Philadelphia Zoo Debuts NatureBlazer Adventures and Announces Mommy's 90th Anniversary

Spring is the perfect time to visit the Zoo! The weather is warmer, the animals are active and guests can stroll the beautiful campus and experience magnificent wildlife. “We are thrilled to welcome guests and launch the season,” says Amy Shearer, Chief Marketing and Engagement Officer. “It is a wonderful time to visit, the gardens are in bloom and there are so many new things to see. I really can’t think of a better day than being outdoors, enjoying nature, seeing amazing wildlife and making lifelong memories!” said Shearer.

Some new happenings at the Zoo include-

Earth Day - Celebrate this special day to appreciate the environment at one of the region’s top conservation spots. Be outside, understand how we are all interconnected and see all of the animals who depend on our care and health of our world.

Stop by to see Mommy, the Zoo’s Galapagos Tortoise, who celebrates the 90th anniversary of her arrival this month! Hatched in the wild in the Galapagos Islands, Mommy arrived at the Zoo on April 23, 1932 and has lived here longer than any other animal resident. Be sure to visit Mommy and her exhibit mates Little Girl and Abrazzo, the Zoo’s oldest living resident (100+ years old) every day at the Reptile and Amphibian exhibit.

Become a NatureBlazer -- Check out the newest game in town, NatureBlazer Adventures powered by TRAKID, is available for rent at kiosks at the Zoo’s Main Gate. A digital scavenger hunt, NatureBlazers pairs a Smart Compass wristband for kids with downloadable app for adults to create a unique journey through the Zoo. NatureBlazers, use the Compass and app to lead their group to the 10 pre-designated locations around the Zoo, learning insider secrets and hidden areas along the way. As the NatureBlazers reach each new destination, they have to answer questions enabling them to move on to the next challenge. As a NatureBlazer, kids are empowered to lead the adventure, explore the Zoo, visit a variety of animals and learn about what makes Philadelphia Zoo like no other place in the region.

ZOO Keys are BACK! Bring (or purchase at any retail location onsite) your most treasured Zoo Key to unlock new stories from audio boxes located throughout the Zoo. Hear insider new secrets and special tales about the magnificent creature living at your Zoo.

While strolling, be sure to look up to see who is using Zoo360! Pass by TREETOP TRAIL to see monkeys and lemurs sprinting and exploring through the trees. Check out fan-favorite, Red-capped Mangabey, Storm, or white faced- Saki monkeys as they race through the trail or stop to people watch. Keep strolling to see massive, endangered Amur tiger brothers, Wiz and Dimitri, or majestic African lion pair, male, Makini and female Tajiri as they roam over BIG CAT CROSSING, keep strolling over to GORILLA TREEWAY to see our colobus monkeys exploring overhead. Don’t miss MEERKAT MAZE and check out our high-spirited mob as they dig, forage, run through their network of tunnels!

Don’t forget to snack, Sip, Eat and Chill at any of the Zoo’s newly enhanced food and drink locations. Offering everything from treats to sweets to serious eats, grab a coffee at La Columbe® coffee at Impala Espresso Bar & Philly Pretzel Factory, stop by Pucker Up Lemonade Stand and grab a refreshing lemonade or a new signature “Zoo garita”. At Urban Green, the Zoo’s open-air food marketplace, indulge in an array of food trucks offering something to satisfy everyone. Save room for sweets at Dairy Barn or Oasis an enjoy delicious ice cream and novelty candies.

Visitors should make ticket reservations at www.PhiladelphiaZoo.org. Visit Facebook: PhiladelphiaZoo; Instagram: @philadelphiazoo; Twitter: @phillyzoo for additional information.

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA ZOO:

Animals are on the move like never before at Philadelphia Zoo with Zoo360, a first-in-the-world system of see-through trails passing through treetops, crossing over pathways and connecting habitats, giving animals like amazing big cats, majestic primates and marvelous meerkats the opportunities to travel and explore. Visit our young western lowland gorillas, giraffes, hippos, white rhino, zebras, red pandas, Amur tigers and more at America’s first Zoo. Explore our 42-acre Victorian garden and enjoy award-winning exhibits like Big Cat Falls, PECO Primate Reserve, McNeil Avian Center and KidZooU, a wildlife academy that offers dynamic displays, rare breeds and hands-on experiences. Philadelphia Zoo is one of the region's foremost conservation organizations and home to nearly 1,700 animals, many rare and endangered. By connecting people with wildlife, Philadelphia Zoo creates joyful discovery and inspires action for animals and habitats. Philadelphia Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Philadelphia Zoo is a non-smoking facility. For more information on, as or to purchase and print tickets online, visit us at www.PhiladelphiaZoo.org. Facebook: PhiladelphiaZoo; Instagram: @philadelphiazoo; Twitter: @phillyzoo.