We love the zoo and our local zoo, the Palm Beach Zoo, is a great zoo to visit. If you are in our area I thought I would share some of the events going on throughout the month of January. If you are planning a trip this month why not enjoy some of these fun events!
New Year’s Day/Animal Birthday Celebrations – January 1, 2015
New Year’s Day/Animal Birthday Celebrations: January 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – The public is invited to celebrate New Year’s Day at the Zoo, and to wish “happy birthday” to some Zoo animals on January 1, 2015. Hugo, the Zoo’s youngest Mexican spider monkey, is celebrating his 2nd birthday. Lewis and Clark, two North American black bear brothers, are turning 14 years old, and Micco, a Florida panther ambassador, is turning three years old. Each of the animals will receive a special birthday enrichment during their corresponding Keeper Talks: Black Bear Training, 12:30 p.m.; Mexican Spider Monkey Feeding, 1:30 p.m.; Panther Talk, 2:30 p.m.
At a Kid’s Eco-Friendly Craft Station in the Interactive Play Fountain area, children can make their own party hats, while being taught to reuse materials around their homes to encourage recycling. The event is included in the cost of Zoo admission.
Save the Panther 5K: January 3, 2015
Save the Panther 5K: January 3, 7:30 a.m. — The second annual “Save the Panther 5K” race, presented by Sagicor Life Insurance Company, is taking place at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2015 on Zoo grounds at 1301 Summit Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL. The race route winds through Dreher Park, finishing inside the Zoo grounds at 1301 Summit Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL.
Guests, runners and race supporters can meet the Zoo’s Florida panther, Mirasol, or Micco, a Florida panther ambassador, during a special Panther Talk at 10 a.m. on race day. The race is certified “green” by Athletes For A Fit Planet. The first 500 runners will receive a panther shirt, and limited on-site race day registration is available the morning of the race. To pre-register online, visit http://tinyurl.com/Panther5k
Story Time at the Zoo – January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31,, 2015
Story Time at the Zoo: “Go to Sleep, Gecko: A Balinese Folktale” as retold by Margaret Read MacDonald, January 3, 10:30 a.m. – The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on January 3rd will be “Go to Sleep, Gecko: A Balinese Folktale” as retold by Margaret Read MacDonald. The event will take place at the Zoo’s Conservation Station by the Safari Train and the Wildlife Carousel. Story Time at the Zoo is geared towards encouraging children to connect with wildlife through reading, and it is included in the cost of Zoo admission.
Story Time at the Zoo: “Gator” by Randy Cecil, January 10, 10:30 a.m. – The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on January 10th will be “Gator” by Randy Cecil. The event will take place at the Zoo’s Conservation Station by the Safari Train and the Wildlife Carousel. Story Time at the Zoo is geared towards encouraging children to connect with wildlife through reading, and it is included in the cost of Zoo admission.
Story Time at the Zoo: “Mañana, Iguana” by Ann Whitford Paul, January 17, 10:30 a.m. — The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on January 17th will be “Mañana, Iguana” by Ann Whitford Paul. The event will take place at the Zoo’s Conservation Station by the Safari Train and the Wildlife Carousel. Story Time at the Zoo is geared towards encouraging children to connect with wildlife through reading, and it is included in the cost of Zoo admission.
Story Time at the Zoo: “Diary of a Wombat” by Jackie French, January 24, 10:30 a.m. — The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on January 24th will be “Diary of a Wombat” by Jackie French. The event will take place at the Zoo’s Conservation Station by the Safari Train and the Wildlife Carousel. Story Time at the Zoo is geared towards encouraging children to connect with wildlife through reading, and it is included in the cost of Zoo admission.
Story Time at the Zoo: “Anook, The Snow Princess” by Hans Wilhelm, January 31, 10:30 a.m. — The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on January 31st will be “Anook, The Snow Princess” by Hans Wilhelm. The event will take place at the Zoo’s Conservation Station by the Safari Train and the Wildlife Carousel. Story Time at the Zoo is geared towards encouraging children to connect with wildlife through reading, and it is included in the cost of Zoo admission.
Conservation Leadership Lecture – January 29, 2015
Conservation Leadership Lecture: “Mermaids & Manatees: 40 Years of Manatee Research,” January 29, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Guests are invited to the Zoo’s first Conservation Leadership Lecture of 2015 featuring Dr. James “Buddy” Powell, executive director for Sea to Shore Alliance, as he discusses “Mermaids & Manatees: 40 Years of Manatee Research.” For more than 40 years, Powell has worked to conserve manatees and other endangered species around the world, and his efforts have resulted in coastal protected areas in Florida, West Africa, Central America, and now Cuba. His approach integrates science and education to unlock solutions to conservation issues. The Conservation Leadership Lecture series is generously supported by presenting sponsor Bank of America.
The lecture will occur on January 29th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Zoo’s Tropics Café. Guests are invited to enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and Zoo animal encounters from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. before the lecture presentation. Seating for the Conservation Leadership Lecture series is limited. Tickets are $20.00 per person per event. To purchase your tickets online, visit www.palmbeachzoo.org. If you have any questions about the event, please call the Zoo at (561) 547-WILD ext. 285.
