Pittsburgh Zoo open as usual after tornado

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium opened at its normal time of 9:30 a.m. Saturday with modified operations as crews continued to clear debris from Friday’s tornado.

A statement issued by spokeswoman Alex Cauley said zoo officials had recommended arriving after 11 a.m. and noted there would be some temporary restrictions to access.

It read, “Portions of the pathway, particularly near the Tropical Forest Complex, Jambo Plaza, and the Islands, will be inaccessible at times.

“Viewing of multiple animals will be delayed and some will remain in indoor or behind-the-scenes areas today as their public outdoor habitats are verified to be safe from debris.”

The statement reiterated that the animals were unharmed from Friday’s tornado and that patrons and staff who sheltered in place were also unhurt.

The zoo “experienced multiple downed trees, several damaged fences, a power outage, and toppled objects, branches, and debris throughout the park,” the zoo’s statement read. “A large tree fell on a vehicle in our parking lot.”

But buildings were not significantly damaged and work continued through the night to restore power and restore as much access to pathways as possible.

The statement said that while a tornado was a new experience for the zoo, it was prepared. It praised the efforts by the staff.