Detroit Zoo

The Australian Outback Adventure opened in May 2006. The attraction allows visitors to get an up-close-and-personal look at marsupial life Down Under via a walking path through a simulated Outback habitat. Only knee-high wire cables along both sides of the trail separate visitors from red kangaroos and Bennett's wallabies, enabling the animals to bound around at will. The experience features Aboriginal-style artwork throughout as well as educational signage providing information about kangaroo history, range, habitat, diet and behavior. It also includes a "kangaroo jump" where children "and spry adults" can compare their jumping ability with that of a kangaroo. The Arctic Ring of Life, which opened October 2001, takes visitors on a trek to the North Pole. Guests experience the tundra, open sea and pack ice of the Arctic environment and the animals that adapted to life there. The $13.6-million interactive facility encompasses over four acres of outdoor and indoor habitats, making it the world's largest polar bear exhibit. A unique feature of this award-winning exhibit is the Polar Passage, where visitors can walk through a 70-foot-long clear tunnel as polar bears and seals swim above and around them. In 1999, the Detroit Zoo opened the National Amphibian Conservation Center (NACC). The $6-million, 12,000-square-foot facility is fully integrated into a re-creation of a two-acre Michigan wetland area and pond, which features hundreds of amphibians and highlights the critical role these fascinating creatures play in the world. The NACC explores concepts of evolution, conservation, biodiversity and extinction, as well as human's relationship with amphibians. Exhibiting as many as 800 amphibians (and a few turtles, fish and a sloth) the NACC includes rarities such as the world's largest salamanders (reaching five feet and 50 pounds) and the most unusual frogs and toads.

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The Detroit Zoo is offering a discount of $2 off all full-price admissions on Monday, October 13, 2008, in recognition of Columbus Day. Reduced admission prices are $9 for adults 13 to 61, $7 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $5 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. The offer is available only with a printable coupon, which can be found on the Zoo’s Web site.

Visitors can celebrate the discoverer of the New World by discovering what’s new at the Detroit Zoo. Ajua, the Zoo’s newborn chimpanzee, can be spotted close to his mother at the Great Apes of Harambee. Also, three critically endangered Siamese crocodile hatchlings can be seen at the Holden Museum of Living Reptiles.

Other new Zoo residents include two American bison yearlings that can be found grazing near Pierson Lake between the elk habitat and Australian Outback Adventure. In addition, visitors can watch the Detroit Zoo’s three meerkats as they dig, forage and play at the new Meerkat Digs, located behind the snow monkeys and lemurs.

To download the $2 off admission coupon, visit www.detroitzoo.org, scroll to the rotating banners at the bottom of the home page and click on the Columbus Day link.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Regular admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.

The Detroit Zoo is providing special benefits ahead of schedule to residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties following approval in August of a ballot proposal to fund the Zoo.

Under agreements between the Zoo and county zoological authorities which take effect November 30, 2008, tri-county schools receive discounted field trip admission, the Zoo will host two free Senior Days a year for tri-county seniors, and tri-county residents receive $10 off an annual Zoo membership, good for all membership categories. In addition, tri-county residents can purchase up to four gift memberships at the discounted rate. The Zoo is offering the membership discounts effective immediately, but not retroactively.

On August 5, voters in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties approved a 0.10 mill levy on all taxable property for a period of 10 years to provide partial funding for the Detroit Zoo. The millage will cost the average tri-county household about $10 a year and will generate about $15 million annually. The Zoo will begin receiving funds in 2009.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.

Orientation Saturday, October 11, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon

DETROIT, Mich. – West Bloomfield resident David Anthony enjoys volunteering at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo “because it gives me a chance to share my passion for environmental conservation and preservation with visitors who are curious about the wonders of Belle Isle.” 

The Detroit Zoological Society is recruiting more volunteers like Anthony to help at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  “There are so many interesting things to do here and visitors and staff are very appreciative of the time and effort volunteers contribute,” said Anthony.

The Society is seeking candidates 18 years of age and older who are friendly and outgoing and have weekends available this fall and winter to lend a hand.  An orientation session will be held to describe volunteer opportunities and expectations on Saturday, October 11, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.
 
After the presentation, candidates will have the opportunity to sign up for an individual, informal interview with the Volunteer Services staff to discuss their interests, complete paperwork (including a background check) and sign up for training sessions.

Volunteers are needed in the following areas:

Deer Encounter – Volunteers will share information and answer visitors’ questions regarding the deer.  Other duties include assisting with public feeding of the deer as well as helping to maintain the garden area around the Deer Encounter.  Shifts vary from two to three hours.

Special Events – Volunteers will help at designated events throughout the year.  Responsibilities vary with the types of events but generally include greeting guests, handing out materials, helping with arts and crafts and assisting with set-up and clean-up.  Shifts vary from three to four hours per event.

“Our goal is to recruit more volunteers who are interested in sharing their love of nature and their appreciation for the unique and wonderful gem of Belle Isle,” said Detroit Zoological Society Volunteer Services Manager Linda Denomme.  “Our volunteers enhance the experience for all visitors.”

Many perks come with being a volunteer, including free admission to the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo, free parking, an annual volunteer appreciation party, discounts for Detroit Zoo gift shop and concession stand purchases, discounts on memberships, opportunities to attend conferences and all-volunteer trips for continuing education.

To become a volunteer at the Detroit Zoo or Belle Isle Nature Zoo, contact Linda Denomme at (248) 541-5717 x.3806 or ldenomme@dzs.org. 

Operated by the Detroit Zoological Society, the Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056 or visit www.detroitzoo.org/Visitors/Nature_Center/Belle_Isle_Nature_Zoo/.   
 

WHAT: Bank of America Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo. The 12th annual event includes 5K and 10K runs as well as a noncompetitive Fun Walk. A Post-Race Party will follow the Run Wild event with live music and family entertainment. (Regular Zoo admission applies for non-race participants.)

WHEN: Sunday, September 7, 2008. The event begins at 8 a.m. with the 5K run, followed by the 10K run at 8:45 and the untimed Fun Walk at 9 a.m.

WHERE: Detroit Zoo. Runners in the 5K and 10K events will start at the Zoo’s Ten Mile Road entrance and wind through the scenic streets of Huntington Woods surrounding the Zoo. Walkers will have the opportunity to view their favorite animal habitats as they stroll through Zoo grounds.

WHO: Approximately 2,000 runners and walkers

WHY: Proceeds from the Bank of America Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo benefit the Zoo’s state-of-the-art Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex and veterinary care.

OTHER: How would humans fare in a race against the Zoo’s animals? Compare the average speed of a human (5-8 mph) to that of a giraffe (32 mph), zebra (40 mph), tiger (50 mph), kangaroo (30 mph), lion (45 mph), hippopotamus (20 mph), polar bear (25 mph), rhino (25 mph), three-toed sloth (0.15 mph).

HOW: For interviews, photos, or to set up a television shoot, please contact Patricia Janeway at 248.541.5717 x.3731, 248.765.9595 (cell) or pjaneway@dzs.org.

Note: The 10 Mile Road service drive will be closed to traffic. Media should arrive at the front admission gates at Woodward and 10 Mile.
 

 Student artwork submitted for the Detroit Zoological Society and Project S.N.A.P.’s “2008 Year of the Frog” Youth Art Competition is on display at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo in the form of two large-scale mosaic murals.

 Incorporating the artwork of over 10,000 Michigan children, the murals depict a Wyoming Toad and an Eastern Tiger Salamander. The murals were designed by nationally renowned mosaic artist Roy Feinson, who also created mosaic murals for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary and the 2008 Grammy Awards.

More than 2,400 school children from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties leapt at the opportunity earlier this year to communicate the importance of amphibians in the Youth Art Competition. Students expressed their interpretations of Michigan frogs, toads and salamanders, as well as images of amphibian residents at the Detroit Zoo.

All works submitted in the Youth Art Competition are represented in the mosaic murals, which are on display through December 31 at the Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center and at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo. In addition, Feinson incorporated artwork by Michigan students from Project S.N.A.P.’s database. For more information on Project S.N.A.P., visit www.projectsnap.org.

