FORT WORTH, Texas – The Fort Worth Zoo’s 6th annual Beastro is scheduled for Friday, June 8, 2012 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Proceeds from this premier tasting and music event support the Zoo’s local and international wildlife conservation and education efforts.

Beastro features the finest area restaurants stationed throughout the Zoo serving sample appetizers, entrées and desserts. In addition to the delectable cuisine, the event will feature open bars throughout the park and live entertainment from Sister Hazel and Time Machine. Several animal exhibits are expected to remain open until sunset, and the Zoo’s Wild Wonders Outreach animals will greet this year’s partygoers.

Beastro tickets, $95 for non-members and $85 for Zoo members, include all food, drinks and entertainment. VIP tickets, $150 each, include early event access at 7 p.m. and a private bar in the VIP area. All tickets are available for purchase online via the Zoo’s website through June 7. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase the night of the event for $110 each.

To date, the 2012 participating restaurants include: Blue Mesa Grill, Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Buffalo Cantina, Café Brazil, Cast Iron at the Omni Fort Worth, Chadra Mezza & Grill, Corner Bakery Cafe, Daddy Jack’s Lobster & Chowder House, Fletchers Corny Dogs & Funnel Cakes, Fred’s Truck Wagon, H3 Ranch at the Stockyards Hotel, Hot Chocolates, Kona Ice of Fort Worth, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Red Cactus Fresh Mexican Food, Red Jett Sweets, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Simply Fondue Fort Worth, Texas de Brazil, The Tavern Bar & Grill, The Wild Mushroom Restaurant & Lounge, Tokyo Cafe, Wiener Man, Winslow’s Wine Cafe, YES! Taco and YO! Frozen Yogurt Lounge. More restaurants are being added daily, so visit the Zoo’s website for the most current list.

Attire for Beastro is summer chic, and comfortable shoes are highly recommended, as the event requires walking throughout the Zoo. All guests must be at least 21 years old to attend, no exceptions.

For more information, click here or contact the Beastro ticket hotline at 817/759-7373.

The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide and the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the brand new Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Katie Giangreco, Public Relations Coordinator
kgiangreco@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, Texas – Three juvenile African lions – one male and two females – have arrived at the Fort Worth Zoo from South Africa. The lions, ranging in age from 8 to 15 months, were born at a private wildlife facility and are unrelated to one another.

The lions, Jabulani, Saba and Abagebe, can be seen playing and exploring in their African Savannah exhibit space next to the Zoo’s resident 17-year-old male lion, Tsavo (sah-vo).

The Fort Worth Zoo’s wildlife partnerships are global, and the lions’ unique genetic material will make them a valuable asset in the development of the country’s captive African lion population. The Zoo has bred three successful African lion litters since 2004.

African lions are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A 2008 IUCN report showed that the wild population of African lions has dwindled 30 percent over the last two decades.

The nationally ranked Fort Worth Zoo was recently ranked the number one attraction in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex by Zagat survey. Home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, the Zoo supports conservation projects in more than 30 countries around the globe. The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Katie Giangreco, Public Relations Coordinator
kgiangreco@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, Texas – Show Mom some motherly love at the Fort Worth Zoo on Mother’s Day! The Zoo is offering brunch at 9:30 a.m. and noon on Sunday, May 13, 2012, which includes made-to-order omelets and waffles, fresh fruit and more inside the Zoo’s Portraits of The Wild Art Gallery.

In addition to brunch, you and your family will enjoy a Wild Wonders animal meet-and-greet, entry into the Zoo on Mother’s Day and keeper chats at select exhibits. Each family will also receive an adoption package for the animal of their choice, which includes:

• Personalized adoption certificate

• Animal fact sheet

• Zoo publication

• Photo of adopted animal

Adult tickets are $65, children’s tickets (17 and younger) are $25, and children 2 and younger are free. Order your Mother’s Day Brunch tickets by noon on May 9, 2012. Click here to order and view the brunch menu.

Mother’s Day Brunch has limited availability and is sure to sell out quickly, so don’t wait to order. All proceeds benefit the Zoo’s Adoption program, which helps support the care and feeding of our animals.

Cancellation policy: All ticket purchases are final and non-refundable.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Katie Giangreco, Public Relations Coordinator
kgiangreco@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, Texas — For the eighth year, The T and the Fort Worth Zoo are offering Zoo visitors inexpensive relief to typical spring break traffic and parking stress. Saturday, March 10 through Sunday, March 18, 2012, take a ride on the Safari Shuttle, provided by The T. The Safari Shuttle bus will run from Bus Bay A adjacent to the Trinity Railway Express platform at The T’s downtown Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) to the Fort Worth Zoo during spring break.

