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Contact | Melissa Borland Lehigh Valley Zoo Telephone | 610-799-4171 ext. 226 Fax | 610-570-3536 Email | pfox@lvzoo.org October 2, 2017 |
| Lehigh Valley Zoo Announces Donation to Giraffe Conservation Foundation
Significant step in strategic goal of supporting global wild animal conservation Schnecksville, PA – The Lehigh Valley Zoo announced today that it achieved a milestone in its long-range strategy of supporting wild animal conservation around the world by donating $11,152 to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Lehigh Valley Zoo was able to make this donation because of the community’s outpouring of support for Murphy, the Lehigh Valley Zoo giraffe, and our guests’ love of this endangered species. Over 17,000 people experienced the Masai Giraffe feeding deck in its first three months of operation. Giraffe feeding ticket sales for June, July and August 2017 were tabulated – 100% of June proceeds and 10% of July and August proceeds comprise the funds for the $11,152 donation to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Moving forward, 10% of the monthly feeding ticket sales will continue to be donated to giraffe conservation efforts. “Our strategic plan is to safeguard wild animals in our care alongside supporting efforts to sustain endangered animals in the wild”, said Lehigh Valley Zoo president Melissa Borland. “We celebrate that Lehigh Valley Zoo guests enable us to contribute to the critical work of saving wild giraffes.” As a thank you for helping make this donation to giraffe conservation possible, the zoo announced that free giraffe conservation pins will be given to the first 700 zoo guests on Saturday and Sunday, October 7th & 8th. Since 1980 there has been a 40% drop in the giraffe population and giraffes are now considered an endangered species. The primary threats to the Masai Giraffe is habitat loss as a result of expanding human populations and poaching. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Africa that monitors and tracks giraffes in the wild, educates local governments and citizens on ways to protect the giraffe’s environment, and campaigns globally to raise awareness regarding the giraffe’s endangered status. Thomas Leiden, President, Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA, upon receiving the donation wrote back, “Please thank everyone for their dedication and hard work to save giraffe in Africa. This donation will make a difference.” Lehigh Valley Zoo is located at 5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville, PA 18078. |
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About the Lehigh Valley Zoo:
As a member-supported non-profit organization, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society was founded in 2004, but as a treasured community landmark, the Zoo’s history spans over a century. Founded in 1906 by General Harry C. Trexler, a local industrialist, the Lehigh Valley’s Trexler Game Preserve has educated and entertained more than five million people.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Lehigh Valley Zoo hosts year-round, family-friendly events and activities, educational programs, and camps. With a mission to create a safe, engaging and enlightening wildlife experience for guests of all ages, the Zoo demonstrates leadership in the cultural, scientific and conservation communities. To learn more about Lehigh Valley Zoo, we invite you to visit our website, www.lvzoo.org, or follow us on Facebook.