Year of the Frog is a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them. The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the worldwide initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
 

Senior citizens living in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties are invited to enjoy a special day at the Detroit Zoo on Senior Day, Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Seniors 62 and older and their caregivers will receive free admission, parking and rides on the Tauber Family Railroad. 

Sponsored by radio station AM 580, MPRO and Visiting Nurses Association of Michigan, Senior Day will feature live music by the Picks & Sticks Stringband, narrated tractor train tours and bingo.  The day’s activities will also include zookeeper talks highlighting some of the Zoo’s senior residents, including Jock the river hippopotamus, 38, and female grizzly bears Napa and Nicki, 36.  In addition, enrichment activities will take place at the seal and giraffe habitats.

A Senior Resource Area will be featured where seniors can speak with representatives from the following organizations: Birmingham Area Seniors Coordinator Council, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Comfort Home Care, Health Alliance Plan, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Molina Healthcare, MPRO, Pearle Vision, Quality Home Health Care, Social Security Administration, The Gardens of Clinton and Visiting Nurses Association.   The IRS will prepare free tax returns for seniors who bring their Social Security cards and 2007 year-end Social Security statements so that they can receive their Economic Stimulus Payments. 

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
 

The Detroit Zoological Society will host an open house for teachers and administrators on Tuesday, August 26, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center. “Zoolastic Achievement – Explosion 2008” will give educators the opportunity to learn about the educational offerings at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. The free event will feature live entertainment, food and educational resources for the classroom and beyond.

Sponsored by DTE Energy Foundation, “Zoolastic Achievement – Explosion 2008” will provide educators insight into the Zoo’s dynamic, age level-appropriate programs that teach important concepts about animals, habitats and ecosystems in alignment with the Michigan Curriculum Framework and Grade Level Content Expectations. The event will also offer tips on planning and optimizing school group visits with guided tours, self-led tours, scavenger hunts, interactive education presentations and backpack programs.

Teachers and administrators will learn about other educational options at the Zoo as well, including the Ford Education Center’s Interpretive Studios, Wild Adventure Ride, Madeleine Berman Academy for Humane Education and Humane Science Lab. A tram or walking tour of the Zoo will highlight new animal habitats, including Meerkat Digs, and exhibits that feature interactive learning options. Guests will also meet David Gakure, Kenyan conservationist and Detroit Zoo education specialist, who engages students at the Zoo and in the classroom with stories of people and wildlife in the African Grasslands.

Online registration for “Zoolastic Achievement – Explosion 2008” is available until August 21 at http://www.detroitzoo.org/zoolastic/.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
 

The Detroit Zoo will celebrate Metro Detroit’s Arab-Chaldean community and culture at the Arab-Chaldean Festival on Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is part of Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo…Like Nowhere Else, presented by Comcast. Activities will take place in the plaza east of the Ford Education Center and are free with the cost of Zoo admission. Comcast subscribers who show their bill at the ticket booth receive $2 off one adult admission.

The Arab-Chaldean Festival will feature live entertainment, including music by Ara Topouzian and dance performances by Troupe Ta’amullat. There will also be food available for purchase from local Middle Eastern restaurants, calligraphy demonstrations, henna art, and enrichment activities with animals from Middle Eastern countries.

Also supported by Comerica Charitable Foundation, the Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo celebrate the cultural diversity of the Metro Detroit community. Each festival includes activities such as live entertainment, storytelling, arts and crafts, and a community resource area. Earlier this summer, the Zoo hosted festivals celebrating the Asian, Hispanic/Latino and African cultures.
 

Thousands of runners and walkers are expected to lace up their running shoes and head over to the Detroit Zoo on Sunday, September 7, for the annual Bank of America Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo. Proceeds from the Run Wild event benefit the Zoo’s Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex and veterinary care.

The event includes 5K and 10K runs as well as a noncompetitive one-mile Fun Walk. Runners in the 5K and 10K events will start at the Zoo’s Ten Mile Road entrance and wind through the scenic streets of Huntington Woods surrounding the Zoo. Walkers will follow a course past award-winning animal habitats as they stroll through Zoo grounds.

The Bank of America Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo begins at 8 a.m. with the 5K run, followed by the 10K run at 8:45 a.m. and the untimed Fun Walk at 9 a.m. Online registration is available at www.detroitzoo.org (click on Events, then Run Wild) until September 2, and registration will also be available at the Zoo on September 5, 6 and 7.

Medals will be presented to the top male and female runners in various age groups. All participants will receive commemorative tee shirts as well as free admission to the Zoo on race day. A Post-Race Party will follow the Run Wild event with live music, family entertainment, and complimentary food and beverages. Regular Zoo admission applies for non-race participants.

“Bank of America is happy to continue its support of this outstanding community event,” said Bank of America Michigan President Kieth Cockrell. “The Bank of America Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo offers exciting competition and family fun on and around the grounds of one of Southeast Michigan’s most beloved destinations.”

In addition to sponsoring the Zoo run, Bank of America owns and operates two of the world’s largest road races, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K.

The Bank of America Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo is also supported by Gatorade, Saturn and Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (SEMVMA).

The Zoo is looking for 200 volunteers to assist during the event. For information on volunteer opportunities, visit the Run Wild section of the Zoo’s website or contact Linda Denomme at (248) 541-5717 x.3806 or ldenomme@dzs.org.

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 25 million active users. Bank of America offers industry leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average! and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.
 

Chimps, frogs, polar bears and tigers are staking out their territory on lawns across Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to encourage support of the Detroit Zoo ballot proposal on August 5, 2008.

The Committee for the Zoo’s Future is distributing campaign signs bearing the faces of favorite zoo animals, ears and all. Created by the Doner advertising agency, the signs read, “Yes on Zoo, Vote August 5th”.

To show support the levy, Cats and dogs from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties are invited to put their best paws forward to support the Detroit Zoo.

Pet Supplies Plus stores throughout the tri-county area are distributing pet petitions that can be “signed” with a paw print to get pets wagging their tails and owners wagging their tongues about the Zoo ballot proposal.
 

The Detroit Zoo turns 80 this year and is inviting the community to help celebrate at a birthday party in the Zoo’s Main Picnic Grove on Friday, August 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visitors 80 and over will be admitted free with a photo ID including date of birth, and visitors 13 and over will receive $8 admission with a coupon that can be found on the Zoo’s website. Regular $7 admission applies for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.

Kids can bounce around on a moonwalk, have their faces painted and spark their creativity with arts and crafts. Free cake and ice cream will be served between noon and 1 p.m. while supplies last. Visitors can sign a giant card to wish the Zoo many more years of celebrating and saving wildlife and serving the community.

A live performance of the Matrix Theatre Company’s “Marsh Magic” will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the Main Stage, focusing on the life cycle of the frog in Michigan marshes. The show is being presented in recognition of 2008 Year of the Frog, a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them.

Discounted admission isn’t the only way for Detroit Zoo visitors to save on August 1. For just 80 cents, guests can take a journey on the Wild Adventure Ride – regularly $4 – or zip through the Zoo on the Tauber Family Railroad – regularly $2 one way. In addition, the Arctic Food Court will offer select items for 80 cents each, including a small soft drink, small coffee and small popcorn, and Zoofari Market will sell Zoo pencils and notepads for 80 cents as well.

To download the $8 admission coupon, visit www.detroitzoo.org, scroll to the rotating banners at the bottom of the home page and click on the 80th Anniversary link.

Throughout its 80-year history, the Detroit Zoo has collected tales that could only be true at a venerable zoo. Staff and visitors have counted sheep, encountered profane birds, busted both animal and human thieves, and made many other memories worth keeping. Following are highlights of some of the Zoo’s favorite anecdotes and accomplishments.