The Safari Shuttle will operate an express service to and from the Zoo. Trinity Railway Express (TRE) passengers from Dallas and the Mid-Cities can also conveniently catch the Safari Shuttle from the ITC without extra charge.

A round-trip day-pass to ride the Safari Shuttle is $3 for adults, $1.50 for seniors 65 and older and children 18 and under, and free for children under 5. Zoo visitors arriving by the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) train may ride the Safari Shuttle from the ITC free of charge with their TRE day pass ticket or with a weekly, monthly or annual regional pass.

The Safari Shuttle’s route is from the ITC at 1001 Jones Street in downtown Fort Worth to Colonial Parkway, just a short walk from the Zoo’s main entrance. The Safari Shuttle will run every 30 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The first shuttle leaves the ITC at 9:30 a.m. and the last shuttle leaves the Zoo at 6 p.m. For those who wish to park and ride from the downtown area, paid parking is available across the street from the ITC. The ITC also has a drive-through lane for personal vehicles to drop off and pick up riders. For specific time schedules and to get more information, please call The T’s Customer Service Staff at 817/215-8600 or visit The T’s website, www.The-T.com.

The Fort Worth Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors and children (ages 3 to 12), and toddlers 2 and under are FREE. Admission is half-price every Wednesday. For more information, click here.

The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide and the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

The T (the Fort Worth Transportation Authority) provides quality public transportation to meet the mobility needs of nearly nine million passengers a year on buses, vanpools, the Trinity Railway Express, co- owned with DART, The T is also developing Tex Rail, a new commuter rail planned with 10 stations from SW Fort Worth to DFW Airport. A regional transportation authority of Texas, The T is governed by a nine-member board of directors appointed by the Fort Worth City Council and Tarrant County Commissioners Court.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Katie Giangreco, Public Relations Coordinator
kgiangreco@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, Texas – Lace up your sneakers for a worthy cause at the Fort Worth Zoo’s 15th annual Zoo Run on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Every year, proceeds from Zoo Run support the Zoo’s wildlife conservation and education efforts around the world. This year’s Zoo Run includes another Party for the Planet, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) national Earth Day celebration.

The 15th annual Zoo Run, presented by Terminix, includes a competitive Timed 10K, Timed 5K, 5K Fun Run and 1K Fun Run. Zoo Run will take place on a USA Track and Field certified course along the Zoo’s main pathway and throughout the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding the Zoo.

Race entry fees for all pre-registered runners include a 2012 Zoo Run T-shirt, one complimentary admission pass to the Fort Worth Zoo, food, drinks and activities after the race including an awards ceremony and a Wild Wonders live animal presentation.

Early entry fees are $23 per individual or $20 per person for team entries (5 person minimum). School group (K-12) entry fees are $18 per person (10 person minimum). Entries must be received by April 6, 2012, to qualify for early entry fees. After April 6, 2012, entry fees are $28 per individual and $33 per individual on race day. Only pre-registered runners are guaranteed a T-shirt and timing chip. The final deadline for all school groups and team entries is April 6, 2012. The online Zoo Run registration link can be found by clicking here.

Race Times:
• 7 a.m. – Timed 10K (ages 12 and up)
• 8 a.m. – 1K Fun Run
• 8:30 a.m. – Timed 5K and 5K Fun Run

For more information on Zoo Run, please call 817/759-7337 or click here.

PLEASE NOTE: On the day of the event, Colonial Parkway will not be accessible from University Drive. Please enter the Zoo’s main parking lot from Forest Park Boulevard. In honor of the Party for the Planet celebration, the Zoo encourages all participants to “go green” and carpool to the Zoo, if possible.

The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide and the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the brand new Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Katie Giangreco, Public Relations Coordinator
kgiangreco@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, Texas – Whether you think love is bitter or sweet, the Fort Worth Zoo has festive ways for you to recognize Valentine’s Day this year. Give your Valentine the gift of adoption with rockhopper or African penguins, which will benefit from the care and feeding that your gift helps to provide. Your sweetheart will adore one of our creative gift packages filled with a photo, plush penguin, a personalized adoption certificate and more, packaged in a festive animal carrier box. Those looking to display their love (or disdain) in an unconventional and lighthearted way can adopt a Haitian cockroach and send an e-card for Valentine’s Day.

The Zoo is also hosting two Valentine’s Day dinners, one for lovebirds and the other an offbeat option for singles and friends. The Zoo’s first-ever Bitter Dinner is an anti-Valentine’s Day celebration, featuring an evening of dinner, drinks, live animals, and more. The Zoo’s wildly popular Penguin Party includes a meet-and-greet and professional photo with the Zoo’s penguins and an interactive game, in addition to dinner and drinks for couples. The Penguin Party also includes a Love Birds-level adoption package.

