Party for the Planet April 24, 2010

Join us for Party for the Planet as we celebrate Earth Day. Miami Metrozoo will showcase a large flowering tree show and sale, courtesy of the Tropical Flowering Tree Society, which has donated more than 3,000 trees to Miami Metrozoo. Meet numerous vendors who will show you how to become and remain “green.”

During Party for the Planet, guests can enter the zoo free of charge if they turn in a cell phone as part of our ECO-CELL phone recycling program. Not only will they enter the zoo free these two days, but they will also help save gorillas! Cell phones include coltan, a mineral extracted in the deep forests of Congo in central Africa, home to the world's endangered lowland gorillas. Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo's out-of-control coltan mining business has in recent years led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade. By turning in your cell phone, we can hopefully reduce the need for additional coltan … and help protect the gorillas.

Zoo visitors will not be the only ones having fun at Party for the Planet. Our animals will also be getting special treats made from recycled and/or natural materials like newspapers, cardboard tubes, bamboo, old tires, fire hoses and more.

Animal treats schedule during Party for the Planet April 24 - 25:
11:00 a.m. - Bengal tigers will enjoy scented shredded paper.
11:30 a.m. - Orangutans will rip open phone books with treats hidden inside.
12:00 p.m. - Giant river otters will play with PVC toys.
12:30 p.m. - Meerkats will be given a “tree of life” enrichment item.
1:30 p.m. - Asian elephants will bounce around a large papier maché Earth boomer ball.
1:30 p.m. - Pygmy hippos will roll empty beer kegs in their pool.
2:15 p.m. - Okapi will browse feeders made out of recycled items.
3:00 p.m. African elephants will grab and play with fire hose cubes.
3:30 p.m. Red river hogs, warthogs and warty pigs will eagerly open boxes filled with their favorite treats.
At Party for the Planet, The Jorge Alfano Jazz Trio will present their smooth world music April 24, and the Brazilian Samba Group’s interactive dances and percussion rhythms of Brazil will entertain guests April 25. Both events will take place at Amazon & Beyond and are included with zoo admission.
As part of our green efforts, about 90% of retail packaging at the zoo will completely degrade whether disposed of properly or discarded as litter. Catering and food concessions service disposables like flatware, napkins, & cups are compostable, biodegradable, or include recycled content.