Great Escapes
• In the early 1930s, the aoudads – a horned wild sheep from northern Africa – routinely escaped from their habitat to munch the flower beds. A new structure and moat were built to prevent this from happening but proved to be no match for the curious sheep. On move-in day, all 20 aoudads formed a single-file line and began circling the perimeter of their habitat. On the third lap, one by one, they jumped the fence with ease. After all were outside, the aoudads stayed together and looked around wondering what to do next. The rock wall at their point of escape was made taller and they never made it out again.
• In 1972, a chimpanzee knocked out a plywood panel in a holding area of the Holden Amphitheater. Immediately, seven chimps walked across a ladder that had been left by painters to bridge the moat and up the rows of bleacher seats. The Zoo’s director and a curator were stunned to see Danny the chimpanzee and two baby chimps strolling hand-in-hand up the mall road against pedestrian traffic. The Zoo officials calmly ordered the chimps back to their quarters.
• In the 1980s, a zookeeper went to the airport to pick up a chimpanzee that had been transported from another zoo. Obviously unhappy about its travel accommodations, the vocal chimp broke out of its wooden crate during the car ride and climbed into the front seat. The surprised keeper and his hairy passenger made it to the Detroit Zoo in record time.
• Fear of escaped wolverines spread through the Detroit Zoo one winter after a heavy snow. No tracks had been left on the fresh white powder and keepers could not figure out how the animals could dig through the gunite floor of their habitat. Worry was dismissed when a fuzzy wolverine head poked through the white stuff. The animals had built a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the unstirred snow.

To Catch a Thief
• Blackie, a talking mynah bird, was stolen twice in the 1950s from the Belle Isle Zoo. Upon his second return, it was clear he had picked up some colorful language. Blackie had to be removed from the earshot of children until all profanity was forgotten.
• In 1962, a baby kangaroo was stolen from the Belle Isle Children’s Zoo. The thief got away but the joey was apprehended hours later after bounding into a suburban appliance store 20 miles away.

Animal Anecdotes
• When Baboon Rock was being rebuilt in 1953, construction workers found that the inhabitants had stashed away a trove of treasures. In one area, a baboon had accumulated 96 cents, assorted earrings, bright jewelry, baubles and other possessions. Another location contained a collection of prizes from Cracker Jack boxes.
• During the same year, keepers at the Belle Isle Zoo found a man curled up with Lucy the camel early one morning. His recollection of the previous night was foggy, but he knew his attempt to sleep with Sheba the elephant had been forcefully rejected – and he had the bruises and abrasions to prove it.
• During the 1968 World Series, a city-to-city bet was made – one Missouri mule to the Detroit Zoo if the Cardinals lost and one Detroit tiger to the St. Louis Zoo if the hometown succumbed. The Tigers were victorious thanks to the pitching of Mickey Lolich, and the Zoo named their prize Little Lolich after the hometown hero.
• Zoo Director Ron Kagan once took a small box to a meeting with Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer and the city’s budget officials. In the box was a poison dart frog, a tiny amphibian with the power to kill. Released on the table, the little frog started hopping, and so did the humans in the room. Kagan assured his practical-joke victims that the frog was harmless because it had not been fed the kind of food necessary to produce its poison. Kagan got the budget money for the Zoo and the frog was returned to its quarters.

First, Biggest, Best
• The first animal purchased for the Wolverine State’s big-city Zoo was that very creature.
• The Detroit Zoo was the first zoo in America to use moated habitats that showed animals in a natural setting.
• At the time of its opening in 1968, the Penguinarium was the country’s only facility dedicated solely to penguins.
• The famous “Zoo Stars” TV commercial, created in 1982 by Doner, won every national advertising award at the time, including the coveted CLIO, and an adapted version of the spot was used by more than 25 other zoos around the country.
• The Wildlife Interpretive Gallery has the only permanent fine art gallery inside of a zoo.
• The Arctic Ring of Life is North America’s largest polar bear exhibit and offers guests an underwater view of swimming bears and seals through a 70-foot Polar Passage.
• The Detroit Zoo’s Adopt-a-Garden program is the largest at any zoo in the United States.
• The Detroit Zoo and Michigan Humane Society’s annual Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event is the nation’s largest off-site companion animal adoption program. Since the event’s inception in 1993, nearly 14,000 dogs, cats and rabbits have been placed into new homes.
 

PHOTO 1:  Detroit Zoo's Bird House combines the old with the new.

PHOTO 2:  The old entranceway at the Detroit Zoo

Cats and dogs from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties are invited to put their best paws forward to support the Detroit Zoo.  Pet Supplies Plus stores throughout the tri-county area are distributing pet petitions that can be “signed” with a paw print to get pets wagging their tails and owners wagging their tongues about the Zoo ballot proposal. 
 
Petitions are available at all Pet Supplies Plus stores in the three counties.  Customers and pets can bring their “signed” petitions into any Pet Supplies Plus store in the area to be displayed in store windows.

In addition, a “signing” party will be held at the Royal Oak store, located at 29402 Woodward Ave., north of 12 Mile Rd., on Friday, July 25, at 1 p.m.  Pets can sign their petitions at the event, giving furry Zoo fans a chance to bark and meow their  approval for the ballot proposal and encouraging their human companions to go to the polls on August 5.

Voters in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties are being asked to approve a 0.10 mill levy on all taxable property for a period of 10 years to provide partial funding for the Detroit Zoo. The millage would cost the average tri-county household about $10 a year and would generate about $12 million annually.  In return, residents of the three counties will receive special benefits, including discounted memberships, free senior days and discounted school admission. 

For more information on the ballot proposal, visit the Committee for the Zoo’s Future website at www.ourzooisworthkeeping.org.
 

The Detroit Zoo will celebrate Metro Detroit’s Hispanic/Latino community and culture at the Hispanic/Latino Festival on Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event is part of Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo…Like Nowhere Else, presented by Comcast.  Festivities will take place on the grassy knoll at the front of the park and are free with the cost of Zoo admission.

The Hispanic/Latino Festival will feature a variety of live entertainment, including performances by Benny Cruz Y La Buena Vida, Companeros de Flamenco and MSalsa, the University of Michigan’s salsa group.  There will also be food available for purchase from area restaurants, arts and crafts, and animal enrichment activities with animals from Hispanic/Latino countries, including the anteaters, guanacos and capybaras.  

Also supported by Comerica Charitable Foundation, the Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo celebrate the cultural diversity of the Metro Detroit community.  Each festival includes activities such as live entertainment, storytelling, arts and crafts, and a community resource area.  The Zoo earlier this month hosted an Asian Festival, and will also host festivals celebrating the African culture on August 9 and the Arab-Chaldean culture on August 23.
 

Mary Logsdon, 10, of River Rouge and Braeden Martin, 7, of Ann Arbor have won an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with keepers at the Detroit Zoo in the Detroit Zoological Society and Fox 2’s ZOOKEEPERS Sweepstakes.

On Saturday, July 12, the winners will assist keepers at the Zoo’s Penguinarium and Wildlife Interpretive Gallery.  The honorary zookeepers will prepare fish treats and feed and interact with the rockhopper and macaroni penguins.  They will also help pin newly arrived butterfly chrysalises into a display area in the Butterfly Garden and transfer emerged butterflies into their new habitat.  In addition, the kids will feed the birds in the Free Flight Aviary.     

Twelve winners were selected at random to be honorary zookeepers at the Detroit Zoo in the ZOOKEEPERS Sweepstakes, which ended July 8.  Parents can still click on the ZOOKEEPERS icon at www.MyFOXDetroit.com through July 20 to download an official certificate for kids ages 2-12, redeemable for a ZOOKEEPERS lanyard at the Zoo.  The lanyard contains coupons for a free child’s ZOOKEEPERS tee-shirt (while supplies last), small soft drink and one-way ride on the Tauber Family Railroad.  

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 

The Detroit Zoological Society has appointed Robert Lessnau as Curator of Mammals. He is responsible for overseeing animal care and welfare for the Mammal Department as well as managing operations and maintenance of mammal facilities at the Detroit Zoo.

Lessnau joins the Society from the St. Catherine’s Island Foundation on St. Catherine’s Island in Midway, Ga., where he served as Primatologist. He also worked as a Senior Zoologist in primatology and Interim Curator for the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Wildlife Survival Center on St. Catherine’s Island. Prior to that, he was Primatologist at Charles River Laboratories in Homestead, Fla.

