Association of Zoos and Aquariums

LINCOLN PARK ZOO RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT HONOR FOR EXHIBIT

CONTACT: Kris Vehrs, AZA 301-562-0777 x 229

TAMPA, FL September 29, 2006 Today the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) honored the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago) with a Significant Achievement Award in the Exhibit category for the Regenstein Center for African Apes. Zoo officials accepted the award in front of thousands of their professional colleagues at the AZA's 82nd Annual Conference, meeting here this week. AZA honored the zoo with this award in honor of their contributions to help achieve AZA’s vision of building North America’s largest wildlife conservation movement.

The $26 million Regenstein Center for African Apes includes three large, naturalistic outdoor habitats: the Kovler Gorilla Bamboo Forest, the Strangler Fig Forest and the Dry Riverbed Valley. Depending on the weather, time of day and time of year, the chimpanzees and gorillas can choose from a heated gunite log, a warm mud bank or a cooling waterfall, which encourages the animals to take a seat in front of close-up visitor overlooks.

Their habitats featured termite mounds where the chimpanzees can “fish” for treats; a water hole; a mechanical tree limb on which the chimps can bounce up and down; and stands of steel bamboo stalks, bent at slight angles to make them easier to climb. Chimpanzees can even observe human reactions when they trigger a device that shoots a blast of air at visitors standing in the viewing area.

The Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes is located on the main floor, and an observation mezzanine on the second floor is reserved for zoo staff and visiting scientists who will come to Chicago from around the world to study apes. Windows overlook each of the indoor and outdoor habitats. A sophisticated video display highlights the mission of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes. Here visitors learn how field conservation, population biology, epidemiology, nutrition and cognitive studies all play a role in helping protect apes in the wild.

The Exhibit Award is presented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for outstanding dedication to conservation issues, construction of exhibit space and replication of species natural habitats.

About AZA

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) 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. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.

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