ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 22, 2006 – When T.M.X. Tickle Me Elmo is all tickled out, PlayStation 3 is no longer being played, and snowboards are sidelined due to lack of snow, parents looking for a cure for their kids’ post-holiday cabin fever need look no further than the Detroit Zoo.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 21, 2006 – The Detroit Zoological Society today announced the close of its “Celebrating Wildlife” capital campaign after raising $49,600,000.   The campaign was launched in 1999 to fund four world-class facilities at the Detroit Zoo – the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Arctic Ring of Life, Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex, and Ford Education Center – and to build the Society’s endowment in support of the Zoo’s research, education, conservation and animal-care activities.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 29, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo has a sure cure for the winter blahs this season with Wild Winter Weekends.  The series of winter-themed events includes a “fun in the sun” Beach Blast, a wild Carnival, and an animal kingdom Zoobilee.  Wild Winter festivities will be held on the second weekends in January, February, and March from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ford Education Center.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 8, 2006 – When the mall becomes a zoo, holiday shoppers can make the Detroit Zoo their mall.  And the giver can give twice – recipients will love their unique gifts, and proceeds will help support the Detroit Zoological Society and preserve the world’s wildlife. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 1, 2006 – The 2006 Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, a collection of images from the world’s largest and most prestigious wildlife photography competition, makes its North American premiere at the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center on December 14, 2006.  As with the simultaneous exhibition in London, the Zoo’s North American premiere features the winning entries dramatically displayed as illuminated large-format color transparencies.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., November 29, 2006 –  Everyone is invited to join Old St. Nick as he takes a breather from his busy holiday schedule to enjoy a delicious buffet-style waffle breakfast at the Detroit Zoo.  The annual Breakfast with Santa will be held in the Zoo’s Wildlife Interpretive Gallery Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10, and Saturday and Sunday, December 16 and 17, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., October 7, 2006 – Detroit Zoological Society officials and Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R - Bloomfield Hills) today announced that the Society has been awarded a 2006 federal special projects appropriation of $100,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The funds will be used to install lighting equipment in the Zoo’s Ford Education Center Theater.  Knollenberg, who serves on the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee and chairs a subcommittee on HUD, was instrumental in securing the funding.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., October 4, 2006 – Renowned French artist and designer Mathias will sign and personalize designs from his Mille Nuits collection at the Baccarat Boutique at Somerset Collection in Troy on Friday, October 13, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Baccarat is donating ten percent of the proceeds from sales of Mathias’ designs to the Detroit Zoological Society.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., September 26, 2006 – The wildlife and nature photography of local real estate developer Burton D. Farbman will be showcased in a special exhibition at the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center October 11 through November 30.   The Burton D. Farbman Wildlife Photo Exhibit will feature 50 to 60 images captured at the Zoo and on a Detroit Zoo-organized African safari.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., September 25, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo today announced that accreditation was granted by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Accreditation Commission on Sunday at the association’s annual conference in Tampa, Fla.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., September 22, 2006 – Chrissy, a female Japanese macaque at the Detroit Zoo, knows what it’s like to have a monkey on her back.  The primate gave birth in August and can be seen toting her offspring around the Zoo’s snow monkey habitat.  The baby’s gender remains unknown pending a physical examination by Zoo veterinarians.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., September 21, 2006 – It’s time to don the lederhosen and polish the steins for the fourth annual OktoberFest at the Detroit Zoo October 6 to 8.  The three-day celebration features German-style food, live entertainment, children’s activities and a beer garden for adults by Atwater Block Brewery.  The event times for OktoberFest are Friday, October 6, 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, October 7, noon to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, October 8, noon to 5 p.m.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., September 13, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo will celebrate Metro Detroit’s African American community and culture at the African American Festival on Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event is part of Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo…Like Nowhere Else, presented by Pizza Hut.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., September 8, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo and the Michigan Humane Society, in collaboration with several local animal welfare organizations, will host “Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo” September 23 and 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Presented by PETCO, the event is the nation’s largest off-site companion animal adoption program.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 25, 2006 – Thousands of Detroit Zoo supporters will lace up their running shoes and head over to the Zoo on Saturday, September 16, for the 10th annual LaSalle Bank Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo.  Proceeds from the Run Wild event benefit the Zoo’s Animal Health Complex.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 23, 2006 – Senior citizens are invited to enjoy a special day at the Detroit Zoo on Senior Day, Wednesday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Seniors 62 and older and their caregivers will receive free admission, parking and miniature railroad rides.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 18, 2006 – Kids in Michigan will enjoy an extended summer vacation this year compliments of the Michigan Legislature who passed a bill mandating that all public and charter schools postpone the start of the school year until after Labor Day. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 16, 2006 – The people have spoken and the Detroit Zoo’s penguin chick has a name.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 15, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo will celebrate Metro Detroit’s Middle Eastern community and culture at the Middle Eastern Festival on Saturday, August 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event is part of Summer Festivals at the Detroit Zoo…Like Nowhere Else, presented by Pizza Hut.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 8, 2006 – Thirsty Metro Detroiters can beat the heat while supporting the Detroit Zoological Society by trying two new Frappuccino juice blended beverages with a refreshing fruit twist from Starbucks Coffee Company, presenting sponsor of the Zoo’s Wild Summer Nights Concert Series.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 4, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo received over 7,000 entries in its Name the Penguin Chick contest and has narrowed the field to the top five.  The finalists are Fritz, Izzo, Pudge, Rico and Scooter.  The public has until August 15 to visit the Zoo’s Web site at www.detroitzoo.org to vote for the winning name. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich.— The Annual Meeting of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) was held this morning at the Zoo.  At the meeting, the membership approved the following slate of candidates for a three-year term of Board service: Leslie C. Devereaux, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, Linda H. Gillum, Ph.D, Louis Green, Mark A. Kelley, M.D. and Robert C. Larson. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., July 12, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo proudly announces the hatching of a male Macaroni penguin chick and is inviting the public to help name its latest bundle of joy.  The hatchling arrived on May 22 covered in fluffy down feathers and tipping the scales just shy of 100 grams.  The chick is being hand-reared by zookeepers off-exhibit and will join the Zoo’s penguin colony in mid- to late-August after it has “fledged” or grown its adult feathers for swimming. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 28, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo will be getting wild every Wednesday night during July and August with the Wild Summer Nights Concert Series.  Presented by Starbucks Coffee, the concerts will take place in the Zoo’s main picnic grove from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 5 through August 30.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 23, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo has taken to the skylines and the airwaves with a new advertising campaign to kick off the summer season.  The integrated campaign features radio, outdoor and print components, taking Metro Detroit consumers inside the Australian Outback Adventure, a new Zoo experience where visitors walk along a winding path among the red kangaroos.  Created on a pro bono basis by Southfield, Michigan-based Doner, the ad campaign runs through September.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 19, 2006 – HOGs will outnumber the animals at the Detroit Zoo on Saturday, June 24, when the Mamon Ride for Children rolls into the Park.  An estimated 3,000 participants will ride their motorcycles to the Zoo en masse to raise money for special-needs children and children battling cancer.  In the event of rain, the ride will be rescheduled for June 25.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 5, 2006 — June 10 marks the one-year anniversary of the addition of two male endangered white rhinoceroses to the Detroit Zoo.  Their arrival last year signaled the first time the Zoo had ever been home to white rhinos.  Six-year-old Jasiri relocated to Detroit from Florida’s Jacksonville Zoo, while five-year-old Tamba came from the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 2, 2006 – As the start of the Detroit Zoo’s Summer Safari fast approaches, registration for the popular camp is nearing capacity.  Parents are encouraged to register their children now so as not to miss out on this wild adventure.  Sessions begin June 19 and continue through August 18. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 1, 2006 – Members of two private business clubs, Skyline Club in Southfield and Renaissance Club in Detroit, have raised over $25,000 for the Detroit Zoological Society since October 2005 by waiving the $700 initiation fee for new members in exchange for a donation of $150 to the Society. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 1, 2006 - In the spirit of celebrating and saving wildlife, the Detroit Zoological Institute is inviting young artists to express their creativity and talent in the “Zoos Save the World” children’s art competition and exhibition. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 30, 2006 – The Detroit Zoological Society today announced the appointment of Richard S. Duane, Jr. as Director of Human Resources.  He is responsible for HR programs, recruitment, organizational development and employee relations at the Detroit Zoological Institute and the Detroit Zoological Society. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 26, 2006 - The Detroit Zoo will host a “beary” special day on Saturday, June 3, when children are invited to bring their stuffed bears for Teddy Bear Day.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 25, 2006 – A $4-million grant from the State of Michigan to the Detroit Zoological Society to help cover transition and operating costs in 2006 was approved Wednesday by the Legislature. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 17, 2006 – Tickets are now on sale for the Detroit Zoological Society’s annual fundraising event, Sunset at the Zoo, the year’s wildest fun-filled night of live entertainment, dancing, live and silent auctions, zoo-themed martinis and strolling supper.  Presented by General Motors, the event takes place in the Detroit Zoo’s main picnic grove on Friday, June 16, 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., rain or shine. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 15, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo will unveil its latest exhibition on May 19 when The Peregrine Falcon: Return of an Endangered Species debuts at the Exhibit Gallery of the Ford Education Center.  Featuring photos, dioramas, interactive displays and video, the 2,000-square-foot exhibit looks at the biology, behavior and near-demise of the peregrine falcon.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 11, 2006 – Saturday, May 13, will be a g’day for the Detroit Zoo’s 17 red kangaroos when the Australian Outback Adventure officially opens to the public.  The new experience allows visitors to get an up-close-and-personal look at marsupial life Down Under via a walking path through a simulated Outback habitat.  Only knee-high wire cables along both sides of the trail separate visitors from the big red ‘roos, enabling the animals to bound around at will. 