“Bob’s background in research and animal management, especially with primates, is an important contribution to mammal care at the Detroit Zoo,” said Director of Conservation and Animal Welfare Scott Carter.

A Michigan native, Lessnau was a Veterinary Technician Supervisor at Professional Veterinary Hospitals of Michigan in Southfield in the late 1980s. He also held positions as a Curatorial Intern at the Detroit Zoo, Primate Technician at the Dallas Zoo, Wildlife Technician at the International Wildlife Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Animal Technician at the Belle Isle Nature Center.

In addition to his position at St. Catherine’s, Lessnau has also served for the past 14 years as a biology instructor at Armstrong Atlantic State University, in Savannah, Ga. He earned a Master of Science in Biology from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Dallas Baptist University.

The Detroit Zoological Society has appointed Irma J. Hamilton of Southfield to the newly created position of Director of Education. She is responsible for strategizing, planning and prioritizing educational activities and leading the development of new education initiatives.

Prior to joining the Society, Hamilton served as an adjunct professor at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, a state leadership coach for high priority schools and a consultant to Michigan State University’s Department of Education. With an educational career spanning over 35 years, her experience also includes positions as Supervisor of Secondary Education for Southfield Public Schools, Principal of Renaissance High School in Detroit and Assistant Principal of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit.

“Irma brings a wonderful array of abilities to this position,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. “We envision that educational efforts at the Detroit Zoo will undergo significant growth under her leadership.”

Hamilton received the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award from Phi Delta Kappa, Wayne State Chapter, the Principal of the Year Award from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award from Northern Michigan University.

Hamilton earned a Doctorate of Education in Administration and Supervision and a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Wayne State University, as well as a master’s degree in Learning Disabilities and Reading from the University of Detroit and a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Northern Michigan University.

The Detroit Zoo is inviting adults to rekindle their childhood love for the Zoo at an after-hours adults-only event called Summer Zoomance.  The 21-and-older evening is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., rain or shine.  Admission and parking are free for Detroit Zoological Society members and cost $5 each for non-members.  

Summer Zoomance will allow guests to revisit their childhood memories of the Detroit Zoo while creating new ones during a peaceful twilight stroll among the Zoo’s award-winning habitats.  Adult beverages and favorite nostalgic foods will be available for purchase. 

Summer Zoomance attendees can visit all their favorite animals and see the many new residents that now call the Detroit Zoo home.  Fresh faces include 12-year-old twin polar bears Buzz and Neil, a coati named Sid, aardvarks Mchimbaji and Lily, Curry the red panda and a Matschie’s tree kangaroo named Lil’ LaRoo.  Also meeting guests for the first time this summer are Grevy’s zebra foal Zahara as well as three Chilean flamingo chicks hatched last fall. 

The newly refurbished Tauber Family Railroad will be operating that evening, allowing passengers to relax and enjoy a scenic ride for a one-way fare of $2.  In addition, the Wild Adventure Ride, featuring “Comet Impact”, will take visitors on a daring space expedition for $4.

Tickets for Summer Zoomance can be purchased in advance online at www.detroitzoo.org and at the admission gates up to the night of the event.  
 

The Detroit Zoo will celebrate Metro Detroit’s Asian community and culture at the Asian Festival on Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is part of Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo…Like Nowhere Else, presented by Comcast. Festivities will take place on the grassy knoll at the front of the park and are free with the cost of Zoo admission.

The Asian Festival will feature Asian cuisine, traditional Japanese games presented by the Consulate General of Japan and hands-on craft activities such as Japanese calligraphy. The event will also include a lion dance demonstration by the Asian Martial Arts Studio of Ann Arbor and a martial arts demonstration by the Southfield Martial Arts Institute. The Nickelodeon cartoon Ni Hao, Kai-lan will be shown throughout the event in the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery Theater. In addition, there will be enrichment activities with animals from the Asian culture, including the Japanese macaques, binturong and Asian wild horses.

Also supported by Comerica Charitable Foundation, the Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo celebrate the cultural diversity in the Metro Detroit community. Each festival includes activities such as live entertainment, storytelling, arts and crafts, and a community resource area. The Zoo will also host festivals celebrating the Hispanic-Latino culture on July 26, the African culture on August 9 and the Arab-Chaldean culture on August 23.

In 2008 Year of the Frog, the Detroit Zoo continues to be a leader among U.S. zoos in the conservation of endangered amphibians. Its most recent success is the breeding and release of 2,000 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles into the wild.

The Zoo has been working to preserve the critically endangered Puerto Rican crested toad (Bufo lemur) since 1999. The tadpoles were released in Gabia, Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, where last year’s tadpoles are now thriving.

“We’re very excited about placing zoo-born animals back into the wild,” said Associate Curator of Amphibians Becky Johnson. “We are delivering on our mission of celebrating and saving wildlife by helping to establish a new population of amphibians in their natural environment.”

In addition, the Detroit Zoo has launched another successful breeding season for the federally endangered Wyoming toad, recently sending 17 newly metamorphosed toadlets and 52 tadpoles back to Wyoming for release into the Laramie River Basin.

The Wyoming toad (Bufo baxteri) was listed as extinct in the wild in 1994. The Zoo has been successfully producing healthy toadlets since 1997, and its breeding program for the species was No. 1 on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) list of the Top 10 wildlife conservation success stories for 2007.

Also, the Detroit Zoo has successfully bred the endangered Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) for the sixth time since 2000. The Zoo is one of only three institutions in North America to house the species, which is found in the wild only in San Marcos, Texas. As the name suggests, the cave-dwelling amphibian lacks functioning eyes.

More than a third of the planet’s 6,000 amphibian species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, pesticides, introduced species, over-collection and infectious diseases.

Year of the Frog is a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them. The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the worldwide initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.

The Detroit Zoo is home to the nationally award-winning National Amphibian Conservation Center (NACC), a state-of-the-art facility situated on a two-acre wetland village called Amphibiville. The NACC features a spectacular diversity of amphibians, including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. The Wall Street Journal once dubbed the attraction “Disneyland for toads.”

For the eighth consecutive year, Detroit Zoo bird keepers are assisting with conservation efforts for the federally endangered Great Lakes piping plover.  Gathering at the University of Michigan’s Biological Station (UMBS) in Pellston, bird keepers from the Detroit Zoo and from zoos across the country spend several weeks each summer at the UMBS artificially incubating abandoned piping plover eggs.  Twenty-one piping plover chicks have hatched as of June 26.

As part of the recovery plan, piping plover nests are closely monitored by the keepers.  If an egg is determined to be abandoned, it is transferred to the UMBS where the captive rearing facilities are located.  The salvage rearing efforts include artificially incubating the abandoned eggs, rearing hatched chicks and releasing the birds back into the wild when the chicks fledge.

Tom Schneider, the Detroit Zoological Society’s Curator of Birds, coordinates the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) effort to provide trained staff to assist with the captive rearing of the piping plover chicks.  “Captive-reared plovers help to supplement the chicks that are reared naturally in nests along Lakes Michigan and Superior,” said Schneider.  “Over the last several years, the captive birds have represented approximately 15 percent of all Great Lakes piping plover chicks that have fledged, and several of these birds have returned to nest.” 

The Great Lakes population of piping plovers has been listed as federally endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 1986.  Once estimated at over 600 pairs, piping plovers nested throughout the Great Lakes region.  By the early 1980s, the population had declined to under 20 pairs due to loss of habitat and disturbance of nesting birds.    

The piping plover population has been growing steadily as a result of the recovery efforts, and in 2007 there were over 60 nesting pairs found in the Great Lakes region.  Although still extremely vulnerable to extinction from predation, beach development and nest disturbance, the Great Lakes piping plover’s numbers are stable.  Salvage captive rearing will remain an important component in the population recovery goal of 100 breeding pairs.

The Recovery Plan for the Great Lakes Piping Plover was approved in 2003 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  For the past five years grant funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has supported the program. 
 

