Santa Ana Zoo New Home to White House "Unpardoned" Turkeys

If you want a pardon from the president, you need to be on your best behavior.

The same goes for turkeys.
Foster Farms is raising the bird that will be "pardoned" by President Barack Obama this year in a Thanksgiving tradition dating to 1989.   Two birds are chosen — the presidential turkey and the vice presidential turkey, the latter stepping in if the top gobbler cannot fulfill its duties.

These turkeys will come from Foster Farms near Modesto, Ca., and this is only the second time a west coast grower has had this honor since this White House tradition began in 1947.  Originally, the turkeys were eaten but, in 1989, President George H. W. Bush began the pardon tradition.

Initially, 25 birds are chosen for this honor, but only 2 are selected to go to Washington.  The others need to find homes or they, too, will be eaten.

The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park has stepped up to be the new home for 2 of these unpardoned Tom Turkeys.

The turkeys will arrive in a couple of weeks, and will spend a short time in the AZA required quarantine before moving to their new home in the Crean Family Farm at the Zoo.
We are excited that we were able to rescue these turkeys, and look forward to giving them a good place to live.

The turkeys join several other animals living at the Zoo that have been rescued and now have a second chance at a happy, healthy life.


The full press release is below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 24, 2010

Contact: Cathi Decker
FOSAZ Executive Director
(714)953-8555 x11
cdecker@fosaz.org

UNPARDONED TURKEYS GET SECOND CHANCE AT THE SANTA ANA ZOO!

The Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park is pleased to announce the pending arrival of two unpardoned Presidential Turkeys raised by Foster Farms. These two lucky fellows not only escaped a “delicious fate” of not being chosen as official turkeys selected to be pardoned by the President, but also escaped becoming your turkey dinner.

Each year at Thanksgiving, the President of the United States pardons two National Thanksgiving Turkeys during an official White House Ceremony. This ceremony signals the beginning of the holiday season.

Our very own local Santa Ana Zoo decided to pardon two of the unpardoned turkeys and give them new life in our Crean Family Farm. Several other fortunate birds went to the Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose and Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland.

These two lucky turkeys will soon make their debut at the Zoo and join our other Farm animals in the Crean Family Farm, an interactive area for children to play and learn about farm life. They will be fed corn and soy and live in comfort for the rest of their lives. You can come and visit these two “timely toms” during Zoo operating hours and celebrate their death-cheating ways.

The Zoo is open daily from 10:00am-4:00pm. Maps and general admission information are available on the Zoo’s website at http://www.santaanazoo.org/. If you would like to become a member of the Zoo, please call (714) 953-8555 x13.

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Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo recognized by the City of Santa Ana for Community Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 1, 2010
Contact: Cathi Decker
FOSAZ Executive Director

(714)953-8555 x11

cdecker@fosaz.org

The City of Santa Ana recognized the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo, a non-profit organization established in 1975 to support the Zoo, with a 2010 Community Building Award from the Community Development Resource Network for their significant contribution in community outreach and building relationships with the residents of Santa Ana. The Friends of Santa Ana Zoo were acknowledged under the Organizational Partner Project in the Category of Chief Executive/Organizational Leader.

Certificates of Recognition were presented to Cathi Decker, Executive Director, and Steve McGuigan, Executive Board Member, representing the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo, for their dedication and leadership to “Help Build A Better Community” from Santa Ana Mayor, Miguel Pulido; Supervisor, First District and Chair, Board of Supervisors, Janet Nguyen; Assemblyman, 68th District, Van Tran; Assemblyman, 69th District, Jose Solorio; State Senator, 34th District, Lou Correa; and United States Congress Member, Loretta Sanchez.

The Friends of Santa Ana Zoo began with a group of volunteers who collected feed coins from the Farm area and donated the funds to Zoo improvements.

Over the past 35 years, FOSAZ has grown and expanded, running many of the current Zoo’s operations, including the Gift Shop, Party Rentals, Train and Carrousel Rides and Membership Program. FOSAZ also is responsible for all of the events, marketing and fundraising for the Zoo and works cooperatively with the City in exhibit development, strategic directions and long range planning.

Executive Director Cathi Decker commented, “Our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers are extremely dedicated to the improvements of the Zoo that affect the visitor experience and the animals who live at the Zoo. We are honored to be recognized for what we do every day.”

 

The Zoo is open daily from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Maps and general admission information are available on the Zoo’s website http://www.santaanazoo.org/.
If you would like to become a Member of the Zoo, please call (714) 953-8555 x13.

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Stork Visits the Santa Ana Zoo!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 24, 2010
Contact: Cathi Decker
FOSAZ Executive Director
(714) 953-8555 x11
cdecker@fosaz.org


STORK VISITS SANTA ANA ZOO!

