Primate Palooza at the Phoenix Zoo: Celebrate Kasih’s 3rd B-Day!
During the month of January the Phoenix Zoo is celebrating their primates with a month-long awareness event: Primate Palooza. They have created additional signage at their primate exhibits to highlight and educate their guests about the various primate species, the threats they face and ways that they, average people, can make a difference. On weekends the Zoo will have encounter talks at each primate exhibit with some fun behavioral enrichment activities for the animals as well as activity/education stations with artifacts and activities for guests.
Their Primate Palooza event culminates with a birthday celebration for their soon to be 3-year-old Bornean Orangutan, Kasih. On Sunday, January 25th they will host Kasih’s Third Birthday with the following activities:
* Free Fry’s cupcakes for the first 500 people in the gates at 9 a.m.
* Sign Kasih’s giant birthday card
* Watch the orangutans enjoy special birthday cake and presents
* Bring gifts for Kasih and her zoo friends from the online gift giving guide for Kasih’s Birthday or donate towards their new home!
* Sing Happy Birthday to Kasih at 3 p.m.
* View plans for the new orangutan exhibit
All activities are free with regular Zoo admission.
For more information, please visit the Phoenix Zoo website
SPECIAL OFFER: If guests say “Happy Birthday, Kasih” at the Zoo box office, they can receive $3 off any child’s admission in honor of Kasih’s 3rd birthday.
The Phoenix Zoo has 4 Orangutans, and here is a little more info on each of them:
Duchess – Wild born around 1960, has lived at the zoo pretty much since the zoo opened in 1962. She has had seven offspring and is the mother of Bess and the grandmother of Kasih. Duchess enjoys watching people, cleaning, and painting with a brush on canvas.
Bess – Born at the Phoenix zoo in March of 1979, Bess is a first time mom with the birth of Kasih in January of 2006 and is the daughter of Duchess. she is somewhat shy, but very observant and always knows where each of the other orangutans are. She is usually the first to figure out new puzzles or enrichment and has learned training simply by watching others.
Michael – Born at the Los Angeles Zoo in 1986, Michael is a first time father with the birth of Kasih in January of 2006. Michael is somewhat of a clown and enjoys interacting with his keepers and attempting to spit water on them when they aren’t looking.
Kasih – (pictured above) Born at the Phoenix zoo on January 27, 2006 to first time parents, Bess and Michael. She has grown to become a very inquisitive toddler. She loves to explore her home and interacts with each of the adult orangutans. She is very much like her mom in that she is shy and clever, but also is a bit of her clown like her dad, she definitely has a mischievous streak.
