Born May 1, 1999, Lexy arrived at the Lehigh Valley Zoo less than a year later. She was still growing into her gigantic, fluffy paws when she first made the Lehigh Valley her home. In her younger days, Lexy often enjoyed climbing the trees within her habitat to survey guests and birds. As she aged, she became more fond of lounging in the sun alongside her pond and batting at frogs. In her later years, keepers spent a great deal of time developing enrichment items to keep Lexy active and healthy.

“We will miss her dearly,” said Melissa Borland, President and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Zoo. “Her empty enclosure, an everyday reminder of our loss, is tough for both zoo staff and guests.”

Lexy first showed signs of illness in January when it was determined that she was suffering from kidney failure, a common illness in geriatric cats. Similar to older domestic cats, the disease is often progressive.

“I am so proud of our team as they worked through her end of life plan, constantly enriching her life in creative ways. Lexy was an amazing and much loved wild cat. She’ll be remembered for her majestic beauty as well as her affectionate and charming personality.”

A memorial plaque will be placed at Lexy’s enclosure. An announcement regarding its placement will be made soon.
The Canada lynx is a medium-sized cat well adapted for life in the northern forests. Compared to the more familiar bobcat, a lynx is larger and has long black ear tufts, a black-tipped tail, and a flared facial ruff. Lynx are usually solitary animals, but will occasionally travel together in small groups. Lynx are located throughout Canada, and in the United States, they are found in northern areas of many states.

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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

Lehigh Valley Zoo Conservation Education Director Named to National Committee
Vatalaro Appointed to Association of Zoos & Aquariums Scientific Advisory Group

Schnecksville, PA – The Lehigh Valley Zoo announced today that Cher Vatalaro was selected to serve as a Steering Committee member on the Ambassador Animal Scientific Advisory Group (AASAG) sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).   “It is an honor to be named to the AASAG committee whose mission is to emphasize the importance of ambassador animals in education.” Said Cher Vatalaro, Conservation Education Director for the Lehigh Valley Zoo, “Meeting a wild animal up close frequently has a huge impact on people.  Fostering that one-on-one connection between people and ambassador animals is a passion of mine.”

Ambassador animals are the representatives of their species that are utilized in educational presentations both inside the zoo and out in the community.   Close bonds develop between the ambassador animals and the educators that care for them.  The educators bring the ambassador animals out to the public for one-on-one encounters. This encounter can often improve the person’s perspective about animals and conservation.  ASSAG is a growing field of research and study to set universal standards for the care of the ambassador animals as well as the care and safety of the animal and human interaction.  No longer is it acceptable for animals to “perform” in these interactions.  The goal is to create an interaction that is as natural as possible for the animal.  “For instance” said Cher, “I could hold a snake in my hands when I bring him out to a group of children or I could bring a glass case filled with sand and show the children how the snake tunnels into the ground.  Introducing the children to the snake in the sand is more natural and more educational. The AZA Advisory Group I’ve been named to will research and set standards for hundreds of animals across the country that are employed for educational purposes.”

The AZA Ambassador Animal Scientific Advisory Group has carved out the following initiatives for its work this year: 1) Establish best practices for Ambassador Animals, 2) Enhance sustainability of animal populations,   3) Support research on ambassador animals including welfare and the impact of ambassador animals messaging to the public,   and 4) review and establish national curriculum for the Program Animal Training Course.

“Our strategic plan is to safeguard wild animals in our care alongside supporting efforts to sustain endangered animals in the wild.” Said Zoo president, Melissa Borland.  “Cher Vatalaro’s appointment to this AZA committee acknowledges that Lehigh Valley Zoo’s leadership in conservation education and protection of endangered animals is recognized at a national level.”