The "Home of the 50 Monkeys" in Orange County now has a brand new monkey baby!

The Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park is pleased to announce the birth of a white-faced saki monkey (Pithecia pithecia) on the 18th of September, 2010. The proud parents are Dakota and Aaliyah. The yet to be named baby is the sixth offspring of this pair. Mom, dad and baby, along with the siblings can be found at home in the newly refurbished 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: http://www.santaanazoo.org/.

*Note*: 
The Picture above is actually Aaliyah with her last baby.  At this time, we're still giving her a little space, but we'll have a picture of the new baby in a few days.

It's Magic!

While many of you may already consider the Santa Ana Zoo a sort of magical place where you can immerse yourself in nature and make the entire surrounding city disappear, on Tuesday, August 10, it will be magical for a whole different reason...


Come see professional magician Frank Thurston at the Santa Ana Zoo!
Frank has been a professional magician for 26 years, entertaining people of all ages with feats of illusion and prestidigitation.  He has performed at numerous venues on the magic circuit and is a regular at fairs like our own Orange County Fair, as well as performing at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Join us at the Santa Ana Zoo right on the front lawn Tuesday, August 10 at 12:00 for a children's comedy and magic show. 

Frank always plays to his audience, and this show will be one for the kids.  He'll need a few volunteers, so pick a good seat and maybe you'll get to be part of the show!

This show is free with your regular Zoo admission, so come explore the Zoo and visit your favorite animals, take a ride on the Zoofari Express and Conservation Carousel, and then settle in for a fun and amazing show.

The Santa Ana Zoo is located at 1801 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701

(conveniently located just off the 5 fwy, parking is free)

Zoo hours are from 10am-4pm daily (10-am-5pm Sat/Sun)

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children/seniors, under 3 free

(714) 836-4000

For info on the Santa Ana Zoo, events, membership, and more, see our website at

www.santaanazoo.org

The Santa Ana Zoo...

Home of the 50 Monkeys!

Have Dinner at Rubio's and help support the Santa Ana Zoo!

Like Rubio's famous tacos?  

On Thursday July 22, have dinner at Rubio's and you can help support the Santa Ana Zoo!

Come by for dinner, or have your event catered by Rubio's and the Zoo wins!
Whether you eat at Rubio's, take food to go, or pick up a Rubio's a-Go-Go catering order, present the flyer to the cashier and Rubio's will donate 20% to the Zoo!  This offer is valid from 5:00pm til close on Thursday, July 22.

This fundraiser is being hosted by our animal services team, the Orange County Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers.

This deal is good at two locations:

Tustin Marketplace

2955 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782

or

The Block at Orange

20 City Blvd. West, Orange, CA 92868

(for directions, visit www.rubios.com)

***YOU MUST HAVE FLYER FOR US TO GET THE DONATION***

Get your copy of the flyer by printing the picture, or email zoojazz@gmail.com to have the flyer emailed to you.

Eat well, and thank you for supporting OCAAZK and the Santa Ana Zoo!

For more info on this and other Santa Ana Zoo events or general Zoo info,  please visit our website at 

www.santaanazoo.org

2010 Summer Concert Series - One Show Left, July 18!

Well the first concerts have been all about big cool fun, and we're looking to close out the concert season with a bang!

You saw the photos from the first show (see blog post below), and here's a few from the second set of concerts on June 27 with "Blues at the Zoo" featuring the Blues Cruisers and a great "Sunset at the Zoo" show from The Ron Kobayashi Trio.

 

We have plans for the last concerts of the season, and they are going to be a blast.

The first show will be another "Blues at the Zoo" show with Big Son, Mighty Mitch and Friends, a real Blues jam.  Son and Mitch have played the Zoo before as members of other bands, and they are calling in some of their friends for this last show blow out.  Look for a lot of that Jump Blues style that just makes you want to get up and boogie.  Their show is a seriously good time!

Next, We'll move to the amphitheater area for our after hours "Sunset at the Zoo" event.  This one will feature Elnora and Sumpthin' Cookin'.  

Elnora and Sumpthin' Cookin' was formed in November of 2002.  About a month before, Elnora was singing and winning awards for Karaoke. She came by a local venue, Martini Blues, to sing and eventually met Bob Hatcher, Chris O'Connell and Gary (The Wagman) Wagner.  Chris O'Connell (Guitar) had just left Blues Barbeque and Bob was playing in Blues On Arrival.  Together Elnora, Chris, and Bob formed "Elnora & Sumpthin' Cookin'.  They added drummer Mike Green to mix and it definitely became an act with flavor.

The band has enjoyed playing at most of the top venues in Southern California. With help from Gary and Billy Mitchell, we were booked to The Playboy Jazz Festival. Then it was on to B.B. King's, Cozy's, The Blue Cafe, Martini Blues, Newport Blues Festival, Rennaisance, Mahe, Buster's, The Little Red Rooster, Stubrick's Steakhouse, Bistro 400, and many more.

