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WOODLAND PARK ZOO RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT HONOR
CONTACT: Jane Ballentine, (301)562-0777, x 252
CHICAGO, IL, September 18, 2005 – The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) today honored the Woodland Park Zoo with a Significant Achievement Award in the Exhibit category for "Jaguar Cove." Zoo officials accepted the award at the AZA's 81st Annual Conference meeting here this week.
A 28-foot-high kapok stump serves as the dramatic entry to Jaguar Cove, the first zoo exhibit in the world with underwater viewing of a swimming jaguar. More than 1,900 plants inside and outside the jaguar enclosure help transport visitors to the lush, tropical rain forests of Central and South America, the natural habitat of jaguars. The 3,850-square-foot exhibit represents one of the most naturalistic and most complex exhibits currently dedicated to jaguars in any zoo.
A blend of real and artificial fallen trees, simulated limestone cliffs, a 4½ -foot-deep pool fed by a waterfall, and varied terrain are several characteristics that make the naturalistic environment unique and stimulating for the jaguar. As the jaguar interacts with its environment, visitors are inspired to better appreciate how these muscular cats behave in the wild. A nearby research tent offers a powerful reminder of how multidisciplinary teams of researchers dedicate time and resources to help save endangered jaguars and their shrinking habitats.
The Exhibit Award is presented by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for outstanding dedication to conservation issues, construction of exhibit space and replication of species natural habitats.
Note: For more information contact Gigi Allianic at 206/684-4838.
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