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Sponsorship to offer reduced admission on Sundays through December 14

Syracuse, NY (September 26, 2008) – The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is pleased to announce a fall special, sponsored by National Grid, that will reduce admission by more than 50 percent on Sundays from September 28 through December 14, 2008.  With the sponsorship, admission will be $3 for adults and $2 for children, seniors and students.

The autumn promotion falls on the heels of National Grid’s summer sponsorship, which offered discounted admission on Wednesdays.  National Grid is supportive of the zoo’s energy saving initiatives and conservation efforts and is sponsoring the Sunday savings program to encourage zoo visitors to take steps to protect the environment. 

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park will host Asian Elephant Extravaganza, presented by Total Care Incorporated, on Saturday, August 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The many activities planned for the event include elephant demonstrations, cultural performances, games, puppet shows and more.  Earlier today, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provided the Rosamond Gifford Zoo with an amended Endangered/Threatened Species license, which will allow visitors to once again touch the elephants.

 “We’re very happy our guests will be able to interact with the elephants this weekend at Asian Elephant Extravaganza,” says Chuck Doyle, director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.  “We’ll enjoy the celebration and then continue negotiating the conditions of our license with the DEC.”

Asian Elephant Extravaganza to Showcase Elephants and Asian Culture

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park will host Asian Elephant Extravaganza, presented by Total Care Incorporated, on Saturday, August 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The annual event celebrates Asian culture and honors the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s Asian elephant herd, which includes Indy, Siri, Romani and Kirina. The many activities planned for the event include elephant demonstrations, cultural performances, games, puppet shows and more!

Asian elephants are an intelligent and extremely social animal. They are also endangered. With less than 40,000 in the wild, the management and breeding of Asian elephants in captivity is essential to their survival. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo has been in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquarium Asian elephant Species Survival Plan since 1981.

Asian Elephant Extravaganza aims to highlight the strength and high intelligence of the zoo’s popular pachyderm collection.  A number of special activities are planned:

10:45 a.m.       Ceremonial elephant face painting demonstration
11:00 a.m.       South Asian Fashion Show
                        Presented by the Syracuse University South Asia Center
                        Courtyard
11:15 a.m.       Puppet Show
                        In the alcove across from the Jungle Café
11:30 a.m.       Elephant Pedicure
1:00 p.m.        Asian Dancing
                        Presented by the Syracuse University South Asia Center
Courtyard
1:15 p.m.        Puppet Show
                        In the alcove across from the Jungle Café
1:30 p.m.        Guess an elephant’s weight!
1:45 p.m.        Watermelon smash!
                        Watch our elephants eat watermelons and have some for yourself, too!                   Watermelon courtesy of Price Chopper
2:00 p.m.        Siri and Romani try their trunks at painting!
2:30 p.m.        Elephant Demonstration
3:30 p.m.        Elephant Demonstration

This event is free with regular zoo admission of $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors age 62+ and students 16-21 with ID. Admission for children 3-15 is $4.00. The first 1,000 children aged 3-15 receive free admission courtesy of presenting sponsor, Total Care. Children under 3 are free.  For more information, call (315) 435-8511 x112 or visit www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s elephant gives birth in Canada.  African Lion Safari announces the birth of the first third-generation Asian Elephant calf in North America.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is pleased to announce that Mali, one of the zoo’s two female Asian Elephants on loan to the African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario, gave birth to a healthy male calf on July 15.  The calf was named “Chuck” by the staff at the African Lion Safari after the director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Chuck was born to 11-year-old Mali after a 614 day gestation period.  The newborn is the first calf for Mali and the fourth calf for father, Rex.  The birth is very significant as it is the first third-generation Asian elephant calf to be born in North America.   

The petite pachyderm greeted the world after only an hour and a half of labor on Tuesday, July 15 at 8:45 a.m., weighing in at 235 pounds and standing 34 inches tall. The new addition is strong and was standing up on his own and nursing within two hours.  Even though Chuck can’t be seen at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, guests will be excited to know that his grandfather, Indy, is one of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s very own.

