Illinois wildlife park moves forward after ordinance change

the Moultrie County Board voted 8-1 Thursday to make the change. It allows banker James Aikman, who's behind the plan, to apply for a special-use permit to turn 45 acres south of Arthur into a walkable, drivable park where people could see animals such as bison, deer, llamas and camels.

Aikman has said larger predators would be added to the park a few years later.

Local landowners and the Animal Legal Defense Fund are among critics of the plan. Their concerns include safety, animal welfare, and the impact on surrounding farmland and the environment.