McKnight said her decision to quit was ‘heart wrenching’, but that she was to take a year out to ‘jump into a dream’.

“I have chosen to take a year out of this wonderful, challenging zoo world and spend time painting and travelling,” she said. “I hope to stay attached to the zoo and help it continue to grow especially in its quest to become a true conservation hub for the county as well as helping design future animal habitats.”

During her six-year tenure, the zoo has tripled its income and maintained a ratio of covering 95 per cent of the operational costs by revenues from admissions and retail sales.

She also oversaw the zoo’s largest expansion – Expedition Africa – and the inclusion of a 12-acre wetland complete with a kayaking experience.

The board has announced it will begin searching for a new director shortly. Details: www.brevardzoo.org

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