Rio Grande Zoo Will Divulge the Details of the Exotic, Erotic, and Romantic Rituals of Animals

By Terry Axline

Albuquerque, NM - Indulge your animal instincts this Valentine’s Day with a tour of the Rio Grande Zoo. The action starts on Sunday, February 14, promptly at 2:00 p.m. Love is a complex dance—even in the animal kingdom. Our resident experts will divulge the details of the exotic, erotic, and often curious romantic rituals of animals. Learn about the life-long romances of condors and cranes, intriguing mating habits of primates, and what goes on in the breeding world of reptiles. You’ll get information on this tour that you’ll never get in a normal zoo tour! It’s sure to be this winter’s most interesting day at the Zoo.

Tickets for this tour are $10 and can be purchased at the Zoo’s cashier booth on Sunday. Ticket cost includes Zoo admission and a special sweet treat. Reservations are required; please call (505) 764-6247. Sorry, kids. This affair is for adults only (18 and older). The Zoo is located at 903 Tenth St. SW.

For more family friendly education activities, visit discovery stations around both the Zoo and Aquarium from 10:00am-2:00pm to learn about the love lives of animals.

Discovery station topics will be tailored to your loved one’s age and maturity. Guests will also learn how the BioPark acts as a “matchmaker” for endangered species, such as elephants, as part of the Species Survival Program. Discovery stations are included with regular admission.

And don’t forget the special Valentine’s Day Brunch at the Aquarium’s Shark Reef Café on Sunday, Feb. 14, from 9am-3pm. The menu will feature made-to-order omelets, pancakes, top sirloin, ham, frittatas, seafood bar and drink specials. The Aquarium is located at 2601 Central Ave. NW (intersection of Central and New York).

The Albuquerque Biological Park is an accessible facility and a division of the City of Albuquerque’s Cultural Services Department. For assistance in visiting, please call 311 (Relay NM or 711), preferably with three days advance notice. Hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. Zoo admission is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors 65 and older and children 3-12. Same day combo admission to all BioPark facilities is $12 for adults; $5 for seniors and children.

New Mexico BioPark Society membership confers free general admission to all BioPark facilities and discounts to many special events. Find out more about becoming a BioPark Society member at nmbioparksociety.org.

The BioPark is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information visit www.aza.org.

The Rio Grande Botanic Garden is a member of the American Public Garden Association, an organization founded in 1940 that has emerged as the premiere association for public gardens. Today, APGA’s 500 member institutions are located throughout North America and beyond. The APGA serves and strengthens its member gardens by supporting and promoting their work, value and achievements in horticultural display, education, research and plant conservation.

To view Rio Grande Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-94-Rio_Grande_Zoo