© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bridgeport’s Beardsley Zoo to receive state funding for tiger exhibit expansion

Connecticut will release $4 million in state funding to support upgrades at Bridgeport's Beardsley Zoo.

Governor Ned Lamont said the funding will help upgrade educational tools for visitors and school students who visit the zoo.

“A zoo is about learning, but it’s also about learning to learn and falling in love with learning,” Lamont said. “It’s also about how many biologists are going to be creative because they came here to the Beardsley Zoo and saw the amazing animals up front and were able to enjoy it.”

Beardsley Zoo Executive Director Gregg Dancho said much of the money will go towards an expansion of the Tiger habitat.

“It’s not giving the guests the experience they should be getting for such a magnificent animal,” Dancho said. “I’m so excited, personally, that we’re able to do this for the zoo and for our guests to build a much larger area for the tigers and better views for our guests to see the tigers.”

Lamont also called the funding critical to Bridgeport’s role in the tourism industry.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content