The Cotton family – led by Detroit Zoological Society board member Shery Cotton and husband David Cotton – has donated $500,000 toward the development of a wolf habitat at the Detroit Zoo. The leadership gift was announced recently at a party for benefactors of the DZS’s annual fundraiser Sunset at the Zoo, slated for June 13. The gathering was hosted by Nancy and Sean Cotton at their home in Grosse Pointe Farms.
Construction will begin this year on the new wolf habitat at the southwest corner of the Zoo. The design will include grassy meadows, trees, a flowing stream and pond, wolf dens and elevated rock outcroppings from which the wolves can survey their surroundings and Zoo visitors. The habitat will open in 2015.
“We’re so grateful to the Cotton family for helping to make the wolf habitat a reality,” said Ron Kagan, DZS executive director and CEO. “Once again, they have combined their love of wildlife and the Detroit Zoo to help us continue building an exciting future.”
The Cottons – along with sons Sean, Jon and Michael – also donated the lead gift for the development of the Cotton Family Wetlands and Boardwalk at the Zoo.
“Our family is honored to support this project and to help bring this native species back to the Detroit Zoo for the first time in 25 years,” said David Cotton. “For decades, the Zoo has played an important role in the conservation of wolves in Michigan.”
In 1952, the Detroit Zoo sent four wolves to Isle Royale in the Upper Peninsula to be released as part of a program to re-establish the species. As with other Michigan native animals living at the Zoo, the DZS is also engaged in helping wolves in the wild by endorsing the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign. The coalition of conservation and animal protection organizations, Native American tribes, wildlife biologists, veterinarians, hunters, farmers and others is committed to conserving the state’s small population of wolves.
Additional funds to support the wolf habitat will be raised at Sunset at the Zoo – themed “Howling at the Moon” – from 7-11:30 p.m. on June 13. Presented by Strategic Staffing Solutions, the 21-and-older gala offers a strolling supper with tastes of signature dishes from 40 of the area’s finest restaurants as well as desserts and zoo-themed specialty drinks. The event also features live entertainment, dancing in the moonlight, live and silent auctions and access to the Zoo’s award-winning animal habitats as the sun goes down.
To purchase tickets, visit detroitzoo.org/sunset.
— From staff reports