COLUMBUS — The Columbus Zoo is helping a southeast Ohio animal preserve with shaky finances in what could be the first step toward a merger.

        On June 12 the zoo agreed to manage much of the business side of the Wilds, which covers about 9,100 acres of reclaimed strip-mined land donated in 1986 by American Electric Power in Muskingum and Guernsey counties for animal conservation.

        Since it opened to the public in 1994, attendance has dwindled, donations have shrunk and state funding has been sliced.

        Last year, the preserve attracted about 63,000 people. It has an operating budget of about $2 million a year.

        Last year, the state cut the $1 million it budgeted for the Wilds by 30 percent. The cut, combined with a drop in private donations, decreased the organization's revenue by 31 percent from 2001 to 2002. Eight Wilds employees left or were laid off, shrinking the full-time year-round staff to 25.

        Faced with those problems, the board of the preserve decided to ask the zoo for help.

        If finances improve, the Wilds will pay the zoo $5,000 a month.

        “I don't expect to see any money this year,” said zoo director Jerry Borin. “But there's opportunity here, and we just have to figure it out. Can we make it work? The more important thing is we need to stabilize the Wilds financially and help this project keep moving forward.”

        The zoo will evaluate its agreement with the Wilds at the end of the year and could opt out, continue or “combine everything, and the Wilds would become part of the zoo,” Mr. Borin said.

        The organizations' boards would have to approve. No money would change hands, said Patti Peters, associate zoo director.

        “We're not going to do anything to jeopardize our operations, and we've been very careful we don't use any public dollars to support them,” she said. “If we feel we can't make a go of it, we would be willing to walk away.

        “But it would cost no more money to promote both of us as to promote just one of us. It's a living laboratory out there, and it's a huge opportunity for us.”

        Evan Blumer, director of the Wilds, said the biggest problems it faces are balancing its public side with its research goals and familiarizing people with it.

        “We think the two sides of the Wilds are not mutually exclusive,” he said. “We think the activities we do here can be enjoyable to watch and be "edutainment.”'

        The preserve is about 70 miles east of Columbus and has 12 major metropolitan areas within a five-hour drive, but is in a rural area with no motels or large towns nearby. Mr. Blumer said more promotion would be helpful.

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