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Every year hundreds of thousands of people take in the sights and sounds at Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo.

The effort to preserve the 41-year-old zoo is in motion.  The goal is to improve security measures that will keep the environment, family friendly. 

In the past, visitors enjoying the nearly river have harassed zoo patrons in the parking lot.

"When the zoo was formed back in 1969, there were rules that were established to actually help us inside the zoo," said Riverbanks Zoo Executive Director Satch Krantz.  "But there was very little attention paid to the parking lot."

Krantz says the animals aren't the only ones protecting its territory at the zoo; the police may soon beef-up its efforts as well.

"This is not aimed at the regular zoo visitor," said Krantz.  "This is aimed at the activities that occur in our parking lot, usually late in the afternoon associated with people trying to access the river."

The effort to protect the zoo has made its way to the State House.  Senator Ronnie Cromer is leading the effort to make it lawful to enforce stiffer penalties against those causing chaos outside the zoo.

"We like to feel like it will make you and I, and all of the visitors, feel a little bit more comfortable in the fact that the zoo now has legal authority through statue to be able to enforce these rules and regulations," said Cromer.

The proposed zoo bill has passed the Senate and if it passes two votes in the full House, it moves on to the Governor's desk.