Zoo-A-Thon returns to support animal enrichment programs

The Philadelphia Zoo kicks off its two-day fundraising campaign to raise money for the its animal enrichment programs next weekend, Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18. During those 48 hours, the Zoo will be accepting donations through calls, texts and online, and will be hosting a number of onsite activities for guests to take advantage of, including artwork created by  animals and by mural artists from Visual Urban Renewal and Transformation (VURT) Creative to celebrate the importance of wildlife and art.

Artists from VURT Creative will be at the Zoo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, March 17, to create two unique artworks—one depicting the iconic Philadelphia Zoo sign in a new light; and another by artist Evan Lovett, who will be painting the final piece for the “Walls of the Wildlife Alphabet Project,” a project by VURT Creative.

Through a series of 26 animal paintings—one for each letter of the English alphabet—Lovett demonstrates what can happen to the species featured in the paintings: they could disappear forever, without our help. Each mural has been painted on the same surface, and is covered over to begin the next one. While these immersive pieces only physically exist for a very short time, they will be shared on the Walls of the Wildlife Instagram page and supported by the Zoo.

Other activities include the big cat feeding pole enrichment, rabbit painting at KidZooU, reptile keeper chat, alpaca and goat walks, and much more.

“We provide specialized care to our 1,900 animals each and every day,” said Vice President of Animal Well-Being Rachel Metz in a statement. “That care includes feeding scientifically formulated diets to each individual animal, targeted and preventative veterinary health services and daily enrichment to exercise both the animals’ bodies and minds. Enrichment is vital to animal well-being, and encourages the animals in our care to demonstrate the natural behaviors these animals show in the wild.”

As an integral part of providing animal care, animal enrichment offers a creative outlet for physical activity and mental exercise, offering more choices for animals on how they spend their time. A few examples include puzzle feeders that encourage animals to forage for food; climbing structures that enhance habitats and provide exercise opportunities; and training sessions where animals can interact with keepers—which for some, includes painting.

“The impactful work of Philadelphia Zoo is not possible without the support of our donors,” says Chief Development Officer Neil Batiancila. “Each donor is a partner in our mission to create joyful discovery and inspire action for animals and their habitats. All gifts make a difference.”

Zoo hours during the Zoo-A-Thon are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the general public. All activities in Zoo-A-Thon are free and included with the regular cost of a ticket for either of these two days. For tickets, to make a donation and other information, visit philadelphiazoo.org/events/zoo-a-thon.