For immediate release
Contact: Gina Stiles, 904-757-4463, ext. 210

THE CAMELS ARE COMING!

February 27, 2007 – Jacksonville, FL – Looking for something different to do this spring?  The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will begin offering camel rides at the Zoo this Saturday, March 3rd and will continue through the rest of March, April and May 2007.  Four full-grown, trained camels will be used for the rides.  The attraction will be located just past the train station at Main Camp next to the leopard gazebo. Tickets will be sold at the Train/Stroller ticket booth for $5 plus tax per person.  Pictures can also be purchased to immortalize the event. 

“The camel rides will provide our guests with an experience that is very unique, said Janet Johnson, the Zoo’s director of operations.  “Kids of all ages will be able to enjoy the rides while they learn about camels and their place in our culture.  For most, this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment.  Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and over 1,500 unique plant species.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Located on Jacksonville’s north side two miles off I-95, the Zoo is open year-round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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