Mondays in July will be the “hoppiest” day of the week at the Detroit Zoo during the Frogs Days of Summer. In celebration of 2008 Year of the Frog, special frog-themed activities are scheduled every Monday, July 7 through July 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Frog Days of Summer will feature a variety of children’s activities, including arts and crafts, storytelling, coloring, body art stations and frog games. Activities will take place in the Ford Education Center’s Leaf Room and are free with the cost of Zoo admission. Children 12 years and under will receive $1 off the Wild Adventure Ride.

In addition, amphibian keeper talks will be presented at the National Amphibian Conservation Center (NACC) at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Kids will learn about the different species of frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and caecilians that reside at the NACC and the importance of amphibian conservation.

Year of the Frog is a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them. The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the worldwide initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.
 

In celebration of 2008 Year of the Frog, the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit will perform “AM-TV: All Amphibians, All the Time” at the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center Theater every weekend from June 29 to September 7. The free, 30-minute performances will take place at 12 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 29, July 5, 13, 19 and 27, August 2, 10, 16, 24 and 31 and September 7.

Originally commissioned by the Detroit Zoo in 1998, “AM-TV” is a trilogy of vignettes presented in an entertaining television-style format to enlighten audiences about the global predicament of endangered amphibians. Sponsored by the Madeleine Berman Academy for Humane Education, the performances coincide with the 2008 Year of the Frog Youth Art Exhibition on display in the Ford Education Center Exhibit Gallery throughout the summer.

Year of the Frog is a global public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them. The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the worldwide initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.

In addition to the “AM-TV” performances, Mosaic Youth Theatre’s “Humane Education Medley” and other medleys can be heard at the Zoo’s main entrance at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on June 28, July 6, 12, 20 and 26, August 3, 9, 17, 23 and 30 and September 6. A quartet of singers will perform tunes set to the music of popular songs.

The Mosaic Youth Theatre performances highlight humane education in a way that is fun and entertaining for audiences of all ages, according to the Detroit Zoological Society’s Humane Education Specialist, Lisa Forzley. “Our goal is to inspire everyone to take care of the earth and the animals that inhabit it. We look for different ways to do that, and theatre is a wonderful way to reach people.”

The Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit is an award-winning professional performing arts training program. Its mission is to empower young people and maximize their potential through professional performing arts.

Two of a Kind, an award-winning musical duo consisting of husband and wife David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans, will present three family-friendly concerts on Saturday, June 28, at the Detroit Zoo’s Wildlife Interpretive Gallery Theatre. Performances are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and are free with Zoo admission.

Two of a Kind’s multi-instrument concerts are created to inspire audiences of all ages to make a difference in the world. Their uplifting messages are conveyed via songs, puppets, movement and stories – with an emphasis on audience interaction and participation – and themes ranging from friendship and diversity to animal welfare and the environment.

Two of a Kind, so named because of their many similarities, has been performing full-time since 1996. The duo has released eight recordings and won 12 national awards for their music. The Detroit Zoo is one of three stops the Pennsylvania couple is scheduled to make in Michigan this month. For more information about the duo and their performances, visit www.twoofakind.com.
 

A team of Detroit Zoo bird keepers has successfully reared two rare vulture chicks after more than 50 days of artificial incubation. The keepers have been serving as surrogate parents to a female hooded vulture hatched in March followed by a female Ruppell’s griffon vulture in April.

The hooded vulture is the first offspring for both her parents. Her mother is a cancer survivor who lost a wing to a malignant tumor a few years ago. The Ruppell’s griffon vulture is the second offspring for her parents. Because these vulture parents sometimes break their eggs, the eggs were artificially incubated and the chicks reared by human “parents.” The chicks are born helpless and require around-the-clock care, including keeping them warm and frequent feedings.

Bonnie Van Dam, the Zoo’s Associate Curator of Birds, said the feeding schedule required many changes in keeper schedules and could not have been accomplished without the help of the night keeper staff as well as the bird keeper who prepared all of the special diets for the chicks. “Vultures are difficult for zoos to breed, and the Detroit Zoo’s success shows that our vulture habitat and care program provides what vultures need to be healthy and happy.”

The Detroit Zoo has nine hooded vultures and six Ruppell’s griffon vultures. It is the only zoo in North America to successfully breed either species in the last 12 months. There are only 35 hooded vultures in seven other zoos and 40 Ruppell’s griffon vultures in 12 other zoos in North America.

Hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus), also known as “garbage collectors” by the locals in their native Africa, are scavenging creatures that are typically fearless of humans. They are one of the smallest vulture species and usually allow their larger relatives to have first choice at meal time.

Ruppell’s griffon vultures (Gyps rueppellii) are highly social creatures that nest and feed in flocks. They have an especially powerful bill and their wingspan can reach more than 8 feet. The birds are generally silent except when around their nests or when they discover a carcass to feed on. They reside in semi-desert areas of Africa and perch on rock ledges where they can scan the area for meals.

The Detroit Zoo will get even wilder on Wednesday nights during July and August with its annual Wild Summer Nights Concert Series. Presented by Panera Bread, the concerts will take place in the Zoo’s Main Picnic Grove from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 2 through August 27.

Wild Summer Nights features a variety of live music from local bands, including children’s, jazz, pop, folk and blues. Concert goers are invited to bring a blanket and pack a picnic. Food, snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase from Zoo concessions.

Wild Summer Nights is also supported by radio partner AM580 and newspapers The Daily Tribune, The Macomb Daily and The Oakland Press. The concerts are free with the purchase of regular admission. The Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays during the concert series.

Concert Schedule:

• July 2 – Pete “Big Dog” Fetters (Blues)
• July 9 – Zebula Avenue (World Beat)
• July 16 – Grievous Angel (Classic Americana
• July 23 – Gemini (Children’s)
• July 30 – The John Arnold Group (Jazz Fusion)
• August 6 – Jill Jack (Folk)
• August 13 – Candy Band (Children’s)
• August 20 – Straight Ahead (Jazz)
• August 27 – James Coffey (Children’s)

Brendan Gleason, 6, of Livonia and Jessica Maladecki, 6, of Westland have won an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with a keeper at the Detroit Zoo in the Detroit Zoological Society and Fox 2’s ZOOKEEPERS Sweepstakes.

On Saturday, June 14, the winners will venture into the African Grasslands with the white rhinos, warthogs and river hippopotamus. The “honorary” ZOOKEEPERS will scatter hay throughout the rhino habitat and hide treats for the rhinos to discover. They will also get an up-close look at the rhinos from inside their habitat and may even have the opportunity to touch the animals. The kids will also prepare and distribute special treats for the warthogs and Jock the hippo and watch as the animals enjoy their snacks.

Parents can click on the ZOOKEEPERS icon at www.MyFOXDetroit.com through July 8 and register kids ages 6-12 for their chance to become an honorary zookeeper. Eight more winners will be selected at random to receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with a keeper at the Detroit Zoo.

In addition, kids ages 2-12 can download an official certificate, redeemable for a ZOOKEEPERS lanyard at the Zoo. The lanyard contains coupons for a free child’s ZOOKEEPERS t-shirt (while supplies last), small soft drink and one-way ride on the Tauber Family Railroad.

WHAT:

"The Detroit Zoo’s Penguinarium has been temporarily renamed the “Winginarium”; a Winginarium banner replaces the Penguinarium sign.

WHEN:

Friday, May 23, 2008, through the conclusion of the Stanley Cup finals.

WHERE:

Detroit Zoo, Penguinarium

WHY:

To show Detroit Zoo penguin support for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team, who face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL playoffs for the Stanley Cup beginning Saturday, May 24.

BACKGROUND:

Opened in 1968, the Detroit Zoo’s Penguinarium was the first facility in North America designed specifically for penguins.  The habitat is home to macaroni, rockhopper and king penguins, and features a circular pool which allows the birds to swim continuously through their environment.

The Detroit Zoological Society, Fox 2 and Doner, the Society’s advertising agency, have launched a promotional campaign that says, “Our Zoo is Worth Keeping!” On May 29, Fox 2 announced a summer program called ZOOKEEPERS, a club for kids ages 2-12 that allows them to earn free perks at the Detroit Zoo.