Chuck’s mother, Mali, and his grandmother, Targa, have been out on loan to the African Lion Safari since May 2006. The pair was relocated to give them more space and to allow Mali to begin breeding. The mother and daughter have associated well with the other 13 members of the herd, all of which seem eager to greet the new arrival.

The African Lion Safari, where Mali, Targa and Chuck currently reside, is home to North America’s most successful Asian Elephant breeding program and has more second-generation captive births than any other North American institution.  Chuck is the twelfth elephant to be born at African Lion Safari since 1991. 

African Lion Safari is a drive-thru wildlife park that is home to over 1,000 birds and animals that roam freely throughout large game reserves. 

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is focused on conserving, exhibiting and interpreting a living animal collection in order to promote public recreation, understanding of the relationships between animals and people, and action to sustain the environment we share.    The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.   Admission is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors age 62 and up and students age 16 to 21 with I.D, $4.00 for youth ages 3 to 15.  Children two and under are free.   For more information, call the zoo at (315) 435-8511 or visit the zoo’s Web site at www.RosamondGiffordZoo.org.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo to Host All New Brew at the Zoo and Wine, Too!

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is hosting Brew at the Zoo…and wine, too! on Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.  The event has been moved to August and several new additions will enhance the guest experience.

“We’re really excited about this year’s event,” says Janet Agostini, Executive Director of the Friends of the Zoo.  “Brew at the Zoo has so many great new things to offer at an all-inclusive, affordable price.”

This year the Rosamond Gifford Zoo has added several new features to the event.  In addition to 56 brands of beer from 20 breweries, guests will enjoy a variety of New York State wines paired with a selection of gourmet cheeses in the wine garden.  Also new this year is Zydeco Vacation, a Cajun and Creole style band known for its high-energy entertainment. In addition, guests will still be able to participate in a silent auction and enjoy a gourmet menu, catered by P&C Food and Pharmacy.

Brew at the Zoo tickets are available at the zoo and will be on sale at participating P&C locations starting July 27.   For a listing of participating stores, visit www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/events_brew.asp.  Advance sale tickets are $40.  Groups of six or more can purchase tickets at the zoo for $35 each.  The day of the event, tickets are $45, if available.  Only 2,000 tickets will be sold.  Persons under 21 years of age, including infants and toddlers will not be permitted on zoo grounds during the event.  All proceeds will benefit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.  For more information, call (315) 435-8511x113or visit www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is focused on conserving, exhibiting and interpreting a living animal collection in order to promote public recreation, understanding of the relationships between animals and people, and action to sustain the environment we share.   The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Admission is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors age 62 and up and students age 16 to 21 with I.D, $4.00 or youth ages 3 to 15, and children two and under are free.  For more information, call the zoo at (315) 435-8511 or visit the zoo’s Web site at www.RosamondGiffordZoo.org.
 

Power up for Penguin Palooza

Empower Federal Credit Union invites children of all ages to participate in

 ice cream tasting extravaganza

Syracuse, NY (July 23, 2008) – The annual Penguin Palooza, presented by Empower Federal Credit Union will be held at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo on  Sunday, July 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Admission includes ice cream tastings from a variety of vendors including Byrne Dair, Carvel Ice Cream and Friendly’s, as well as a penguin-themed scavenger hunt, performances by local entertainment groups, kid friendly food, games and entry to the zoo. 

The entertainment and activities scheduled to take place throughout the evening includes performances by a number of local youth groups including the Harrington School of Irish Step Dance, Childbloom Guitar Ensemble and Trans Kazoo Orchestra. Throughout the evening attendees will also enjoy animal demonstrations – including a penguin feedings – an ice cream eating contest and Juggling and Bubbling with Doug Rougeux.  A full schedule of events can be found on the zoo’s website.

