How To Train Your Dragon Game

With the new How to Train Your Dragon movie coming out, we've been thinking a lot about dragons and other such critters...

Well, we don't have a dragon at the Santa Ana Zoo, but we do have some really cool reptiles and, if you come visit them, you'll get a really special surprise from the Dreamworks folks and the How to Train Your Dragon movie!

Here's how it works:

1- Come to the Zoo during regular hours and each of the kids get a game card at the ticket booth.

2- As you adventure around the Zoo, look for the special Dragon Notes at the reptile locations.

3- Answer the 3 questions on the card.

4- Take your completed card to the Treetop Toys gift store and if it's correct, you'll get a prize from the people at Dreamworks.  It's that easy!

Visit the Santa Ana Zoo and play the Dragon game, and go see How to Train your Dragon in theaters beginning March 26!

(All prizes are provided by Dreamworks.  Offer valid only while supplies last.)

Tierra de las Pampas Exhibit Grand Opening

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 17, 2010
Contact: Cathi Decker

FOSAZ Executive Director
(714)953-8555 x11
cdecker@fosaz.org                                                                                                               

Grand Opening of a New Major Expansion at the

Santa Ana Zoo -  

Tierra de las Pampas

SANTA ANA, CA – On Saturday, April 17, at 11 AM at the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park, located at 1801 E. Chestnut Ave, will celebrate the Grand Opening of its spectacular “Tierra de las Pampas” exhibit.

The Tierra de las Pampas (meaning “Land of the Grasses”) exhibit occupies the northwestern corner of the Santa Ana Zoo.  This is the first of four major biomes (grasslands, forests, wetlands and deserts) that will join the Crean Family Farm to establish five unique themed areas in the Zoo.

Visitors to the Zoo will encounter two new multi-species exhibits and experience the wonders of the South American grasslands.  The first of these areas will house a breeding pair of Giant Anteaters, who range from 6 to 8 feet long, weigh up to 160 pounds and have sticky tongues that can extend 24 inches outside the mouth at a rate of 150 times a minute!

The second will house the Greater Rheas, the largest known American birds, who are flightless but have keen eyesight and hearing.  Joining them will be the Guanacos, the tallest wild mammals of South America, which can spit up to six feet with a particularly uncanny aim.

Visitors will learn to fully appreciate the “pampas” through education nodes, interpretive graphics and interactive elements (physical and tactile).

The majestic Ombu tree serves as a landmark for this beautiful realm.  It can grow up to 60' tall and is a “survivor” because its wood is soft and spongy, retaining nearly 80% of available water.  And it is not grazed upon because its sap is poisonous!  The Pampas is considered to be one of the most endangered habitats on earth due to extensive livestock grazing and farming practices that make it one of the richest cultivated regions in the world – but that also are threats to its existence.

This endangered land will be available to guests right here in their own community when visiting the urban oasis that is the Santa Ana Zoo.

The Zoo is open from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily.  Maps and general admission information are available on the Zoo’s website at www.santaanazoo.org. 

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Thursday Trivia!

Here's another question about the Santa Ana Zoo and an animal that lives there .  Learn all kinds of fun facts and what to see when you visit the Zoo!

Here's your question for March 18:

Which of the following statements is not True?

a.)  There are less than 100 Giant Anteaters in North American zoos

b.)  A Giant Anteater's tongue can go in and out of its mouth 150 times a minute

c.)  Giant Anteaters are afraid of water.

d.)  The tongue of a Giant Anteater is 2 feet long

In just a couple weeks, we'll be opening our newest exhibit, the "Tierra de las Pampas".  It's an exhibit that recognizes and celebrates one of the most endangered habitats in the world, the South American grasslands.

One of the important and exciting features of this new exhibit is that it contains a Giant Anteater breeding program.  With the destruction of their native habitat and so few zoos able to help conserve them, this program will be an important part of the species conservation.

(*Hint - Find most of the answers on the Santa Ana Zoo website at www.santaanazoo.org)

If you can find the answer to the question above, Tweet us at  Santa Ana Zoo's Twitter
Remember to pick the statement that is NOT true.
We'll play for a family pass to the Zoo (admission for 4 people), and will take 3 winners today.

Good Luck!