Now they're bringin' their show to the Zoo and it's going to be a great time. 

This show is from 5:30-7:30pm after the Zoo is closed 

Admission is $10, $5 for Zoo members, and free to SAZOO Club members.

The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is located at 

1801 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA, 92701  

(conveniently located just off the 5 freeway)

For info on other shows, see our event page at www.myspace.com/jazzoo .   

Sponsored by:        

 



For info on the Santa Ana Zoo, events, membership, and more, see our website at

http://www.santaanazoo.org/

 

The Santa Ana Zoo...  Home of the 50 Monkeys!

Camels at the Santa ana Zoo!

On May 31, 2010, Noah and Kaleb, two dromedary camels arrived at the Santa Ana Zoo.

These magnificent animals are actually on loan to the Santa Ana Zoo for the summer, and will live in a nice large exhibit just north of the "Colors of the Amazon" aviary.

On the weekends this summer, beginning Saturday June 26, you will be able to ride the  camels! 

Experience the thrill of climbing atop one of these majestic animals into a custom saddle and riding through our "urban oasis"!   You'll almost feel like you're on an exotic adventure in the Sahara.

The camel rides will be open on the weekends Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am - 4:30pm, and rides are only $5 per person.

Come visit Noah and Kaleb at the Santa Ana Zoo and be one of the first to enjoy the weekend rides. 

This is just one of the cool new things you'll see this summer at the Santa Ana Zoo!

For more info on this and other Santa Ana Zoo attractions, membership, events and shows, or general Zoo info,  please visit our website at 

www.santaanazoo.org

2010 Summer Concert Series at the Santa Ana Zoo

Well, the 2010 Santa Ana Zoo Summer Concert Series is up and running!

The Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo kicked it off with 2 great shows on June 13.  We opened with the Mighty Mojo Prophets with a "Blues at the Zoo" show on the front lawn, followed by Peggie Perkins and the band with our after hours "Sunset at the Zoo" event

Here's a few quick pics from those first shows:

The weather was perfect, the music was great, cool art on exhibit, and some animals came out to play.  A few hundred people showed up, and there was general dancing and merriment.

We'll be doing it two more times!

Sunday June 27 

From 3-5pm, we'll have the Blues Cruisers on the front lawn.  Veterans of the vintage Blues/swing genres, the Blues Cruisers will have the house a-rockin'!

 

Bring your family and friends out to the Santa Ana Zoo for the 2010 summer concert
series with "Blues at the Zoo" on the front lawn.

Explore the Zoo, see some cool animals and maybe catch an animal show, feed a
few goats and sheep, ride the Zoofari Express train or the Conservation
Carousel, then relax on the lawn for a Sunday afternoon Blues jam. Bring a
folding chair or blanket and pick a spot to hang out and see the show.
Bringing you sweet Vintage Blues, the Blues Cruisers are sure to have them
dancing on the lawn at the Zoo!

This concert is on the main lawn just inside the Zoo, and is included with your
regular Zoo admission.  (adults $8, child/senior $5, under 3 free)

June 27, 2010 

Next, after the Zoo closes, we do our after hours "Sunset at the Zoo" events!

Get ready for "Sunset at the Zoo" featuring the Ron Kobayashi Trio!

The Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo are proud to present the 2010 "Sunset at the
Zoo" summer concert series sponsored by Villa Ford, Parties by Panache,
and R.W.B. Party Props. 

Join us from 5:30-7:30 pm for the "Sunset" series with The Ron Kobayashi Trio!

The "Sunset at the Zoo" series is one of the most unique concert events in
Orange County. Bring a comfy chair or blanket and pack a picnic supper to come
enjoy great music on the lawn.
This is not just a concert, though. In addition to the show, several select
galleries from around Orange County will be there showcasing some of their work.
The Zoo grounds will be open for you to go exploring, and see the animals at a
time when most of the public doesn't get to enjoy them. Animals are also brought
out and circulated throughout the show grounds. There is a separate kids area
with crafts and other fun stuff. Ride the Zoofari Express train and the
Conservation Carousel for only $1. We'll bring dessert for everyone, or stop by
the "Las Perlas del Amazonas" restaurant at the zoo for a little something. You
can spend the whole afternoon.

THE RON KOBAYASHI TRIO has played numerous music festivals including the Playboy Jazz Festival in Pasadena, San Bernardino Music Festival, The Orange County Art and Jazz Festival, the Dana Point Jazz Festival, the Yorba Linda Arts Festival, the Orange Street Fair and at the Colorado Belle in Laughlin, Nevada. The Trio has worked in Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada and shared the stage with such notable artists as: David Benoit, Eddie Palmieri, Cirque Du Soleil, Strunz and Farah and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

THE TRIO is currently the house band for the Annual Hollywood Diversity Awards where such stars as Chris Rock, Vince Vaughn and the cast of NBCs West Wing have

been honored.