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 3, 2006 – When the Detroit Zoo’s train resumed operation on the first of May, it marked the 75th anniversary of one of the park’s most popular and beloved attractions.  Over 40 million Zoo guests have ridden the rails since the Miniature Railroad was introduced in 1931.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 2, 2006 – The Detroit chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) will host its 17th annual “Bowling for Rhinos” bowl-a-thon on Saturday, June 3, at Cloverlanes Bowl in Livonia.  Nationally, “Bowling for Rhinos” raises over $200,000 annually for the conservation of endangered rhinos.

DETROIT, Mich. – The Belle Isle Nature Zoo today opened its Deer Encounter, where 13 fallow deer that once roamed the island are enjoying a new one-acre enclosure and barn.   The exhibit is part of  a multi-phase project to convert the former nature center on Belle Isle into a Nature Zoo focusing on Michigan wildlife, flora and fauna.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., April 12, 2006 – There is a crisis on Dino Island and the Earth Science Team has to capture Tony, the only existing male T-Rex in the world, before a volcano erupts and takes out all remaining life.  It’s a race against time as lava begins to flow, cliffs break away, and Tony perilously falls into a deep and fast whirlpool.

ROYAL OAK, Mich., March 16, 2006 -- The Detroit Zoo’s newly renovated Zoofari Market gift shop opens its doors to the public on March 22.  Located at the admission gates, the 2,400-square-foot retail space features a broad selection of animal-themed merchandise and homemade refreshments.  The store is open during regular Zoo hours.

Royal Oak, Mich., March 3, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo’s Summer Safari camp is back and wilder than ever!  Children ages 4-13 can explore the wonders of the animal kingdom through tours of the Detroit Zoo, hands-on activities, games, arts and crafts.  Campers can choose from a variety of half-day, all-day, overnight and week-long sessions geared toward specific age groups.  Summer Safari is designed to spark an interest in and respect for wildlife, conservation and animal welfare. 

Royal Oak, Mich., February 8, 2006 – The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) today announced the appointment of Patricia Mills as Communications Manager.  She is responsible for all public relations and communications activities for the Detroit Zoo.

Royal Oak, Mich., January 27, 2006 - The staff of the Detroit Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center and Veterinary Department were recently recognized by Natural Areas Preservation (NAP) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for their support in providing counsel, housing and veterinary care for native amphibians during a school construction project that affected the animals’ native habitat.