Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Bronx Zoo Wins Coveted AZA Exhibit Award

CONTACT: Jane Ballentine, (301)562-0777 x252

NEW ORLEANS 22 September 2004 — The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) today honored the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo with the AZA Exhibit Award for "Tiger Mountain". WCS officials accepted the award at the AZA's 80th Annual Conference, meeting here this week.

"Tiger Mountain" is a 3-acre recreation of a corner of the beautiful Amur Valley on the border of Russia and China. An open viewing shelter set deep in the exhibit allows visitors dramatic close-ups of the tigers and their habitat. "Tiger Mountain" has two main tiger viewing areas, Tiger Valley and Tiger Ridge, as well as several educational arenas and interactive conservation areas.

At Tiger Valley, you will get an up-close look at tiger enrichment activities in action. You will learn what behavior is natural for tigers in the wild, and how enrichment sessions elicit the same natural behaviors from tigers in captivity. You can also play with some tiger toys yourself! Visitors can test their strength against tigers by pulling against a garage door spring mounted on the gallery's interpretive console, and watch the tigers effortlessly stretch their own garage door spring in the exhibit as if it were a slinky. Video monitors will also give a special behind-the-scenes look at how the keepers and tigers interact when they are off exhibit.

Tiger Ridge's most prominent feature is a unique tiger swimming pool. Unlike domestic cats, tigers love water. The Tiger Pool allows unprecedented viewing access to tigers as they play, swim, drink and rest in their own private watering hole. It is complete with underwater views and a video monitor for up-close viewing. Tiger Ridge also has headphones that allow you to listen to "tiger talk." Learn what chuffling, growling, and roaring mean as tigers talk to each other and to their keepers. A set of graphic panels also allows you to examine each tiger's unique stripe pattern so you can identify by sight which tigers are on exhibit.

The Exhibit Award is presented by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for outstanding dedication to conservation issues and construction of exhibit space replicating species natural habitats.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association was founded in 1924 and currently represents 212 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. AZA's mission is to support membership excellence in conservation, education, science and recreation.

For more information contact Linda Corcoran at 718.220.5182 or lcorcoran@wcs.org.