For immediate release
Contact: Mercede Gardner, 904-757-4463, ext. 211

Party for the Planet at the
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens!

Earth Day Celebration – Sunday, April 20

April 17, 2008 - Jacksonville, Fl - The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will host an Earth Day event, “Party for the Planet!” on Sunday, April 20, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Guests can visit experts at environmental and animal conservation booths to learn and collect valuable information on how to preserve our earth and its wildlife for future generations.  They can also enjoy live entertainment, a children’s activity area and visits with Jazoo, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ friendly lion mascot.  A $2 discount on admission will be offered to all adults, seniors and children who bring a used cell phone to be recycled on April 20th.

“Conservation of our earth and its wildlife is central to what we are all about at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens,” said Dennis Pate, executive director of the Zoo. “It is our responsibility to play a leading role in educating our visitors about these issues every day. We’re pleased to have 16 other organizations that are just as committed to this cause participating in sharing their knowledge with our guests during our Earth Day celebration.”

The Party for the Planet celebration is an annual event sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Zoos from all over the country that are members of the AZA participate.  For more information about conservation and how you can help, visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org or www.aza.org.

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 6:00 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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