Contact: Gina Stiles 904.757.4463, ext. 210, cell: 655.3632, stilesg@jacksonvillezoo.org
Mercede New 904.757.4463, ext. 211, newm@jacksonvillezoo.org

Go On a Behind-the-Scenes Tour at the Zoo’s First Annual Elephant Appreciation Day!

September 19th, 2009

September 16, 2009 – Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced its first annual “Elephant Appreciation Day” on Saturday, September 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Guests can go behind-the-scenes for a self-guided tour of the elephant barn from 12:00 p.m. until 2 p.m. to see where the elephants receive specialized care, as well as sleep.  On this tour, guests can also get a unique look at what elephants eat on a daily basis.  From the Elephant Plaza, guests can see the elephants receive special enrichment items.  Guests can also enjoy playing elephant games, looking at unique elephant artifacts, and getting their faces painted by representatives of the American Association of Zoo Keepers.  There will also be special works of elephant art and paintings for purchase and two free prize drawings.  The keeper chats are scheduled at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Elephant Plaza.  For more information and a schedule of activities go to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

A $2.00 donation is appreciated for the behind-the-scenes tour and all proceeds will be donated to the Elephant Managers Association (EMA) and the International Elephant Foundation (IEF). The EMA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of the world’s elephants through improved conservation, husbandry, research, education and communication. For information on the EMA, visit http://www.elephant-managers.com/index.htm.

The IEF, a non-profit corporation of individuals and institutions, was created in 1998 to promote conservation of African and Asian elephants. The mission of the IEF is to support and operate elephant conservation and education programs both in managed facilities and in the wild with an emphasis on management, protection, and scientific research. Go to http://www.elephantconversation.org/index.php for more details.

“It’s critical to draw attention to the plight of elephants around the world and a great opportunity for our dedicated elephant staff to highlight the important work they do every day in caring for these amazing animals” said curator of mammals, Craig Miller.

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.  From the beginning in 1914, with an animal collection that consisted of only one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has become one of the top zoos in the nation, now with more than 1,400 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information, go to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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