ELEPHANT’S VIP BIRTHDAY PARTY RAISES £3800 FOR CHARITY!
More than 700 members and guests gathered at Blackpool Zoo to celebrate the 40th birthday of Marcella the Asian elephant.
The special event, which raised a fantastic £3800 for The Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust, was held after hours on Wednesday 22nd August from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.
Everyone, including the animals, enjoyed the late sunshine and there was plenty to keep the whole family entertained.
Talks and displays included birds, giraffes, penguins, sealions, lemurs and wolves and the night ended with Marcella being presented with a huge elephant sized birthday cake!
There was also face painting, a tombola, games, badge making, elephant artefacts, a grand tombola and the chance to buy a unique elephant footprint canvas.
Jude Rothwell, Marketing and PR Co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “Our education department did an absolutely fantastic job of organising this event for our members and their family and friends.
“It was such a lovely evening and the atmosphere was wonderful. The target was to raise £1000 and we were delighted to hear that the final total is £3800.
“Throughout all this week the team has been raising money for The Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust all week, which focusses on educating the people of Sri Lanka to show respect and support for wild elephants and work alongside them to maintain an ecological balance.
“Marcella really enjoyed being in the limelight and wasted no time at all in devouring her cake.
“I would like to thank each and every person that came along to the event for their support.”
Blackpool Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Current opening hours are 10.00am until 5.45pm and last admission is 5.00pm. Visitors can save on admission prices by booking online at www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk.
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Notes to editors:
Pictures show: Marcella and her Elephant sized birthday cake!
More information about Blackpool Zoo:
Blackpool Zoo is owned by Parques Reunidos, the second largest European leisure parks operator and a leading world-wide player. The zoo is home to over 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates set amidst thirty-two acres of mature woodland and lakes.
Blackpool Zoo celebrated its 40th anniversary on Friday 6th July 2012. It was in 1972 when 3543 visitors attended the launch, which saw TV’s Johnny Morris ride in front of the Mayor’s car on Tower Circus elephant Katsula.
The zoo’s signature animals include elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, orang-utans, sea lions, primates, zebras and kangaroos. It is open every day of the year, apart from Christmas Day, from 10am.
For further information please contact:
Paula Holden, Julie Hackett or Denise Dawson at ICG on 01772 679383 or email paula@icgonline.co.uk Julie@icgonline.co.uk or denise@icgonline.co.uk
Out of hours contact is Paula Holden 07772268378
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