New York, N.Y. – Get in the spirit of giving at the Central Park, Prospect Park, and Queens Zoos, as animals receive holiday presents in a wild way. Visit the zoos this December to watch animals such as polar bears, baboons, and pumas tear into their very own Christmas presents on the weekends of December 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20 (also December 26-27 at the Prospect Park Zoo). Each zoo will put visitors into the spirit of the season while giving beautifully wrapped presents of delectable delicacies to its rambunctious residents.
Wild Holiday Party Weekend Line-Up:
Central Park Zoo:
There will be many merrymaking scenes at the Central Park Zoo this December. Every Saturday and Sunday, visitors will enjoy the polar bears’ celebration at 1:00 p.m. when zookeepers bestow Gus and Ida with gifts smeared with peanut butter and filled with frozen and fabulous fish. At 10:15 a.m., the snow monkey troop will delight in trees strewn with cranberries, apples, and oranges, while the snow leopards get treats at 10:30 a.m. The red pandas, at 1:30 p.m., will open their own specially wrapped presents.
Prospect Park Zoo:
The colors of the holidays come alive as wrapping paper flies through the air! Keeping with the spirit of the season, zoo staff and volunteers have been wrapping presents for zoo residents for the wild holiday party taking place every weekend in December at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., both days. Saki monkeys and Geoffrey tamarins enjoy festivities on December 5 and 6, followed the next weekend by baboons and meerkats on December 12 and 13 (also December 26 and 27). Then its otters and Pallas cats receive treats on December 19 and 20.
Queens Zoo:
This all-outdoor zoo is beautiful in winter. And should snow lightly dust the zoo’s bison, mountain lions and trees, visitors’ will enjoy seeing a picturesque holiday scene! Frisky felines Felix and Cleo will tear into special treats during a puma party at 2:15 p.m. At 1 p.m., coyotes will receive their holiday surprises. At 2:45 p.m., visitors should make their way to the Andean bears to see Cisco and Spangles open holiday gifts that appeal to their palates, noses, and playful personalities.
Contact:Barbara Russo, 212-439-6527
The Queens Zoo is located at 53-51 111th Street in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park and is open 365 days a year. Fall/winter hours are 10am to 4:30 pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children ages 3-12, and free for children under 3. For general information, please call (718) 271-1500, or visit our web site at www.queenszoo.comProspect Park Zoo – Open every day of the year. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and older, $3 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10am to 5pm weekdays, and 10am – 5:30pm weekends, April through October, and 10am – 4:30pm daily, November through April. The Prospect Park Zoo is located at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. For further information, call 718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.comThe Central Park Zoo, a Wildlife Conservation Society park, is located at 64th Street and Fifth Avenue. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $5 for children 3 to 12, and free for children under 3. Admission includes entry into the main zoo, and the Tisch Children’s Zoo. Fall and winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Tickets are sold until one half-hour before closing. For further information, please call 212-439-6500 or visit www.centralparkzoo.comThe Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. www.wcs.org
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