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Let's see what the answer is... 

a.)There are less than 100 Giant Anteaters in North American zoos

Actually, this is true.  Wikipedia (verified by the National Zoo) indicates that there are only about 90 Giant Anteaters registered to zoos in North America.

b.)  A Giant Anteater's tongue can go in and out of its mouth 150 times a minute

This is true.  It's tongue is covered in sticky saliva that traps ants and termites, and it can eat around 30,000 insects a day. 

c.)  Giant Anteaters are afraid of water.

Not so much, this is false.  Anteaters do spend most of their time on land, but are excellent swimmers, and the ones at the Santa Ana Zoo actually enjoy playing in the water.

d.)  The tongue of a Giant Anteater is 2 feet long

This is true.  The Giant Anteater's tongue is about 24 inches long and about 1/2 inch wide.  When they get up from their nap, they often stretch and extend their tongue to its full length.

Thanks, everyone, for playing along, and we hope you learned a thing or two about some of our newest residents.

Plan to come visit them when the exhibit opens on April 17.

Congratulations to our winners!

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Stay tuned for more Trivia coming every Thursday, and thanks for following the Santa Ana Zoo on Twitter!

The Stork Visits the Santa Ana Zoo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 16, 2010
Contact: Cathi Decker
FOSAZ Executive Director
(714) 953-8555 x11
cdecker@fosaz.org

STORK VISITS SANTA ANA ZOO!

The Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park is pleased to announce the birth of a white-faced saki monkey (Pithecia pithecia) on the 13th of February, 2010. The proud parents are Dakota and Aaliyah. The yet to be named baby is the fifth offspring of this pair. Mom, dad and baby, along with the siblings can be found at home in the rainforest exhibit at the zoo.

 

White-faced saki monkeys are a small to medium sized primate that ranges throughout the northern portion of the Amazon Basin, namely Brazil, Venezuela and the Guyanas. In the wild, seeds consist of more than 50% of their diet with soft fruits, leaves, insects and flowers making up the balance. With a wide distribution and lack of major threats, at this time white-faced saki monkeys are considered stable in the wild.

The new baby is on view for the public daily between 10:00AM and 4:00PM
at the Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park, 1801 Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

Admission is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors and children 3-12 years. Children under three are free. For more information call 714-836-4000 or visit our website at: www.santaanazoo.org.

Thursday Trivia!

Here's another question about the Santa Ana Zoo and an animal that lives there . Learn all kinds of fun facts and what to see when you visit the Zoo!

Here's your question for March 11:

What is the name for this type of monkey?


It should be obvious that this is a monkey, but what's up with that extreme moustache? This distinguishing feature and its resemblance to someone is how this type of monkey got it's name.
It is native to the Amazon Basin, in Peru, Bolivia and parts of Brazil. They are a Rainforest monkey, and live in the trees, so they jump quite well.
(*Hint - Find them at the Santa Ana Zoo near the end by Conservation Corner)

Tweet the answer to Santa Ana Zoo's Twitter
We'll play for a family pass to the Zoo (admission for 4 people), and will take 3 winners today.

Good Luck!

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The answer is that this is the

Emperor Tamarin

Named for its moustache which spans the width of its shoulders, the Emperor Tamarin is named for its resemblance to German emperor Wilhelm II.
Congratulations to our winners!

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Stay tuned for more Trivia coming every Thursday, and thanks for following the Santa Ana Zoo on Twitter!

Thursday Trivia 2010!

Thursday Trivia is back!

Play along and answer questions about the Santa Ana Zoo and animal trivia for prizes. Learn all kinds of fun facts and what to see when you visit the Zoo!

Here's your question for March 4:

What kind of bird is this?

This bird can be identified by its pinkish color and the funky shaped bill that it uses to scoop food out of the water.
It is native to South America and parts of the Gulf Coast.
(*Hint - Find them at the Santa Ana Zoo in the "Colors of the Amazon" walk through aviary)

Tweet me your answer on Santa Ana Zoo's Twitter
We'll play for a family pass to the Zoo (admission for 4 people), and will take 3 winners today.

Good Luck!

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The answer is that this bird is the

Roseate Spoonbill

Congratulations to our winners: Richard, Sarah, and Logical Solutions

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Stay tuned for more Trivia coming every Thursday, and thanks for following the Santa Ana Zoo on Twitter!