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