/city-auctions-90-surplus-zoo-animals.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Miele |first=Alfred |date=March 30, 1975 |title=Hey Tiger, Need a Pet? |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-hey-tiger-need-a-pet/153907051/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=4 }}</ref> A state-government report questioned whether the city government, which was in the midst of [[1975 New York City fiscal crisis|a major fiscal crisis]], should be using its limited funds to maintain the Flushing Meadows Zoo and the city's other small zoos.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stern |first=Michael |date=June 1, 1975 |title=Experts Offer Alternatives To Proposed City Layoffs |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/01/archives/experts-offer-alternatives-to-proposed-city-layoffs-among-them-are.html |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> The aviary remained closed during the late 1970s,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 4, 1977 |title=Zoos Won't Close, Parks Chief Assures |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-zoos-wont-close-parks-chief/153909294/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=663 }}</ref><ref name="nyt-1979-11-27">{{Cite news |last=Alston |first=Blanche Cordelia |date=November 27, 1979 |title=Officials Bemoan State of Queens Zoo |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/27/archives/officials-bemoan-state-of-queens-zoo.html |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> and the zoo's last seals died in 1976.<ref name="Banner 1981">{{Cite news |last=Banner |first=Randy |date=July 2, 1981 |title=4 Sea Lion Pups Find New Home in Flushing Zoo |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-4-sea-lion-pups-find-new-home-in/154005988/ |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=3 }}</ref>

The zoo's opponents continued to advocate for its closure. Tony Carding of the World Federation for the Protection of Animals wrote that, while the zoo was "a more humane and potentially educational attempt at exposing captive wild animals to public view", the site had high amounts of noise pollution.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Asbury |first=Edith Evans |date=June 1, 1976 |title='Shameful Conditions' at New York Zoos Reported by Group That Seeks to Shut |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/01/archives/shameful-conditions-at-new-york-zoos-reported-by-group-that-seeks.html |access-date=August 25, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> A groundhog pen was added to the zoo in 1978.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singleton |first=Donald |date=February 3, 1978 |title=News Buys Groundhog for the Five Burrows |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-news-buys-groundhog-for-the-f/154002253/ |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=669 }}</ref> The same year, U.S. Congressman [[Benjamin Rosenthal]] proposed adding the surrounding park to the [[Gateway National Recreation Area]], allowing the [[National Park Service]] to take over the zoo's operation,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Laurie |date=February 13, 1978 |title=Bill Pushed to Give Gateway Area Park Corridor Through Queens |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/13/archives/bill-pushed-to-give-gateway-area-park-corridor-through-queens-city.html |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> but this legislation was not successful.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gianotti |first=Peter M. |date=July 26, 1978 |title=Flushing Park Bill Stalled |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-flushing-park-bill-stalled/154002133/ |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=7 }}</ref> By the following year, the zoo had only five exhibits, and it suffered from a lack of funds and staff.<ref name="nyt-1979-11-27" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirkman |first=Edward |date=November 27, 1979 |title=Decry Few Animals at the Zoo |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-decry-few-animals-at-the-zoo/153913884/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=363 }}</ref><ref name="Logan 1979">{{Cite news |last=Logan |first=Betti |date=November 27, 1979 |title=Corona Park Zoo: Trying to Restore a Fallen Facility |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-corona-park-zoo-trying-to-resto/154002495/ |access-date=August 26, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=6 }}</ref> The seal pool was completely empty,<ref name="nyt-1979-11-27" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirkman |first=Edward |date=November 28, 1979 |title=4 Sea Lions to Be the Zoo's Who |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-4-sea-lions-to-be-the-zoos-w/153914006/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=650 }}</ref> and the zoo as a whole did not have many North American animals.<ref name="Logan 1979" /> Further contributing to its unpopularity, the Flushing Meadows Zoo closed at 4 p.m. each day, and the city government was not planning any major renovations.<ref name="Logan 1979" />