The Academy of Natural Sciences' live animals have new homes, and its animal care team is out of work

The closed Academy of Natural Sciences has given away its live animals. More than 30 animals with backbones, plus at least six colonies of invertebrates, were rehomed by the start of November, and the museum's animal programs team worked its last day on Nov. 1, the Inquirer reported.

For families who visited the Parkway museum's live animal programs, it is another sign of how far the closure has gone. When Council recessed its hearing in October, it committed to working with all the stakeholders on a path to reopening the Academy to the public, Broad and Market reported.

Where the animals went

According to the Inquirer:

• Philadelphia Zoo: an African bullfrog, a yellow-margined box turtle, a wood turtle and several tree frogs.
• Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton, N.J.: two leopard tortoises, a red-footed tortoise and two armadillos.
• Elsewhere: older animals went to private homes, and others to sanctuaries, museums and zoos. A former staffer took hissing cockroaches, vinegaroons and spiders for teaching programs at Penn Vet. Every animal stayed within a two-hour drive.

A former animal programs coordinator told the paper the closure "feels very, very permanent." The article did not say how many people lost their jobs in all.

The money dispute

Drexel University, which has been affiliated with the Academy since 2011, estimates the deficit that led to the closure at $4.4 million. Academy Board Chair Suzanne Biemiller says recent financial documents put it as low as $960,000, the Inquirer reported. The museum closed to the public Sept. 27, almost four weeks after the Sept. 1 announcement.

What our records add

Council has three tracks open on the Academy:

• The oversight hearing. Resolution 260737, from 5th District Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., authorized hearings with subpoena power. The first session, Oct. 26, was recessed rather than closed (our story). It resumes Monday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m., with Deputy Mayor Trish Wellenbach and Drexel President Antonio Merlo under subpoena (meeting page, our subpoena story).
• A task force. Nina Ahmad's Resolution 260944 would have the Committee on Public Health and Human Services create a task force on the Academy's future, including reopening the museum and long-term funding. It is on the final passage calendar and could be adopted at the Nov. 12 stated meeting (our story).
• Zoning. Young's Bill 260764 would set use restrictions in part of the Fifth District Overlay. It is on the Nov. 17 Rules Committee agenda (our preview).

None of these can make Drexel reopen the museum. A hearing can compel testimony, a task force can study options, and a zoning bill can limit what is built on a site. Reopening would take an agreement among Drexel, the Academy's board and whoever pays.

What's next

• Nov. 12: possible vote on the task force resolution.
• Nov. 16, 10 a.m.: the Legislative Oversight hearing resumes in Room 400. Our meeting page will add video and a transcript once posted.
• Nov. 17, 10 a.m.: Rules Committee hearing on the overlay bill.