GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Otters at John Ball Zoo are getting a major upgrade, as a new habitat triples their space, boosts water volume and adds interactive elements to encourage natural play and foraging.
The 3,200-square-foot habitat was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, May 21, at the zoo in Grand Rapids. Funded by the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation, it replaces a decades-old exhibit and introduces new interactive features alongside messaging about conservation efforts.
At its core, the project goes beyond aesthetics, aiming to enrich the otters’ daily lives, animal care supervisor Jamie Riccalla said. It also draws guests into a broader conservation story through immersive, environmentally minded design…