Tickets are required for entry and are available at Empower Federal Credit Union locations and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, while supplies last.  Tickets are $8 for members of the zoo and Empower Federal Credit Union,    and $12 for non-members.  Adults and children are the same price.  Children 2 and under are free.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is pleased to announce a new summer special, sponsored by National Grid, that will reduce admission on Wednesdays in July and August by more than 50 percent to $3 for adults and $2 for children, seniors and students.  The promotion begins July 2 and will last through August 27, 2008.

The zoo encourages guests to follow its energy saving initiatives and conservation programs, a primary reason behind National Grid's decision to sponsor the reduced summer admission program.

"The zoo is leading by example, encouraging visitors to save energy and demonstrating that through the power of action their cumulative efforts can make a significant positive difference in the environment," said Susan Crossett, Senior Vice President of Energy Solutions Services at National Grid.  "We hope that people will take advantage of this summer long promotion and enjoy one of our community's premier educational and environmental attractions."

“Thanks to National Grid, we’ll be able enhance the awareness of and accessibility to the zoo throughout the summer season, providing an opportunity for families to learn together the steps they should be taking to be better stewards of our world,” says Onondaga County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney.  “And after viewing the wonderful exhibits at the zoo, visitors can take advantage of swimming, golf and playground facilities offered next door at Burnet Park.”

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo will open its new sand cat exhibit at 10:00 a.m. on June 26.  The two felines, which are sisters, arrived in Syracuse from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on May 22.  After the required 30 days in quarantine, and some additional time to get used to their new exhibit, Kamilah and Chelbi are ready to greet the public. 

 “We are thrilled about the arrival of the sand cats,” says Chuck Doyle, director of the zoo.  “Visitors to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo always look forward to new exhibits and we think they’ll really enjoy watching Kamilah and Chelbi.”

Sand cats are among the smallest of all the wild cat species and are found in arid desert areas throughout the Middle East including the Sahara desert, southern Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. They have been found in both sandy and stony desert areas, and have adapted in order to live in the extreme desert environment. Temperatures in the desert can range between 136 F to -13 F; sand cats have fur on the pads of their paws in order to insulate their feet against these extremes. This fur also helps distribute their weight so they can walk more easily over the sand.

Sand cats have distinctly large ears which also play an important role in survival in the wild. Their ears are set wide and low on the head.  By keeping a low profile, their ears are protected from wind blown sand. Their large ears also help cool them off in the intense heat by dissipating heat from the body.  Additionally, since sound does not travel well over the vast expanses of the desert, their over-sized ears help them hear even the tiniest the movements of prey both above and below the ground.  

The sand cat exhibit is located just past the aviary, in the adaptation section, where the fennec foxes were formerly housed.  The fennec fox exhibit is now located across from the ocelots. 

This year’s “Go Hog Wild for the Zoo” motorcycle. The bike, which was custom-fabricated by Pat Briggs of County Line Choppers, is valued at $50,000 and will be raffled off by the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The annual raffle raises more than $70,000.

Raffle tickets for the motorcycle are $10 each. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. The winner need not be present to win and must take possession of the motorcycle within one week of the drawing, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 21. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Empower Federal Credit Union, Advance Auto Parts and Eliminator Auto. For more information and to purchase tickets by phone, please contact Debbie Messina at (315) 435-8511 x132.  dmessina@rosamondgiffordzoo.org

Korol and Kunali, Amur tiger brothers born at Rosamond Gifford Zoo on June 7, 2004, will soon be leaving Syracuse for their new home at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska.  The exact date of their relocation has not yet been determined, giving visitors an opportunity to bid them farewell over the next couple of weeks. 

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo was recently recognized by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), with the 2007 North American Conservation Award, which was received by the zoo for its participation in the Red Wolf Recovery Program.