Tatu the Giraffe 

Lehigh Valley Zoo’s mission is to help save species from extinction through animal conservation leadership and to provide leadership in conservation science by celebrating, studying, and protecting wildlife and their habitats. Since 1980 there has been a 40% drop in the giraffe population and giraffes are considered an endangered species. The primary threats to the Masai Giraffe is habitat loss as a result of expanding human populations and poaching. “Offering space and expert animal care to Tatu is another way our zoo participates in the international effort to protect this endangered species” said CEO/President Melissa Borland.

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.

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.

Pictured from the left:  Janice Kavounas, Tricia Reed and Melissa Borland.

      Coldwell Banker Heritage Real Estate is a local, family owned and operated real estate company doing business in the Lehigh Valley, Pocono, Bucks County, Berks County and New Jersey areas for 40 years. This year, in addition to residential and commercial marketing/sales, relocation services and property management, they have ventured into supporting a different kind of home – the home of the Bobcat at the Lehigh Valley Zoo. Pictured above are Janice Kavounas, VP of Operations and Tricia Reed, Allentown Office Manager presenting Melissa Borland, President/CEO of the Lehigh Valley Zoo with their first donation as a result of a completed transaction through the Lehigh Valley Zoo Affinity Group at Coldwell Banker Heritage.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is a non-profit organization located in the heart of the Trexler Nature Preserve in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Its core purpose is to help save species from extinction. They are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the international organization that sets the highest standards for zoos and aquariums.  The Lehigh Valley Zoo works with the Species Survival Program (SSP) and AZA which allows them to provide quality care to many endangered species as well as share their resources and important conservation messaging with both their guests and in the field.

      Coldwell Banker Heritage Real Estate’s involvement with the zoo began with a phone call from Doreen Carl, Development Director of the Lehigh Valley Zoo. Doreen was on a mission seeking sponsors to support the zoo.

In addition to sponsoring the home of the bobcat, Janice Kavounas introduced the zoo to a new avenue for the generation of funds through the Coldwell Banker Heritage Affinity Program. Kavounas states, “Our Affinity Program is really a great opportunity for all non -profit organizations! It is very simple. Any organization with a 501(c)(3) status can become a member of our Affinity Program. As a member of our program, when the organization refers anyone to us for listing or selling real estate, we promise a donation in the amount of 20% of our income on the sale when the transaction closes.”

So, if you would like to support the zoo and you or someone you know has a need to sell or buy real estate, call Annette Roll, Director of Relocation Services at 610-398-3744 or email her at annette.roll@cbheritage.com. Simply state that you would like to buy or sell a property through the Lehigh Valley Zoo Affinity Group.

If your organization would like more information on how you can become a member of the Coldwell Banker Heritage Real Estate Affinity Program, contact Annette Roll. She will be happy to discuss the program with you.

Don’s plight was brought to the attention of the African Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP) program which is charged with maintaining a genetically healthy and sustainable population of the species in zoos and aquariums. During their breeding and transfer planning Don’s situation was considered and it was decided to send her to Lehigh Valley Zoo where she would have an opportunity to become part of a new colony and, perhaps, find a companion.

Happily for Don, that is exactly what happened. After a brief period when the penguins were unsure of a stranger in their midst, Don became an accepted member of the Lehigh Valley Zoo colony. She, also, gained a regular companion in Clytee, a male penguin. This is an ideal situation since Don and Clytee are a possible breeding pair as determined by the African Penguin SSP program. The two will soon be encouraged to nest and, hopefully, produce some penguin chicks.

Penguins, Thulani and Greer hatched the first two endangered African penguin chicks at Lehigh Valley Zoo in September, 2016. The Zoo has hopes Don and Clytee will be every bit as successful.

African penguins are an endangered species due to loss of habitat and nesting sites, oil spills and decrease in food supply from overfishing. Lehigh Valley Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) African Penguin SSP program which recommends scientifically determined breeding and transfer of the birds in order to maintain a healthy genetic and sustainable population. Lehigh Valley Zoo is in support of African penguins in the wild and cooperates with AZA’s SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Program, which has selected the African penguin as one of its signature species, to ensure its continued existence.

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 @LVZOO.