With just three weeks to go before the opening of the summer season at Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough, staff have discovered the zoo’s much-loved miniature train has been damaged by vandals.
In a Facebook post on Saturday morning (April 30), zoo manager and curator Jim Moloney said vandals broke into the train tunnel — where the train was being stored over the winter.
Along with damaging the train, the vandals stole the train’s signature brass bell.
“In addition to the cost of repair/replacement, thoughtless acts like this really have a negative impact on our team of dedicated and passionate staff,” Moloney said.
The zoo has also been subject to other acts of vandalism in March, which have been reported to police. It is not known if the train was vandalized and the bell stolen during that time.
The popular miniature train ride runs during the zoo’s summer season, which begins on the Victoria Day weekend. Until the extent of the damage to the train has been evaluated, it’s not clear whether the train ride will be ready for the beginning of the summer season.
Some days at the Park and Zoo are more challenging than others. As you know, we've been working hard to have all of our…
Posted by Riverview Park & Zoo on Saturday, April 30, 2022
The zoo is asking anyone with information about the vandalism or the theft of the bell to contact Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.
If you want to donate to the zoo to help them with the cost of repairs or to replace the bell, visit forms.riverviewparkandzoo.ca/Donations.
Riverview Park and Zoo is Peterborough’s largest park and Canada’s only free-admission, CAZA-accredited zoo.
Established in 1974 by James Hamilton, the miniature train ride features a miniature replica of an 1860 locomotive (nicknamed “Rosco”). Last fall, the zoo began a $300,000 fundraising campaign to replace the aging locomotive by 2023, and raised almost $20,000 in 2021.