Penguin Pals — $40

• Choice of penguin – African or rockhopper (one plush penguin)
• Adoption certificate
• Animal fact sheet and photo
• One Zoo newsletter

Love Birds — $70

• African and rockhopper penguins (two plush penguins)
• Adoption certificate
• Animal fact sheets and photos
• One Zoo newsletter
• Two Zoo tickets

Cockroach e-card – $10

• Adopt a Haitian cockroach to show your unwavering love. For just $10, your recipient will receive a festive e-card with a customized message. Adopting one of the Zoo’s animals contributes to its care and feeding for one full year.

Penguin Party — $175/couple

• Saturday, February 11 at 7 p.m.
• Treat your sweetie to dinner, drinks and a show, plus our feathered guests of honor, African penguins, in the Portraits of the Wild Art Gallery at the Fort Worth Zoo. The purchase of tickets to this event includes a Love Birds-level adoption package.

Bitter Dinner — $55/person

• Friday, February 10 at 7 p.m.
• Are you unattached and looking for a fun evening with your friends? Join us for an anti-Valentine’s Day celebration at the Fort Worth Zoo. You’ll enjoy dinner, drinks, a flipbook booth and a show, plus some pretty sweet animals in the Zoo’s Portraits of the Wild Art Gallery.

Bitter Dinner and Penguin Party guests must absolutely be age 21 or older, no exceptions. The parties have limited availability and historically sell out quickly, so don’t wait to order. Ticket sales end February 7. Menus can be viewed online.

Penguin adoption orders must be received by noon on February 10 to ensure mail delivery by February 14. Otherwise, packages may be picked up in person at the Fort Worth Zoo’s Administration Building.

For more information on the Penguin Party and penguin adoptions, click here. For details about the Bitter Dinner and Haitian cockroach adoption, click here.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Katie Giangreco, Public Relations Coordinator
kgiangreco@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, Texas – At the Fort Worth Zoo, gift-giving isn’t black and white – our packages come in a variety of spots and stripes. Give an animal adoption and help provide its care and feeding for one year, or share the gift of unlimited Zoo visits with a membership. Starting at just $40, the Fort Worth Zoo’s personalized holiday adoption packages are filled with unique photos, adoption certificate, a plush animal and more. From gorillas to cheetahs to zebras, there’s something for every animal lover on your gift list!

Your adoption of a gorilla, cheetah or a zebra will be delightfully arranged in an animal carrier box in one of the following packages:

$65 Santa Safari

•    Personalized adoption certificate
•    Animal fact sheet
•    One Zoo publication
•    4×6 color photo
•    Plush animal
•    Two Zoo passes

$40 Santa Safari

•    Personalized adoption certificate
•    Animal fact sheet
•    One Zoo publication
•    4×6 color photo
•    Plush animal

$35 Santa Safari (for Zoo Members only)

•    Personalized adoption certificate
•    Animal fact sheet
•    One Zoo publication
•    4×6 color photo
•    Plush animal

Visit the Zoo’s website to order your holiday adoption or Zoo membership online. Orders must be received by end of business Monday, December 19 to ensure mail delivery by December 24. Please allow two days for processing.

The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide and the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the brand new Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Remekca Owens, Public Relations Manager
rowens@fortworthzoo.org

“The AZA Exhibit Award recognizes the Fort Worth Zoo’s innovative leadership and dedication to excellence,” said AZA president and CEO Jim Maddy.  “The Museum of Living Art demonstrates how the Fort Worth Zoo, and all AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, are connecting people and animals – inspiring and educating in new and exciting ways.”

The Fort Worth Zoo’s Museum of Living Art (MOLA) is a 30,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor herpetological facility that houses more than 250 amphibian and reptile species, representing more than 5,700 animals. MOLA includes spacious, humidity-controlled exhibits and state-of-the-art conservation tools, such as quarantine rooms and hibernacula that facilitate the breeding of rare, endangered and critically endangered animals.

In response to the recent global amphibian crisis, the Fort Worth Zoo prioritized housing, research and breeding amphibians in a building specifically designed to meet the animals’ needs. Open encounter areas encourage discussion and education and allow guests to come face-to-face with exotic reptiles. Complete with educational programming and correlating activities such as backpack tours and keeper chats, MOLA shares messages of environmental stewardship with guests, students and teachers throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. MOLA is impressive not only for the diverse and rare animal collection it houses, but also for its rare architecture and building design.

The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide and the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the brand new Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. To learn more visit www.aza.org.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Remekca Owens, Public Relations Manager
rowens@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, Texas – The Fort Worth Zoo’s family friendly Halloween celebration will continue as a daytime event, running from noon to 5 p.m. over two weekends — October 21-23 and October 28-30.

