For immediate release
Contact: Gina Stiles, 904-757-4463, ext. 210

Jaguars Have a New Perch at the
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

June 22, 2007 - Jacksonville, FL - The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens installed a 24-foot, 1,200 pound artificial log in its national award-winning Range of the Jaguars exhibit on June 19, 2007.  The log, crafted by artist Mike Lincoln, was built on-site at the Zoo and took three months to complete. It is made from fiberglass, epoxy, and resin and was crafted by making molds of bark from trees around the Zoo to create a very realistic texture. The log was installed over a pond in the exhibit and now acts as a perch for the Jaguars where pacu and peacock bass swim in the water below.  It also brings these beautiful large cats within a few feet of the viewing window.     Salsa, the Zoo’s only black jaguar, has already ventured onto the perch. Visitors can expect to see Salsa jump into the pond occasionally for a swim—especially when it’s hot. 

Range of the Jaguar opened in spring of 2004 and is a neo-tropical attraction featuring animals, birds and reptiles from South America.  The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens currently has six jaguars, the largest collection in the nation.  The five females and one male are exhibited two at a time on a rotating basis.  Range of the Jaguars was honored with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Exhibit Award in 2005.

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 1,400 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, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 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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