Parents can log on to www.MyFOXDetroit.com and download an official certificate, redeemable for a ZOOKEEPERS lanyard at the Zoo. The lanyard contains coupons for a free child’s ZOOKEEPERS tee-shirt (while supplies last), small soft drink and one-way ride on the Tauber Family Railroad. In addition, kids ages 6-12 can be entered for a chance to become an honorary zookeeper. Twelve winners will be selected at random to receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with a keeper at the Detroit Zoo.

“The zookeeper experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for kids to meet the animals and to understand how we care for them,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. “It’s like a backstage pass!”

The campaign, created by Doner, includes a TV commercial that puts a new twist on an old tune. The lyrics to the 1968 O’Kaysions hit “Girl Watcher” have been changed to “I’m a zookeeper,” sung by kids from the tri-county area. The 30-second spot will air on Fox 2 through mid-July. Outdoor boards and print ads reinforce the sense of wonder, awe and excitement that comes over children when they visit the Detroit Zoo.

To download a ZOOKEEPERS certificate and to enter a child in the contest, click on the ZOOKEEPERS icon at www.MyFOXDetroit.com.
 

The Detroit Zoo today introduced 12-year-old twin polar bears Neil and Buzz, namesakes of Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. The bears have touched down at the Arctic Ring of Life for a two-year stay while their habitat at Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minn., is being renovated.

“We have a great environment for polar bears and we’re pleased to share it with Neil and Buzz,” said Director of Conservation and Animal Welfare Scott Carter. “There’s plenty of room for the bears to roam and swim.”

The Arctic Ring of Life encompasses over four acres of outdoor and indoor habitats, making it North America’s largest polar bear exhibit. A unique feature of the award-winning attraction is the Frederick and Barbara Erb Polar Passage, where visitors can walk through a 70-foot-long clear tunnel as polar bears and seals swim above and around them.

Neil and Buzz join 3-year-old Talini, 20-year-old Norton and 23-year-old Barle at the Arctic Ring of Life. The temporary placement of the polar bears was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The duo is expected to return to their expanded habitat at Como Zoo in 2010.

There are currently 79 polar bears in 35 accredited zoos in North America. “Polar bears in zoos have become important ambassadors for the impact of climate change on polar bears in the wild to the millions of people who visit zoos each year,” said Carter.

The Detroit Zoological Society today announced a $250,000 grant from The Chrysler Foundation to help refurbish the Detroit Zoo’s historic Tauber Family Railroad. In recognition of the gift, the Society named the main train station the Chrysler Main Station.

“The Chrysler Foundation’s generous gift helps us to preserve a symbol of the Zoo’s rich heritage and enables millions of future Zoo visitors to enjoy the railroad for many years to come,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. The railroad has served over 40 million Zoo guests who have ridden the rails since the train was introduced in 1931.

“Chrysler is very proud to play a continuing role for more than half a century in supporting one of the Detroit Zoo’s favorite attractions," said Brian Glowiak, Vice President, The Chrysler Foundation. "This historic commitment began with our original donation of three trains nearly 60 years ago, followed by recurring donations to upgrade and maintain their operations. We are pleased that future generations will continue to experience this timeless treasure.”

The Chrysler Foundation’s gift supports a $1.5 million project to renovate the railroad, including refurbishment of the trains, replacement of the tracks and ties and the establishment of an endowment for the railroad.

Last year, Detroit Zoological Society board member Joel Tauber and his wife, Shelley, made a leadership gift of $750,000 to the railroad refurbishment project through the Tauber Family Foundation. In appreciation of this investment, the Society named the train the Tauber Family Railroad. Fundraising continues as $1,052,500 has been raised toward the project.

Part of the money raised has been spent on the refurbishment of the three Tauber trains, two of which the Society unveiled today. The locomotives recently received a complete restoration from the inside-out, including rebuilt engines, gears, gauges, wheels and bodies. In addition, the trains have been fitted with air-conditioned tenders (where the conductor sits) and new canopies. The third train will be completed this summer.

The modernization of the old locomotives was an especially memorable project for the staff of Photographic Support, Inc. (PSI) in Sterling Heights, which specializes in the restoration of all things automotive for exhibits and auto shows. “Growing up in the Metro Detroit area, everyone rode the Zoo train. It was a lot of fun for all of us to work on something that has been around for so long,” said PSI’s owner, Bill Beaudin.

The Tauber Family Railroad carries passengers to and from the Chrysler Main Station near the park entrance and the Africa Station at the farthest corner of the park, weather permitting. The railroad is open daily during regular Zoo hours May through September and weekends only in October.

The one-way fare for all rail passengers is $2. A “Ride the Wild Train” card, good for 10 one-way rides, can be purchased for $16. The Zoo also offers a “Tender Seat” package, which includes a ride with the conductor in the tender seat, an official cap and a photo taken in the train’s historic engine compartment. The cost is $12 per child, or $20 for two children or one child and one adult.

Detroit Zoo visitors can now spend less time in line and more time in the park, thanks to a convenient new method of ticketing. The Detroit Zoological Society now offers the option of purchasing general admission tickets and parking passes online at www.detroitzoo.org. Guests can print their tickets at home or work and present them to a cashier for admission.

“E-Ticketing is an efficient way of purchasing tickets in advance and is designed to save our visitors time at the admission gate,” said Guest Relations Director Alexis Means. “The less time spent in line, the more time to enjoy the Zoo.”

Billing information is required to process credit card payments on the Zoo’s secure site. Users have the option of creating an account to keep information saved for future purchases. When a transaction is completed, a confirmation number is issued and an email containing order information is sent to the customer’s email address. All purchases are final.
 

 Mamas who rock will rock out at the Detroit Zoo’s Main Picnic Grove on Saturday, May 3, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. MamapaZOOza will feature live performances by The Mydols, The Aprons, Maggie McCabe, Robin Moore & The Northstars and Cindy Anderson. The concert is free with regular Zoo admission.

MamapaZOOza (more commonly known as Mamapalooza) is a family-friendly concert festival featuring mom musicians and vocalists. The performers are appearing at the Zoo for the second year in celebration of Mother’s Day. “It’s a fun event for the entire family, and the Zoo is the perfect venue,” said Judy Davis of The Mydols.
 

The Detroit chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) will host its 19th annual “Bowling for Rhinos” bowl-a-thon on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at Cloverlanes Bowl in Livonia. Nationally, “Bowling for Rhinos” raises over $200,000 each year for the conservation of endangered rhinos.

A family-friendly event will be held at 3 p.m., which includes bowling, a tin can raffle, cookie walk and coloring contest. The traditional bowl-a-thon gets underway at 7 p.m. with bowling, a silent auction and 50/50 raffle. Bowlers may register individually or form a team of four to five. The registration fee is $5, which includes shoe rental, two games, pizza and soft drinks.

Registration forms and fees should be received by May 24, 2008, as space is limited. Anyone who is unable to attend the event but would like to sponsor rhino conservation can visit www.aazkdetroit.org to make a donation.

Bowlers are asked to collect sponsor money of a minimum $20 for adults and $10 for children. All donations are tax deductible. Bowlers who raise over $50 will receive a “Bowling for Rhinos” tee-shirt and those who raise over $100 will receive the tee-shirt and a rhino beanbag animal.

Each year, over 40 AAZK chapters throughout the United States participate in “Bowling for Rhinos,” raising over $2.8 million nationally since 1990. The Detroit Zoological Society zookeepers have done their part, raising over $135,000. Last year’s Detroit event raised $28,358.93. One hundred percent of the proceeds directly benefit three rhino conservation projects in Africa and Asia.

Cloverlanes Bowl is located at 28900 Schoolcraft Rd. in Livonia, off the I-96 service drive at Middlebelt Rd. Further information on “Bowling for Rhinos” is available by calling (248) 541-5717 ext. 3000 or emailing aazk@detroitzoo.org.

