Party for the Planet at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens!

Earth Day Celebration – Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26

April 8, 2009 - Jacksonville, Fl – Guests can “Party for the Planet!” during the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Earth Day celebration on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Environmental and animal conservation experts will have booths set up for visitors to learn and collect valuable information on how to preserve our earth and its wildlife for future generations. They can also enjoy live entertainment, visits from Jazoo, the Zoo’s friendly lion mascot, and a children’s activity area that will include face painting, eco-friendly crafts, a bounce house, and an inflatable slide for the kids!

“In collaboration with the Save the Manatee Club, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will unveil a new, regional initiative to educate the community about protecting manatees,” said Delfi Messinger, director of animal programs at the Zoo.

The Party for the Planet celebration is an annual event sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Zoos from all over the country that are members of the AZA participate. For more information about conservation and how you can help, visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org or www.aza.org.

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,500 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95. The Zoo is open until 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays from March to Labor Day. For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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