Great Ape Trust Welcomes Kids
New memberships rates also available
Tours at Great Ape Trust of Iowa this year will be open to young children for the first time and will offer more time to see the apes.
The visits – open to trust members only – will give all visitors their first chance to see former Hollywood apes that moved to the southeast Des Moines research center since last summer’s tours.
They include the orangutan Popi, who appeared in at least one movie, “Any Which Way You Can,” with Clint Eastwood. Popi also was in a famous Las Vegas show at the Stardust.
Another orangutan new to the trust, Rocky, 4, appeared in Capital One and Aflac ads.
Orientation sessions won’t be held this year for new members because last year’s floods wiped out the trailers the trust used for offices. But that leaves more time to see the apes, said trust spokesman Al Setka.
There is no guarantee of ape-sightings, but they are likely.
The trust also announced some new, discounted memberships as well as a new family membership.
Tours are planned on Saturdays for up to 300 people a day. The initial dates are May 30, June 20, July 18 and Sept. 26. Setka said more dates may be added of those tours fill up.
Private tours are available for families, social groups or businesses affiliated with someone who buys a VIP membership.
For more information, or to join the trust, visit www.greatapetrust.org
Source: DesMoinesRegister.com