Boo at the Zoo will feature Halloween décor, events, games and candy, and the most popular attraction: Zoo animals! Daytime event hours will make the entire Zoo open to Boo at the Zoo guests, allowing keepers to incorporate Boo-themed activities into the animal exhibits throughout the entire park.

The main portion of Boo at the Zoo—games, entertainment, Wild Wonders animal shows and trick-or-treating—will take place at the Zoo’s Chesapeake Pavilions special event site. Admission to the site is $3 per person. Other Halloween-themed animal enrichment throughout the park can be enjoyed with the price of regular Zoo admission—$12 for adults, $9 for children ages 3-12, $9 for seniors ages 65 and up, and free for children 2 and under. Admission to the Boo event site is charged for all ages.

Children are welcome to wear their favorite Halloween costumes, and, guests are encouraged to submit photos for the Boo at the Zoo Wildlife Costume Photo Contest! Guests can upload photos captured at the event to the Zoo’s website from October 21-November 2, 2011. More information, including full contest rules, will be available on the Zoo’s homepage.

The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide and the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the brand new Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Remekca Owens, Public Relations Manager
rowens@fortworthzoo.org

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Fort Worth Zoo now boasts its first solar array, thanks to Green Mountain Energy Company and its customers. Green Mountain, Texas’ first competitive retail electric provider to offer cleaner energy, donated $140,000 to the Zoo through the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club (formerly the Big Texas Sun Club) to fund its first solar array system. The new 47.5 kilowatt (kW) solar array is installed on the roof of the Zoo’s administration building.

Green Mountain CEO Paul Thomas and Super Earth Mascot joined Fort Worth Zoo Executive Director Michael Fouraker to officially “flip the switch” of the solar array today during a ceremonial dedication. The Fort Worth Zoo is located at 1989 Colonial Parkway.

The new 47.5 kilowatt (kW) solar array is the largest solar system to help power a zoo in Texas and one of the largest in Fort Worth. It will help reduce the Zoo’s carbon footprint and energy costs, as well as be used to educate visitors and patrons about the benefits of solar energy. The solar array is the fourth one donated by Green Mountain’s Sun Club in Fort Worth.

Green Mountain’s Sun Club, which funded the Fort Worth Zoo’s solar array, is a unique program in which Green Mountain’s Texas customers can choose to support solar energy installations in Texas by paying an additional $5 on their monthly Green Mountain Energy® electric bill (for information, visit www.gmsunclub.com).  This is Green Mountain’s 30th solar installation through the Sun Club since 2002 when the program was launched.

“We are thrilled that the Fort Worth Zoo, an extremely valuable and iconic institution in Fort Worth, is the recipient of the 30th solar installation through the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club,” said Paul Thomas, CEO of Green Mountain Energy Company. “More than one million visitors to the Fort Worth Zoo each year will be able to see a solar array and learn about the important benefits of solar energy. Donating solar installations like this one helps us give back to the communities where our customers live, work, shop and play, while supporting our mission to change the way power is made.”

“We are grateful for the donation from Green Mountain Energy,” said Michael Fouraker, Fort Worth Zoo executive director. “The Zoo is constantly looking for ways to incorporate conservation of all kinds into our daily operation. When we were approached about this opportunity, we thought it was a perfect fit as it demonstrates the use of natural power without disruption or destruction of animal habitat. We appreciate the partnership and donation, and we look forward to seeing how this initiative can expand.”

The Green Mountain Energy® Solar at Fort Worth Zoo is approximately 4,000 square feet and was built with 176 giant solar photovoltaic panels. It is expected to produce more than 93,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity per year by converting sunlight into pollution-free electricity.  Additionally, the solar array is expected to avoid more than 123,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. That’s the equivalent of taking 4,000 cars off the road for one day or more than 36,000 houses turning off all their lights for a day. It is estimated the system will save the Zoo nearly $300,000 over the course of its 30-year lifetime.

As part of the donation, an educational sign will be installed on the Zoo grounds to inform visitors about the solar array, how it works and its environmental benefits. The solar panels were installed by APS.

Fort Worth Zoo
The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide and the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.

Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain, the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions, was founded in 1997 to “change the way power is made.” The company is the longest serving green power marketer in the U.S. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of clean electricity products from renewable sources, such as wind, as well as a variety of carbon offset products. Green Mountain’s largest customer is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 11.3 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. As a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy, Green Mountain is backed by one of the nation’s largest renewable power producers. For more information, visit www.GreenMountain.com.

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For further information, contact:
Alexis Wilson, Communications Director
awilson@fortworthzoo.org

Remekca Owens, Public Relations Manager
rowens@fortworthzoo.org