BATON ROUGE- Commissioners on the public parks board voted Thursday to identify "alternative" locations for the Baton Rouge Zoo.

The decision waters down the original search proposal because it now directs BREC Superintendent Carolyn McKnight to give more consideration to keeping the zoo in Baker.

Relocating the zoo has galvanized many in North East Baton Rouge Parish who fear losing a major economic driver in the area. At the same time, many citizens support moving the zoo to another part of the parish where it will be more successful.

BREC also has to figure out how to pay for the move which has an estimated cost of $110 million. The board hopes private donors will support the move, otherwise tax payers may be asked to pay more.