We dropped to a new record low Tue. morning of 34-- 36 was the old record set just a couple of yrs. ago in 2006. Tonight will be chilly again with lows inland dropping into the 30s. Less wind will mean some patchy light inland frost. Winds will be slightly onshore at the coast, so temps. at the beaches will mostly stay in the 40s. It'll be warmer -- but still below avg. -- Wed. followed by 3 days in a row of above avg. temps. Thu.-Sat.
Time for some zoo fun. My oldest daughter & I spent a wonderful morning together at our Jax Zoo & Gardens. We began at the new "Stingray Bay" & spent some time feeding the rays. I am as bad the little kids -- great fun! We had some lunch, stopped in the temple at "Range of the Jaguar" to see her "favorite" snake -- a viper native to S. America that's bright yellow. Then one last stop at "Stingray Beach" before heading home & back to the reality of the workplace for me. We noticed some monkeys laying out in the sun in a big enclosure near the leopard exhibit. There was a baby munching on a twig, & my daughter mentioned she'd like to "take it home". Turns out these are new to our zoo. See the photo below & the press release from the zoo:
Welcome the Angolan Colobus Monkeys to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
March 25, 2008 – Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced the arrival of four Angolan colobus monkeys. The new group of monkeys consists of one 13-year-old male, two adult females (sisters, ages 4 and 6), and one 15-month-old female that is an offspring of the 6-year-old female. The male came from the Miami Metro Zoo and is on loan from Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo where he was born. The three females were born at the San Diego Zoo. The new group is considered a family now and has been recommended for breeding by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) program. There are only 64 presently living in North American zoos. They are native to the African rainforests.
Guests can see the new monkeys from the boardwalk close to the leopard exhibit in the Plains of East Africa. This exhibit was formerly occupied by the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Guereza colobus monkeys that have been moved to a holding area in the Great Apes area. The Guereza monkeys will eventually be on exhibit with the gorillas.
“The addition of this new family and the moving of our existing group of colobus monkeys supports our mission and that of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SSP to help build a sustainable population for the long term survival of the species,” said Dennis Pate, executive director of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
And the zoo's annual fundraiser -- ExZOOberation -- is just about here, April 12th. Come one, come all for a fantastic night of fun fundraising for Jacksonville's best kept secret. Your's truly will be the auctioneer for the public auction. Here's the info:
Enjoy a Night in TUSKany at the
2008 ExZOOberation Fundraising Gala
On April 12, 2007, at 6:30 p.m., the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will host its 13th annual ExZOOberation fundraising gala benefiting the Zoo. The theme for this year’s event is “A Night in TUSKany” using an Italian theme, with an animal twist. The casual, adult-oriented gala has become one of Jacksonville’s premier events with a total of over $1.6 million raised for the care and feeding of the Zoo’s animals as well as educational programs and conservation initiatives. AXA Advisors is the title sponsor of this year’s event.
“We are thrilled with the beautiful Gardens at Trout River Plaza setting for this year’s ExZOOberation,” said Diane David, Director of Development at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served in the Zoo’s new Stingray Bay interactive exhibit and then guests will proceed to the Zoo gardens to enjoy animal encounters, entertainment, a silent and live auction, a delicious dinner and dancing. This year the live auction will feature unique Zoo animal adoption packages. Each adoption package includes signage at the exhibit, naming rights for offspring, behind the scenes tours including animal husbandry training sessions and enrichment, private party at your adopted animal’s exhibit and quarterly updates from your animal’s keeper.
Tickets begin at $175 per person and can be purchased online or by calling the Development Department at 904-757-4463, ext. 196.
