Zoo Hosts Party for the Planet

4/17/2009

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.—April 17, 2009—Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, the state's only Zoo, invites families to the Party for the Planet, a two-day Earth Day celebration. There will be something for everyone on Saturday, April 18th and Sunday, April 19th from Noon to 3:00 pm.

"The Zoo's Earth Day event is about encouraging local, organic, earth-friendly choices as a way of promoting better health for our planet and ourselves," said Gregg Dancho, Zoo director. "We hope everyone comes out for what is going to be a great weekend of events at the Zoo."

Saturday and Sunday: Environmentally friendly vendors will be on hand with everything from green cleaning products and recycled fashion accessories to better lawn care for you and wildlife!

Saturday at 1:00 pm enjoy Tom Hanford's Musical Menagerie

Saturday (all day) - Last day to fill out ballots to help name our ocelot "Miracle Kitten." It's been six months since he was born and Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo now needs your help to decide what to name the ocelot "Miracle Kitten" born through a groundbreaking artificial insemination (AI) procedure on Halloween of 2008. Visitors will get to choose between three names selected by Zoo staff and will vote using an official ballot after paying a visit to the kitten to determine which name fits him best. The choices include: Mopua', Milagre and Bruxo.

Sunday at 11:30 am, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch will join members from 2009 Leadership Greater Bridgeport class to present awards to Bridgeport youth participating in the "Keep the Earth Blue... by Going Green" Art Contest. Five children will be honored for their participation in the contest. The winners are as follows:

Grand Prize Winner: Shoji Torikai, JFK Lighthouse Program
Essay with Art: Ulises Martinez, Cardinal Sheehan Center
Art: Xavier Ortiz, JFK Lighthouse Program
Essay: Marquon Smith, Cardinal Sheehan Center
Poem/Song: Janaya Moye, Cardinal Sheehan Center

The awards are provided by a generous donation from Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA). All entries will be on display at the Bridgeport Transit Center for the next month. Leadership Greater Bridgeport is an affiliate of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.

Sunday at Noon - Mayor Finch will announce the ocelot kitten's new name!

Sunday at 1:00 pm join the "Environmental Hootenanny" with musical performers Tom Callinan and Ann Shapiro.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Adult admission (ages 12 & older) is $11.00, children (ages 3 -11) and senior admission (62 and older) is just $9.00, and children under 3 years old are free. Members of the Connecticut Zoological Society also are admitted free. Parking at the Zoo is free of charge.

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About Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo:

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won't want to miss our Amur (Siberian) tigers, Andean condor, ocelots, red & maned wolves, Andean (spectacled) bears, and golden lion tamarins. Other highlights include our South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep and other barnyard critters, plus the hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer and more. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful carousel. For more information, visit http://www.beardsleyzoo.org