Buffalo Zoo Celebrates “Ape-ril” on April 2, 2011

Go bananas over the Buffalo Zoo’s Western lowland gorilla troop during the Ape-ril Event, which is being held on April 2 from 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.!

The event is free with Zoo admission. Highlights of the event include keeper talks, enrichment activities and raffles. Proceeds from the raffles will benefit the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), which helps to promote gorilla conservation. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about the distinct personalities of each of the Zoo’s five gorillas: male, Koga, and females, Becky, Lily, Sidney and baby Amari.

Visitors who donate old cell phones at the front gate during this event will also receive $1 off regular Zoo admission per cell phone. The cell phones will be collected through the Eco-Cell program. Designed to gather unused cell phones for refurbishment and recycling purposes, the program also helps wildlife in the Congo. Columbite-tantalite (coltan), a metallic ore found in the region, is used in cell phones and other electronic devices. Illegal mining for the ore is occurring in protected areas, and miners are overrunning national parks while also hunting the parks’ endangered elephants and gorillas for food. In addition to protecting these animals, the program also benefits the Buffalo Zoo. Eco-Cell pays the Zoo up to $15 per working digital phone, and this money is added to the Zoo’s Cars for Conservation fund, which helps to support conservation projects worldwide.

The event schedule is as follows:

10:30 a.m. – Crafts and raffles

3:15 p.m. (Raffle tickets are 2 for $1 or 5 for $2.)

10:30 a.m. Gorilla feeding

11:00 a.m. Gorilla keeper talk and enrichment

12:00 p.m. Gorilla feeding

1:00 p.m. Gorilla keeper talk and enrichment

2:00 p.m. Gorilla feeding

3:00 p.m. Gorilla keeper talk

3:15 p.m. Raffle drawing closes; winners announced

(You do not have to be present to win.)

For more information about the Zoo’s Ape-ril event, please call (716) 995-6133 or visit www.buffalozoo.org.