PIANIST AND LEADER RON KOBAYASHI has performed with Mel Torme, Margaret Whiting, Herb Jeffries, Peter Frampton, Kenny Burrell, Eric Marienthal, Tim Weisberg,

Dave Koz and Peter White.

BASSIST AND COMPOSER BABA ELEFANTE has performed with jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Justo Almario, vocalist Michael Sweet, Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz and "Kansas" lead vocalist John Elefante.

DRUMMER STEVE DIXON has worked with War harmonica legend Lee Oskar, jazz saxophonist Richie Cole, trombonist Bill Watrous, vocalist Tierney Sutton and Warner Brothers recording artists "The Untouchables.

Together, they are the consumate funk/jazz/jam band. They do a lot of original compositions with some very cool covers of more contemporary tunes.

This is one of the bands' annual events, and they always do a fantastic show at

the Zoo!

The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is located at

1801 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA, 92701

This is only the second show in the Santa Ana Zoo's 2010 Summer Concert series.

For more info on all these shows, see our event page at

www.myspace.com/jazzoo .

Come early at 3:00 on all the Sunset dates and catch a Blues concert! Save all

the dates now for these "Blues at the Zoo" and "Sunset at the Zoo" shows:

June 27

3:00-5:00 "Blues at the Zoo" with The Blues Cruisers

5:30-7:30 "Sunset at the Zoo" with The Ron Kobayashi Trio

July 18

3:00-5:00 "Blues at the Zoo" with Mighty Mitch, Big Son, and Friends

5:30-7:30 "Sunset at the Zoo" with Elnora and Sumpthin' Cookin'


"Sunset at the Zoo" is  sponsored by:
 
        

For info on the Santa Ana Zoo, events, membership, and more, see our website at

www.santaanazoo.org

The Santa Ana Zoo... Home of the 50 Monkeys!

The Shrek Forever After Game

Play the Shrek Forever After game at the Santa Ana Zoo

With the new Shrek Forever After movie coming out, we've got a new scavenger hunt game to add to your Zoo fun...

Here's how it works:

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

2- As you adventure around the Zoo, look for the special notes around the Zoo and find the answers to questions about Shrek's animal friends.

3- Answer the 4 questions on the card.

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

Visit the Santa Ana Zoo and play the Shrek Forever After game, and go see Shrek 4 in theaters beginning May 21!

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

Stork Visits the Santa Ana Zoo with Twins!

For Immediate Release - May 11, 2010

Contact: Cathi Decker 

FOSAZ Executive Director 

(714) 953-8555 x11

cdecker@fosaz.org

Twin Golden Lion Tamarins Born at the Santa Ana Zoo!

The Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park is pleased to announce the birth of twin golden lion tamarins on April 27, 2010. Golden lion tamarins are a rare golden-orange monkey from the Atlantic coast of Brazil. Weighing less than 1 pound as adults, the babies tip the scale at about 1/8th of a pound!

Zoos have worked together for several decades on the conservation of this species that now numbers approximately 1,200 animals in the wild. Captive breeding, habitat restoration and conservation, conservation education and reintroductions into the wild are all part of the international effort to protect this species. These births are a great boost to the conservation program.

The new twin babies are 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.

The Stork Visits the Santa Ana Zoo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 20, 2010

Contact: Cathi Decker 

FOSAZ Executive Director 

(714) 953-8555 x11

cdecker@fosaz.org

 
The Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park is pleased to announce the birth of a rare Crested Capuchin monkey (Cebus nigritus robustus) on the 6th of April, 2010. 
You may remember the birth of Matteo at the Santa Ana Zoo a couple of years ago.  With parents Romeo and Juliet, brother Matteo, and the baby, there are now 13 crested capuchins in the United States. 

The crested capuchin is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and this birth is an important contribution to the captive breeding program in the United States.  
Crested capuchin monkeys are a medium sized primate native to rapidly disappearing forests along the Atlantic coast of Brazil.  In the wild, capuchins feed on a wide variety of fruits, insects, seeds, leaves, and even small mammals.

In 2001 with help from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Brookfield Zoo worked with the Primate Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Brazilian government to bring seven crested capuchins to the United States to form the nucleus of a captive breeding program. Distributed amongst four institutions, the Santa Ana Zoo is now the second zoo to successfully reproduce this species.

The new baby is on view for the public daily between 10:00AM and 4:00PM.  You can find the capuchin family along primate row, just north of the rainforest exhibit.
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.

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!

*********************************************************

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!

*********************************************************

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