Enter the Not-so-Scary Haunted Village and Peek Into the Pumpkin Patch Barn

By Karen Hill

Chesterfield, MO - Kids, don your Halloween costume and head to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House for a ghostly good time! The “Bootterflies” Halloween party features two days of non-scary activities and crafts designed for families with children ages 3 through 10. Join the fun on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 and 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Activities are included with Butterfly House admission.

Enter the not-so-scary Haunted Village and peek into the Pumpkin Patch Barn, Tiny-Bit Mad Scientist Lab, Buggy’s Halloween Party and Bugtilda the Witch’s Boarding House.

Labor Day Programs Included With Admission, Including Live Animal Encounters

By Amy Kilgore

Kure Beach, NC - Hurricane Earl has blown through and it’s going to be a beautiful weekend along the Cape Fear Coast. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is open during normal business hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 6.

Enjoy favorite programs included with admission, including dive presentations, live animal encounters, animal feedings and more. Or sign up for one of the following programs by calling 910-458-7468.

New Exhibit Will be Home to Two of Potter Park Zoo’s Eurasian Eagle Owls

By Billie Harris

Lansing, MI - The public is invited to join Potter Park Zoo on Sunday, September 12 as we celebrate the grand opening of a new Eurasian Eagle Owl exhibit.

The approximately 1,060-square-foot exhibit will be home to two of the Zoo’s Eurasian Eagle Owls. The new exhibit provides an enhanced environment for the birds as well as a better visitor experience with increased visibility for bird-watchers. New landscaping, designed to replicate areas of Northern Europe, provides visitors a glimpse into the natural surroundings of these majestic birds. The exhibit also features several large perches, a nesting box and a water feature.

All of the Pelicans are Rehabilitated, Non-releasable Birds

By Steph Husman

Omaha, NE - Sixteen American white pelicans will be on display today at Wildlife Safari Park.

All of the birds are rehabilitated, non-releasable birds. Most of them have a wing injury which restricts their flight. Six of the pelicans arrived from the Jackson Zoo who was the holding institute for the birds affected by the oil spill and were deemed non-releasable by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

An additional four pelicans join the colony from the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin and one pelican from the Scovill Zoo in Illinois. The birds will join the five American white pelicans currently on display. The additional pelicans will fulfill a current population need at Wildlife Safari Park.

See Johnny Peers’ Muttville Comix Canine Comedy Show at Long Island Game Farm’s 500-seat Amphitheater

By Hank Russell

Manorville, NY — This Labor Day weekend, visitors will have one more chance to see Johnny Peers’ Muttville Comix Canine Comedy Show at Long Island Game Farm’s 500-seat amphitheater. The final day of the show is September 6. Show times are noon and 3 p.m. on Friday and Monday, and noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Since 1980, Muttville Comix has been performing all over the country, including such notable venues as The White House and Disneyland. Mr. Peers, a former professional clown with Ringling Bros. and the Barnum & Bailey Circus, performs with his 15 dogs, most of which have been rescued from shelters. During the show, Mr. Peers and his canine crew will perform a variety of tricks, such as jumping rope, ladder climbing, tightrope walking and skateboarding.

Cincinnati Zoo Guests Will Also Enjoy Giant Pumpkin Carving Demonstrations

By Tiffany Barnes

Cincinnati, OH - Trick-or-treating has never been so much fun. Don’t miss HallZOOween, presented by Frisch’s Big Boy, October 9-10, 16-17 & 23-24, from Noon – 5 p.m. at the Cincinnati Zoo & BOO-tanical Garden. Children (12 and under) can fill up their goodie bag as they trick-or-treat through the Zoo. Help the Zoo Go Green and bring your own goodie bag! Along the way, you may encounter Pumpkin Pandemonium – the Zoo’s animal version of trick-or-treating.

Your little monsters can get their fingers painted or get a cool Zoo tattoo in the Beauty Shop of Horrors. The Zoo also invites guests to witness one of the best magical entertainers - Phil Dalton’s Theater of Illusion. Not only will he play tricks on your minds with his illusions but he will also play tricks on your eyes with his sleight of hand. The show takes place each Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Wings of Wonder Theater.

Abigail is the First Giraffe Calf Born at the Philadelphia Zoo in 13 Years

By Kirsten Baritz

Philadelphia, PA - The votes are in! The Philadelphia Zoo is pleased to announce the name of the Zoo’s female giraffe baby born on July 17. The public voted and winning name is Abigail or Abby, as the keepers now call her. Other naming options were Patricia and Shari. Abigail is the first giraffe calf born at the Philadelphia Zoo in 13 years and was delivered after a gestation period of approximately 15 months. The baby was born to 9-year old Stella and her mate, Gus, 4. Guests can see adorable Abby on exhibit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Labor Day weekend.

