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ROYAL OAK, Mich., January 31, 2008 – A snow storm predicted for the Metro Detroit area tonight is expected to dump 6 or more inches on the ground by morning and could result in a three-day weekend for thousands of school children. In celebration of an anticipated “snow day” due to school closings, the Detroit Zoo is offering free admission for children ages 2 to 12 on Friday, February 1.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at the regular admission price. Adults are invited to stop by the Arctic Food Court for a free cup of coffee.
Detroit Zoo officials are hoping that thousands of children and their parents will visit the Zoo on Friday and discover what many diehard winter visitors already know – that when the mercury dips and the snow flies, many of the animals come out to play.
The Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, are among the Zoo’s many winter-hardy animals and can often be seen basking in the warm steam from their hot tub on a frigid day. The tigers, wolverines, red pandas, Asian wild horses, elk and bison also adapt well to cold, snowy weather. Friday’s forecast is calling for more snow and a high of 32 degrees.
A popular Zoo attraction in any type of weather is the Arctic Ring of Life with its 70-foot underwater Polar Passage providing spectacular views of swimming polar bears and seals. For a more tropical experience, visitors can head for the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden where the temperature is always 75 degrees.
Other indoor experiences at the Zoo include the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Penguinarium, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles and Mardigian River Otter Habitat. In addition, the Great Apes of Harambee, giraffe, white rhino, lemur and farm animal habitats all have indoor viewing areas.
The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October. Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.
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