For Immediate Release
Contact:  Gina Stiles, Marketing & Membership Manager (904) 757-4463, ext. 210; (904) 655-3632 – cell

Jacksonville Zoo and gardens Pays Tribute to Its Animal Keepers

National Zoo Keeper Week is July 19-25

June 30, 2009 - Jacksonville, Florida - The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens invites the public to come join them in showing appreciation to the Zoo’s more than 40 zoo keepers during National Zoo Keeper Week, July 19-25. There are several educational keeper talks scheduled daily at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, such as the Komodo Dragon Encounter, Bats of Africa, Elephant Encounters, Emerald Forest Aviary, and Amphibian Explorations, to name a few. For the schedule for these talks, visit jacksonvillezoo.org and click on “Things to See and Do.”

The Zoo’s zoo keepers are responsible for the daily care of its nearly 1,400 animals—and they do much more than just feeding and cleaning!  A zoo keeper monitors animal behavior and health along with training animals and enriching their lives. They are not only dedicated to the care of their animals but they are also the spokespersons to the public for vanishing wildlife, conservation, endangered species and the preservation of ecosystems around the world.

“The zoo keepers are the heart of our Zoo, and they, along with all zoo keepers across the nation have very important roles in caring for the animals and educating our public about their conservation,” said Delfi Messinger, director of animal programs at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “This week is a tribute to their dedication to our animals and those endangered species in their home countries.”

Zoological institutions have become the final hope for many endangered species recovery programs through conservation research, release programs, and by being a portal through which the general public can view and appreciate disappearing wildlife.  Zoo keepers are the frontline soldiers for conservation, species survival and preservation of the natural homelands of the animals they care for through education and public awareness.

For more information on Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens scheduled zookeeper talks, visit jacksonvillezoo.org and click on “Things to See and Do”.  For more information on National Zoo Keeper Week visit www.aazk.org.

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