Detroit Zoo visitors can become part of an elite scientific team embarking on an exciting adventure through space in the newest thrill ride premiering May 1 at the Wild Adventure Ride. Comet Impact, which combines photo-realistic animation with digital surround sound, takes “riders” on a daring space expedition to deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.

The year is 2025. A newly discovered giant comet, Kirsch-Kennedy, is on a catastrophic collision course with Earth. If Jupiter’s strong gravitational pull captures Kirsch-Kennedy, it will change course to impact there and Earth will be safe. If not, the comet will hit our planet, possibly destroying all life as we know it. Comet Impact is a SimEx-Iwerks production.

Located in the Ford Education Center, the Wild Adventure Ride is an educational, action-packed thrill ride which offers an exciting you-are-there experience from the comfort of a specially equipped motion-simulated big-screen theater seat. All riders must be at least 36 inches (three feet) tall, and it is recommended that they be at least 5 years of age or older.

The Wild Adventure Ride is open during Zoo hours; show times vary. Tickets are $4 for passengers of all ages. A Wild Adventure Ride Card, good for 10 rides, can be purchased for $30. Tickets are available at the admission gates and the Wild Adventure Ride ticket booth during Zoo hours.

The Detroit Zoo and the Michigan Humane Society, in collaboration with several local animal welfare organizations, will host the 16th annual spring Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo May 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is the nation’s largest off-site companion-animal adoption program.

Presented by Pedigree Food for Dogs, the adoption event will be held outdoors under tents in the Detroit Zoo’s front parking lot beneath the landmark water tower. There is no charge for admission or parking for adoption event guests; however, regular admission and parking fees apply for those visiting the Zoo.

Hundreds of adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens will be available for immediate adoption to loving homes both days. A “get-acquainted” area will be available to provide guests an opportunity to spend time with an animal before adopting.

Because puppies are often in high demand, “puppy passes” will be given each morning to the first 25 adoption-event guests who are looking specifically to adopt a puppy. Those with puppy passes will be allowed to enter the adoption tents at 9:45 a.m., with the remainder of guests allowed to enter at 10 a.m.

Adoption fees and policies are set by each participating group. Adopters must present a valid driver’s license or state ID card. All animals will have received a medical check-up and age-appropriate vaccinations. For health and safety reasons, all current companion animals should be left at home.

Last year, the spring Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event found homes for 568 animals. Since the event’s inception in 1993, nearly 14,000 dogs, cats and rabbits have been placed into new homes at the spring and fall events.

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo is supported by VCA Animal Hospitals, PETCO, Pet Suite Retreat, and media partner Oldies 104.3 WOMC.

For more information or to donate to the welfare of homeless animals, call the Michigan Humane Society at 1-866-MHUMANE (648-6263) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.michiganhumane.org.
 

Mother’s Day is May 11, and the Detroit Zoological Society has the perfect gift idea for any mother, wife, grandmother, sister or friend. The Society is featuring five animals for its WildLife Preserver “Adopt” an Animal program.

The gift package includes a plush giraffe, hippopotamus, lion, Przewalski’s horse or warthog in a gift box with a personalized adoption certificate and a fact sheet about the animal. The cost of an adoption is $45, which includes shipping and handling.

Proceeds from the “Adopt” an Animal program support the animals at the Detroit Zoo through habitat renovation and veterinary treatment. The program also supports Species Survival Plans, a cooperative breeding and conservation program in which the Zoo participates.

“By symbolically ‘adopting’ an animal, people can give twice,” said Detroit Zoological Society Director of Member Services Helen Harding. “Mothers will love their unique gift and the giver helps to support the Zoo and preserve the world’s wildlife.”

Winky, one of two aging Asian elephants who left the Detroit Zoo in April 2005, was euthanized today at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in San Andreas, Calif. She was 56 and had severe arthritis for years.

“Winky’s death was not unexpected, but it is heartbreaking nonetheless,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. “We are comforted to know that her quality of life for the past three years was as good as it possibly could have been, and we’re grateful to the staff at PAWS for the excellent care she received and the environment she retired to.”

Arthritis in captive elephants is common and is believed to be a result of living in small areas, often standing on concrete floors for long periods of time. Despite expansion of the Detroit Zoo’s elephant habitat in 1998, it was determined that there was no realistic way to provide the appropriate physical and social environment for captive elephants, especially during Michigan winters. In the wild, elephants live in warm climates and roam vast areas, often walking many miles a day. The Detroit Zoo decided in 2004 to no longer exhibit elephants.

Both Winky and her companion Wanda suffered from arthritis and foot problems. The pair had been at the Detroit Zoo for about 10 years before being moved to the PAWS sanctuary, where Wanda, 50, remains with several other elephants. For an update or to contribute to her care, visit www.pawsweb.org.
 

Winky, one of two aging Asian elephants who left the Detroit Zoo in April 2005, was euthanized today at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in San Andreas, Calif. She was 56 and had severe arthritis for years.

“Winky’s death was not unexpected, but it is heartbreaking nonetheless,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. “We are comforted to know that her quality of life for the past three years was as good as it possibly could have been, and we’re grateful to the staff at PAWS for the excellent care she received and the environment she retired to.”

Arthritis in captive elephants is common and is believed to be a result of living in small areas, often standing on concrete floors for long periods of time. Despite expansion of the Detroit Zoo’s elephant habitat in 1998, it was determined that there was no realistic way to provide the appropriate physical and social environment for captive elephants, especially during Michigan winters. In the wild, elephants live in warm climates and roam vast areas, often walking many miles a day. The Detroit Zoo decided in 2004 to no longer exhibit elephants.

Both Winky and her companion Wanda suffered from arthritis and foot problems. The pair had been at the Detroit Zoo for about 10 years before being moved to the PAWS sanctuary, where Wanda, 50, remains with several other elephants. For an update or to contribute to her care, visit www.pawsweb.org.
 

 Leaders of the Detroit Zoo applauded Governor Jennifer Granholm as she signed a new bill into law today that allows counties to create authorities with the power to levy funds for zoos. Through the creation of zoological authorities, Metro-Detroit counties could then levy a tax for the Detroit Zoo of up to 0.10 mill on all taxable property for a period of 20 years with approval from the electorate. The millage would average approximately $10 per year for a $200,000 home.

The City of Detroit turned over governance and management of the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo to the Detroit Zoological Society in 2006. At the time of transition the City stopped paying an annual subsidy of about $8 million for operations and $2-3 million for capital maintenance. In addition to replacing the subsidy, the Zoological Society anticipates incurring lost revenue and increased expense relating to discounts and other benefits provided to citizens living within participating counties. Altogether, this funding gap is approximately the value of the tax that would be collected from a 0.10 mill in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

This legislation is crucial to protecting the long-term financial future of the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo and continuing valuable programs that serve Metro-Detroit's children and families, said Detroit Zoological Director Ron Kagan.  We appreciate the legislature and Governor Granholm for leading this initiative. We're especially grateful to Senators Gilda Jacobs and Nancy Cassis and Representative Andy Meisner for their outstanding leadership on this important issue.

The Zoological Society will work closely with Metro-Detroit counties to help each county create its own zoological authority and to place the issue in front of voters on the August ballot.  We look forward to continuing our work with the Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County commissioners to take this next step, said Kagan.

An “egg-stravaganza” of family fun is planned for the Detroit Zoo’s 17^th annual Bunnyville celebration on Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Presented by Meijer and supported by Oldies 104.3 WOMC, Bunnyville is filled with treats, crafts, games and live entertainment.

The event will feature the Jelly Bean Jamboree, a fun twist on the traditional egg hunt, Funny Bunny Games, springtime crafts, whisker painting and animal enrichment activities.  In addition, visitors can have pictures taken with the Easter Bunny for $6 at the Ford Education Center.

Live performances by the musical duo Two of a Kind, made possible by the Berman Academy for Humane Education, will take place in the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery Theatre at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.  In addition, the musical “Bunny Follies” will be performed in the Ford Education Center Theater at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

Bunnyville visitors are encouraged to bring a canned or other non-perishable food item to be donated to Gleaners Community Food Bank.  Guests with food donations will receive a reduced admission price of $4, parking not included.  Admission for Detroit Zoological Society members is free, but members are encouraged to bring food donations.  Each year, Bunnyville visitors contribute about 7,000 pounds of food to Gleaners.

