Scotty celebrates his 1st birthday!

Louisville Zoo to throw a big birthday party bash for baby elephant Scotty on March 15; Zoo admission only $1

	Photo by Nick Bonura

Turning 1 year old is a big deal—especially if you’re a baby elephant. Join baby Scotty on Saturday, March 15, as he celebrates his 1st birthday with a cake fit for an elephant and more!

Scotty’s actually birthday is March 18, but we are so excited we just couldn’t wait! And since Scotty is turning 1 year old, Zoo admission for the day is only $1 courtesy of Coca-Cola. Zoo Members enter free.

The party begins at 11 a.m. when Scotty (along with mom Mikki and aunt Punch) will demonstrate some of his training to the public. Elephant staff will then weigh and measure Scotty and give him a special elephant-sized birthday cake.

“We are very excited to be celebrating this huge milestone in Scotty’s life,” said Dave Campbell, Louisville Zoo’s Elephant Area Supervisor, “and we hope everyone will come out and celebrate with us!”

Other Zoo animals will also be celebrating the momentous occasion at various times throughout the day with special animal enrichment. Baby elephant Scotty will receive extra enrichment presents at 3 p.m., as well as showcase his training again.

Guests will have a chance to sign a big birthday banner for Scotty and offer their well wishes. Children of all ages are also encouraged to make homemade birthday cards for Scotty and bring them to the Zoo. They will be displayed on Zoo grounds the day of the party. (Note: Cards become property of the Louisville Zoo and will not be returned.)

We ask that visitors not bring food or gifts to Scotty for his birthday. All of our animals at the Zoo, including Scotty, are on very specialized diets, carefully planned to keep them healthy. And just like any little kid, we have to be careful about what we allow Scotty to play with. If you want to do something extra special for Scotty, you can make a donation to the Zoo’s Conservation Fund which goes to help support elephant conservation projects around the world. Just drop off your donation at the Zoo’s front desk or mail it to us. Be sure to designate “Conservation Fund – Scotty” on your check or envelope.

To be environmentally conscience, the Zoo is encouraging everyone to take TARC’s fuel-efficient buses to Scotty’s celebration to help cut down on carbon emissions to protect the environment. TARC is helping us celebrate Scotty’s birthday by offering FREE bus rides from various locations throughout the city on March 15. To get a list of the FREE park and TARC bus routes and times, visit www.louisvillezoo.org/events/scottybday.htm after March 8.

Also, the first 10,000 guests to visit the redbox booth inside the Zoo will receive a voucher for a free DVD rental at participating McDonald’s redbox kiosks located throughout the region.

And (after March 8) you can gear up for Scotty’s birthday by downloading a special Scotty screensaver and backdrop for your computer at www.louisvillezoo.org/events/scottybday.htm.

Scotty’s birthday celebration is made possible by the sponsorship of Coca-Cola, with additional support from Norton Healthcare, TARC and redbox. In kind support by Baer Fabrics, MPC Promotions and Jackie Conner.

Schedule of Birthday Events

• 11 a.m. – Birthday celebration

  • Scotty will be weighed and measured. He will also demonstrate some of the behaviors he has learned in a training session.

  • Zoo Director John Walczak will answer questions about elephants along with zookeepers from the Elephant Area. If you have an elephant question, fill out the form at www.louisvillezoo.org/info/contact/index.htm and hit submit. Your question may be selected as one that will be answered during the party.

  • Visitors will sing “Happy Birthday” to Scotty.

  • Scotty will get to eat his birthday cake, specially prepared by the Zoo’s commissary staff.

• 3 p.m. – Birthday gifts

  • Scotty will once again demonstrate some of the behaviors he has learned in a training session.

  • Scotty will get to open some gifts that have been prepared for him by his keepers. 

• Throughout the Day

  • Zoo Docents will be out and about with a variety of interesting elephant biofacts.

  • Sign the BIG Happy Birthday banner hanging under the overhang at the Elephant Barn.

  • Check out all the homemade birthday cards displayed throughout the Zoo.

  • Don’t miss other Zoo animals celebrating Scotty’s birthday with special animal enrichment. They include:

    • 10 a.m. lions

    • 10:15 a.m. polar bear

    • 10:30 a.m. camels

    • 12 p.m. puma

    • 1 p.m. orangutans

    • 1:45 p.m. warthogs

    • 2 p.m. jaguar

    • 2:30 p.m. ocelots

    • 3 p.m. meerkats

    • 3 p.m. Scotty receives more enrichment presents and demonstrates his training again

    • 3:30 p.m. Black-footed ferret (located in the MetaZoo)

 

* Birthday events are subject to change due to weather or other circumstances.

((EDITOR’S NOTE: This is $1 day, so be aware of heavy crowds and traffic. Please call Media Relations Manager Kara Bussabarger at 502-744-5639 prior to coverage and sign in at the receptionist desk. New photos of baby elephant Scotty are attached. More are available upon request.))

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.

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