For immediate release
Contact: Mercede New, 904-757-4463, ext. 211
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:  Billy Brooks, 904-731-3136

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Hosts U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Day Outreach Event on May 15, 2009

May 14, 2009 – Jacksonville, FL –   The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is hosting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Endangered Species Day on Friday, May 15th, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  There will be outreach activities for kids and information booths throughout the Zoo.  Guests can search the Zoo's collection for animals listed under and protected by the Endangered Species Act.  The USFWS will also provide a Passport of U.S. Endangered Species that can be found at the Zoo.  At each information booth, guests can learn about endangered animals and get a stamp on their passport.  Once the passport is full of stamps, guests can turn it in to receive a prize.  This event is free with regular admission into the Zoo.  

“This is a great opportunity for the public to hear about imperiled animal species and the efforts under way to conserve them and their environments,” said Donna Bear-hull, Curator of Birds for Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

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 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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