Royal Oak, Michigan, July 31, 2008—A polar bear shakes off its coat at the Detroit Zoo —a display that perhaps helped persuade voters to approve a property tax hike needed to keep the zoo afloat.

The measure, which will add about $15 million a year for the next ten years to the zoo's operating budget, passed Tuesday.

"It's a pretty strong message that the community believes our zoo is worth keeping," zoo director Ron Kagan told the Associated Press.