 The Red Wolf Recovery Program came about because of the rapidly decreasing population of the red wolf in the 1960s and 1970s. By 1973, red wolves were declared an endangered species and by 1980, extinct in the wild. Efforts were made to establish a captive breeding program, and of the 17 remaining wild red wolves, 14 became founders of the recovery program. Due to the efforts of the Red Wolf Recovery Program nationwide, there are now 250 red wolves in existence, an significant increase from the original 14.

 The red wolf is similar to its nearest relative, the gray wolf, but is smaller in size and differs slightly in color. It usually has under parts that are a color mixture of cinnamon, tawny and gray, and in winter the reddish color from which it gets its name is more prominent. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo houses two red wolves, a female named Scarlet and a male named Waya.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo will host Fiesta de las Aves (Festival of the Birds) on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day and Latin American cultures. The zoo is partnering with CNY Latino, the Spanish Action League and several other local organizations to provide a day full of fun, family activities, including Latin music and dancing, bird migration stations, animal demonstrations and puppet shows. To help celebrate Latin American culture, many of these activities will be bilingual.

This leap day weekend, visit the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and celebrate the Year of the Frog.  The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has declared 2008 as the Year of the Frog in order to help raise awareness of the extinction crisis facing amphibians worldwide.   

 Today, one-third of frogs, salamanders and toads are facing extinction, and more than 120 species have already disappeared.  Amphibians are disappearing fast; we may be facing the largest extinction crisis since the dinosaurs.  There is no doubt that the loss of these creatures would be detrimental to nature’s balance.  The decline is especially ominous, according to biologists, because amphibians are “the canary in the coal mine.”  First to be affected by environmental stressors, their dwindling numbers are a predication of dangerous changes in nature that could potentially harm other animals and humans, too. 

 The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is home to nine frog species, including five species of critically endangered poison dart frogs, and three salamander species.   The zoo is encouraging Central New York residents to spread the word, help preserve the environment and learn more about frogs and other amphibians.  For more information on the Year of the Frog, visit www.amphibianark.org.   Frogs matter.   Jump in. 

 The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For more information about the zoo, call (315) 435-8511 or visit the zoo’s Web site, www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org.  

Rendezvous with the reindeer and meet zoo keepers

SYRACUSE, NY (February 14, 2008) – A trip to the zoo is a great way to get the kids out of the house during February break.  Carts with various animal artifacts will be placed around the zoo allowing guests to feel the fur of a tiger or see how big an elephant’s tusk really is. These hands-on experiences are fantastic learning tools and fun for the whole family. Throughout the day guests can also “rendezvous with reindeer”, learn about what happens behind-the-scenes of the zoo by meeting zoo keepers and watch entertaining puppet shows.

For those who prefer to stay out of the cold, 60 percent of the zoo’s exhibits are indoors. Guests can also stay warm visiting the gift shop or the Jungle Café, which will offer special menu items. The gift shop is having a “hibernation sale” featuring great discounts on select merchandise and a free flex magnet with every $5.00 purchase.

Winter Break Schedule

10:30 a.m.                   Animal Greeter in the Zoo lobby

11:15 a.m.                   Puppet Show in the upper lobby

1:15 p.m.                    Puppet Show in the upper lobby

1:45 p.m.                    Rendezvous with the Reindeer in the Courtyard

2:30 p.m.                    Meet the Keeper (location TBD)

Some activities are weather-permitting and zoo guests should check the kiosk in the front lobby for detailed information upon arriving at the zoo.

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The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is focused on conserving, exhibiting and interpreting a living animal collection in order to promote public recreation, understanding of the relationships between animals and people, and action to sustain the environment we share.    The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.   Admission is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors age 62 and up and students age 16 to 21 with I.D, $4.00 for youth ages 3 to 15.  Children two and under are free.   For more information, call the zoo at (315) 435-8511 or visit the zoo’s Web site at www.RosamondGiffordZoo.org.