ATHENS, Ga.- After three weeks of construction and countless hours of intense labor, the bear observation deck at Bear Hollow Zoo has a noticeable new look.

Clinton Murphy, the zoological coordinator at Bear Hollow Zoo said the renovations made were normal protocol to keep the zoo up-to-date.

“Who needs a gym, right, when you got eight by eights, 12-foot-long and post hole dig going on,” Murphy said.

The changes to the observation deck are now more consistent with safety designs being implemented all around Athens-Clarke County.

Murphy said the design is very safe and will hold thousands of people who visit the zoo in the next several years.

“People were very understanding but a little inconvenienced,” Murphy said.

Renovations to the bear observation deck were made just in time for zoo’s bears’ birthdays on April 1.

Updates to the red tail hawk exhibit are next on the docket for Murphy and his team.

By: Chelsey Shirley