FIVE NAMES IN THE RUNNING FOR DETROIT ZOO’S ZEBRA FOAL:
BELLA, CHLOE, HOLLY, NOEL AND ZAHARA

Visit www.detroitzoo.org to Cast Your Vote

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – “Zahara the zebra” has a nice ring according to several people who responded to the Detroit Zoo’s invitation to help name its female Grevy’s zebra foal born December 26. The Zoo received over 2,000 name suggestions and has narrowed the field to five. The other contenders are Bella, Chloe, Holly and Noel. The community has until February 29 to visit the Zoo’s Web site at www.detroitzoo.org to vote for their favorite name.

What’s in a name? Zahara is Arabic for “flower.” Noel and Holly are references to the foal’s birth the day after Christmas. Chloe means “blooming” in Greek, and Bella is Italian for “beautiful.”

The foal’s black-and-white striped hide inspired submissions such as Barcode, Oreo, Ref and, of course, Stripes. Many who had their thinking caps on inside out suggested Arbez, which is zebra spelled backwards. Others proposed Jules in honor of Jules Grevy, former president of the French Republic after whom the species is named.

Name suggestions for the zebra foal were submitted online, and a panel of Detroit Zoo staffers culled the list to their top five favorites. The name that receives the most votes in the Zoo’s online poll will be announced next month.

The foal is the daughter of 15-year old Elvira and 6-year old ZZ. She currently is kept indoors at the zebra habitat most days due to cold weather, but can be seen outdoors near her mother on milder days.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Detroit Zoo is looking for 200 smiling, energetic, friendly and enthusiastic people for summer seasonal employment. Applications are available online at www.detroitzoo.org, or candidates can pick one up in person at the Detroit Zoo’s Administration Building, located at 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Zoo is seeking employees to work flexible schedules in the following areas: cashiers, sales representatives, guest relations assistants, ride operators, park safety officers (security), education teachers and aides, concessions and retail, groundskeeping and custodial. Concessions, retail and some groundskeeping positions will be filled by Service Systems Associates (SSA), a concessionaire that provides these services to the Zoo.

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by their start date. Pay rates and job and age requirements vary by position. Candidates must be available for work on weekends, evenings and holidays.

The Detroit Zoo and SSA are Equal Opportunity Employers and are committed to diversity in the workforce. The Zoo performs background checks and pre-employment substance-abuse screening, and maintains a drug-free workplace.

For more information on employment opportunities at the Detroit Zoo, visit www.detroitzoo.org or call (248) 541-5717 x.3750.

$2 Off All Admissions February 18-22

WHAT: The Detroit Zoo is offering a discount of $2 off all admissions in recognition of Presidents’ Week. The offer is available only with a printable coupon, which can be found on the Zoo’s Web site, www.detroitzoo.org.

WHEN: Monday, February 18, through, Friday, February 22,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Detroit Zoo

HOW: Visit www.detroitzoo.org and click on the Presidents’ Week banner at the bottom of the home page to find the coupon.

BACKGROUND: Reduced admission prices for Presidents’ Week are $9 for adults 13 to 61, $7 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $5 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.

Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October. Regular admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Detroit Zoological Society has appointed Kenyan native David Gakure to the position of Zoological Education Specialist. His responsibilities include the planning and implementation of public education programs, preparation of educational and interpretive signage, and guiding the development of animal habitats and botanical exhibits throughout the Detroit Zoo.

Prior to joining the Zoo, Gakure spent 17 years educating adventurers as a naturalist guide for Overseas Adventure Travel and Micato Safaris in Nairobi, Kenya. During his tenure as a guide, he often found more adventure than he bargained for. “I was once chased by a pride of lions and another time by a female rhino that was close enough I could touch her horn,” says Gakure. “Happily in both instances no harm came either way.”

Gakure’s background also includes participating in research studies on the behavior and breeding patterns of chimpanzees, giraffes and rhinos, as well as tracking the history and culture of some of Kenya’s major tribes. “I look forward to the challenges of educating people, giving them a taste of where I’m from, and at the same time learning new things about myself from the people I meet,” he says.

Gakure earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science, tour guiding and administration from Utalii College in Nairobi, which was evaluated and conferred by Oregon State University. Born in Nakuru, Kenya, he lives in Huntington Woods with his wife and their three children.

Community Invited to Help Name Zebra Foal

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Detroit Zoo proudly announces the arrival of an endangered female Grevy’s zebra born December 26 – its second zebra birth in a year – and is inviting the community to help name its newest Zoo star.

The approximately 75-pound foal is the daughter of 15-year-old Elvira and 6-year-old ZZ. The foal is off public view in an indoor enclosure at the zebra habitat most days due to cold weather, but can be seen outdoors near her mother on milder days.

The community is invited to submit name suggestions for the zebra foal by visiting www.detroitzoo.org by February 8 and clicking on the banner at the bottom of the home page. Five of the name suggestions will be selected by Zoo staff and posted on the Zoo’s Web site for a public vote. The winning name will be announced in late February.

The Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest of the three zebra species, with adults weighing between 800 and 1,000 pounds. They can live up to 25 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity. The foal is a welcome addition to the world population of Grevy’s zebras, which is currently estimated at fewer than 2,100.

In addition to Elvira and ZZ, the foal joins females Zoë, 4, and Phoebe, 6 months, in the Detroit Zoo’s African Grasslands.

Children 2-12 Receive Free Admission Friday, February 1, 2008

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A snow storm predicted for the Metro Detroit area tonight is expected to dump 6 or more inches on the ground by morning and could result in a three-day weekend for thousands of school children. In celebration of an anticipated “snow day” due to school closings, the Detroit Zoo is offering free admission for children ages 2 to 12 on Friday, February 1.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at the regular admission price. Adults are invited to stop by the Arctic Food Court for a free cup of coffee.

Detroit Zoo officials are hoping that thousands of children and their parents will visit the Zoo on Friday and discover what many diehard winter visitors already know – that when the mercury dips and the snow flies, many of the animals come out to play.

The Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, are among the Zoo’s many winter-hardy animals and can often be seen basking in the warm steam from their hot tub on a frigid day. The tigers, wolverines, red pandas, Asian wild horses, elk and bison also adapt well to cold, snowy weather. Friday’s forecast is calling for more snow and a high of 32 degrees.

A popular Zoo attraction in any type of weather is the Arctic Ring of Life with its 70-foot underwater Polar Passage providing spectacular views of swimming polar bears and seals. For a more tropical experience, visitors can head for the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden where the temperature is always 75 degrees.

Other indoor experiences at the Zoo include the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Penguinarium, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles and Mardigian River Otter Habitat. In addition, the Great Apes of Harambee, giraffe, white rhino, lemur and farm animal habitats all have indoor viewing areas.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – For a one-of-a-kind way to leap into the heart of someone special on Valentine’s Day, hop on over to the Detroit Zoo to find the perfect gift. In celebration of 2008 “Year of the Frog,” the Zoo is offering a specially commissioned amphibian-themed ceramic tile by local artist Gretchen Kramp.

The green 1¾-by-1¾ inch tile, which features a frog prince with the words “Kiss a Frog,” is available exclusively at Zoofari Market for $19.99. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Amphibian Ark, an international partnership to ensure the global survival of endangered amphibians.

Kramp’s artwork can also been seen throughout the Detroit Zoo, including tile murals she designed for the National Amphibian Conservation Center and Arctic Ring of Life.

To purchase the “Kiss a Frog” tile and other amphibian-themed gifts, visit Zoofari Market (admission to the Zoo is required) or order by telephone at (248) 541-5717 ext. 3274.

“Year of the Frog” is a worldwide public awareness campaign to focus attention on endangered amphibians and the critical work being done by zoos and aquariums to save them. The Detroit Zoological Society is supporting the global initiative with special events, fundraising activities, educational opportunities and community outreach efforts throughout the year.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.