Cute 8 Month Old Lion Cubs Will Be On Exhibit At Naples Zoo Saturday Morning

By Tim L. Tetzlaff 

Naples, FL - Just 8-months-old, these South African lions are as adorable as they are rare. Weighing in about 90 lbs., brother and sister will be romping in a newly renovated exhibit. Naples Zoo members get a preview Saturday at 8 a.m. Accredited institutions like Naples Zoo have the responsibility to provide safe havens for purebred animals that represent their relatives in the wild.

Although they were born at the NEW Zoo in Wisconsin, the genetics of these young cats can be directly traced to southern African populations. In order to maintain a genetically diverse population outside the wild for at least 100 years, these lions participate in a Species Survival Plan® coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In a few years, the Zoo will exchange with another zoo to breed this rare subspecies.

Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day: White Tigers for the Summer Only
 People have always been fascinated by rarities in the natural world. White tigers, one of the most stunning of the planet’s variations, stepped out of the jungles of India in the 1950s and into the world’s imagination. And their popularity has only grown over the last half century. This natural variation on the coat color occurs only in the Bengal tiger subspecies. They are neither Siberian tigers nor are they albinos.  This summer, Naples Zoo welcomes two of these stunning cats to the lush Tiger Forest exhibit where they will be seen stalking past giant bamboo or splashing in the naturalistic rockwork pool. 

Opening May 23, 2009: Black Bear Hammock  
Many Southwest Floridians and visitors are shocked to learn they live with black bears. To educate Zoo guests about living safely with wild bears, Naples Zoo is creating Black Bear Hammock. Featuring two distinct habitats, it will be the largest black bear exhibit in an accredited zoo east of the Mississippi. In the "Natural Habitat," the bears will be able to lounge on a recreated railroad trestle or splash in the water beneath it. The shade on the porch of an old style Florida shack welcomes the bears while guests safely look on through 2” thick glass from inside the shack.  The "Backyard Habitat" also features glass viewing through a lanai overlooking a simulated suburban Florida backyard. Through a daily Meet the Keeper Series and interpretive graphics, visitors will both have the opportunity to learn basic safety tips if a bear is encountered in the wild and how to avoid attracting them to their yard. They will also gain a deeper appreciation of the bears’ crucial role in the local environment. 
 
Why black bears? Although some American black bear populations are stable in the nation, Florida’s bears have been designated as a threatened species.  As one of just over 200 zoos in the United States that has achieved the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ high accreditation standards, Naples Zoo plays a global role in visitor education and conservation. By focusing on Florida Black Bears, Naples Zoo continues its commitment to educating visitors about the world’s threatened species including those found here at home.   
 
Naples Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization cooperating in conservation programs both in and outside the wild for endangered species.  Daily presentations include Alligator Bay Feeding, Meet the Keeper Series, Snake Sunbathing, along with two premiere presentations: Planet Predator and Serpents: Fangs & Fiction. Both of these feature shows take place in the Safari Canyon Theater where guests see live animals from feline predators to venomous snakes along with exciting video footage. And one of the zoo’s most popular activities is the Primate Expedition Cruise where guests embark on a guided cruise through islands inhabited by monkeys, lemurs, and apes.
 
The all day pay-one-price ticket includes admission to both the nationally accredited zoo and historic garden along with all shows, tours, exhibits, and the boat ride.  ($19.95 adults age 13+/ $11.95 children 3 to 12, under 3 free. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age). Zoo memberships and discount tickets are also available online at www.napleszoo.org. Visitors enjoy healthy meals at the SUBWAY® Cafe and shop for wild gifts at tame prices in The ZOO Gift Shop. Naples Zoo welcomes guests daily from 9:00 to 5:00 with the last ticket sold at 4:00 and is located at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road across from the Coastland Center mall in the heart of Naples.  To learn more, click www.napleszoo.org or call (239) 262-5409.