Oakland Zoo's plans ruffle feathers - 2008

Oakland -- The Oakland Zoo is planning its first major expansion in nearly 50 years, hoping to push into 45 acres of Knowland Park, boost its annual visitors by 100,000 and add new animal exhibits, a veterinary hospital and a gondola ride.

The new exhibits are part of "California!," which will showcase the state's native plants and animals such as the grizzly bear, mountain lion, jaguar, wolf, eagle and California condor. But some zoo neighbors aren't happy about the zoo's eastward expansion into Knowland Park. They don't want lose open space to the zoo, noting that the 525-acre Knowland Park is public land deeded to the city.

"We're not opposed to the zoo as an entity," said Jason Webster, a member of the grassroots group Friends of Knowland Park, which wants to preserve the open space. "A majority of us respect the zoo. We're asking the zoo to restrict expansion."

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