As the season of love approaches, the Utica Zoo has put together a great gift option that not only will warm the heart of that special someone, but will also provide an enrichment opportunity for animals at the Zoo. The Valentine’s Enrichment Gifts allows the community to purchase an enrichment item and give it to an animal in honor of a special someone this Valentine’s Day or to simply provide an enrichment item from an animal lover. Enrichment is a crucial part of caring for animals and contributes greatly to the animal’s physical and psychological health.
Would-Be romantics and animal lovers can purchase either a Valentine’s Day Enrichment Card for $10, a Rose or Flower themed enrichment item for $25, or a Frozen Heart filled with treats enrichment item for $50-a gift perfect for a special someone, or perhaps a not-so-special someone. The Zoo will also contact your special someone to let them know there has been a gift purchased in their honor, and leave a special gift note at each animal exhibit.
“The Valentine’s Enrichment Gift is a really fun way to provide a gift option for the gift buyer who has run out of ideas, loves animals, or just wants something unique to give to their special someone. Plus, our animals really enjoy their enrichment time and it’s so important to their overall health that we hope to be able to provide a wide variety of gifts to our animals this Valentine’s season and make someone’s day all at the same time. We often get questions how people can get involved with supporting our animals and this is just one of a variety of options,” said Mark Simon, Marketing Coordinator at the Utica Zoo.
Feb. 12 is the final day to purchase your Valentine’s Enrichment Gift through the Utica Zoo. Gift recipients will be notified Feb. 14, and the community is encouraged to visit the Zoo on Valentine’s Day to see the animals receive their enrichment gifts.
For full details and to purchase your enrichment gift, visit UticaZoo.org/Valentines.
For more information on this or other Utica Zoo programs or events, visit UticaZoo.org, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @uticazoo.