Guests can support Abby through the Zoo’s ADOPT program. By ADOPTing a giraffe, you share your love for animals by helping ours receive the best possible care. ADOPTing a giraffe is both rewarding and fun. As an ADOPT parent you will be receive a certificate of parentage, fact sheet, color photo, and an invitation to our annual ADOPT Day held the first Saturday in October. All contributions go towards the care and enrichment of all our animals. For more information or to ADOPT a giraffe, log on to philadelphiazoo.org.

The Transformation Of the Zoo’s Home For its Asian Elephants is Not Merely a Facelift

By Karin Korpowski-Gallo

Washington, DC - The Smithsonian’s National Zoo celebrated the completion of Phase I of Elephant Trails, an innovative and expanded home for Asian elephants, Sept. 2. Phase I has four elements: a new elephant barn, two new outdoor yards, the Elephant Exercise Trek and The Homer and Martha Gudelsky Elephant Outpost. The Zoo’s goal is to ensure a future for this endangered species, which could soon be extinct in the wild and in zoos. Phase I of Elephant Trails will be open to Zoo visitors Friday, Sept. 3.

The final phase of the exhibit, which includes a complete renovation of the Elephant House, is scheduled to open in 2013.

Tampa's New Koalas Have Settled in to Their New Home in Wallaroo Station

By Rachel Nelson

Tampa, FL - Summer may be nearing an end, but fall fun has just begun with the arrival of two charming young koalas who flew coast to coast just in time for the holiday weekend at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.

Dane, a two-year-old male, and Kirrhi, a two-year-old female, have settled in to their new home in Wallaroo Station, the Zoo’s 4.5 acre Australian-themed children’s zoo. The Queensland koala habitat at the Zoo is climate controlled, since these “mates” prefer less humidity than Florida’s climate generally offers.

South American Coatis Have Vacated Their Enclosure to Make Way for the New Lemurs

By Jon Woodward

Wraxall, UK - A trio of threatened Ring-tailed Lemurs have just arrived at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm near Bristol, moving into space recently vacated by South American coatis which have been built an impressive new enclosure within the zoo.

Ring-tailed lemurs are native only to Madagascar and are listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, being particularly vulnerable to deforestation and human interference on the island.

After 3 years at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm near the primates section, South American Coatis have vacated their enclosure to make way for the new lemurs, moving out into the South American zone, where a special new home has just been finished for them.

The Penguin Flavour is Made Out of a Certain Brand of Chocolate Biscuits

By Philip Knowling

Torquay, UK - How do you fancy a penguin flavour ice cream? Or perhaps herring and chilli? How about seaweed and sea salt?

These unlikely flavours will be available at the first ever Living Coasts ice cream weekend on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September.

Events Coordinator Kate Hall said: “It may be the end of the school holidays, but this weekend will be one last taste of summer at Living Coasts. Ice cream is the taste of the coast – and we have some crazy flavours. Everyone should give them a go – you just don’t know until you’ve tried them!”

Check Out the Wonderful Seahorse Dads Who Think Nothing of Giving Birth to 300 Children at a Time

By Tessa Mills

Portobello, New Zealand - Father's Day (in NZ) is this Sunday, 5th September.

The Aquarium at Portobello is a great place to spend time with the family, and to make it a special family day we are offering half-price entry to the Aquarium. That is only $12 for two adults and up to three children!

Whilst you are here, don't forget to check out the wonderful seahorse dads who think nothing of giving birth to 300 children at a time!!!

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Name: Eric Rose

Actual title: Vice President and Executive Director

Name of your aquarium: Newport Aquarium

Location: Newport, KY

URL for your facility: www.newportaquarium.com

Number of species at your facility: 680

Your favorite critter at the facility: Our world-famous shark ray Sweet Pea

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 10,040

Number of visitors annually: Private company - can not disclose

Number of employees: 220

Number of volunteers: 350

Annual budget: Private company - can not disclose

Name: Thane Maynard

Actual title: Executive Director

Name of your zoo: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

URL for your facility: www.cincinnatizoo.org

Number of species at your facility: 750 animals, 5000 plant variaties

Your favorite critter at the facility: Sahara the world-record holding African Cheetah

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 2,100 vertebrates, millions of insects

Number of visitors annually: 1,227,000

Number of employees: 205

Number of volunteers: 900

Annual budget: $26,000,000

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