Join the Utica Zoo Education Department for a fun-filled program complete with valentines and enrichment items. The Utica Zoo and Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester have also teamed up for an “Animal Valentine Exchange.” This event is free with zoo admission.
Bring the kids to the Utica Zoo Wildlife Hall at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 16 and 17, 2019, and make a valentine to send to an animal at the Seneca Park Zoo. Children from Seneca Park will be creating valentines to send to Utica Zoo animals also. There will also be crafts, enrichment activities including a valentine chain, animal meet-and-greets and a fire to keep warm.
The Utica Zoo animal matchmakers have worked closely with the team at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester to do an animal valentine exchange. A few animals from each zoo collection have been chosen to exchange valentines. Visitors can choose to send a valentine from themselves or from a Utica Zoo animal. Valentine exchange animals include American bald eagles, spotted and striped hyenas, African lions, Canada lynx, California sea lions and Burmese pythons.
“We wanted to create an event that would be enjoyable for visitors of all ages, while also connecting with another Central New York Zoo,” said Mark Simon, marketing coordinator at the Utica Zoo. “We are one of five CNY zoos and aquariums who are AZA-accredited and we all work towards conservation goals, so we figured it would be a great way to connect, work together and provide a fun winter event for our respective communities. People forget the Utica Zoo is open 363 days a year, so we want people to remember we are here all winter long also.”
For more information about this, or anything Utica Zoo related, visit UticaZoo.org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @uticazoo.