Feast for the Beasts at the Oakland Zoo

Let your produce go to a good cause, like a hungry elephant, at this Oakland Zoo event

I bet your kids and the 440 native and exotic animals at the Oakland Zoo have more in common than you think. Both your little mammal and those at the Zoo love to munch messily on snacks (okay, maybe your tot hates vegetables, but the kids at the zoo are vegetarians and love that stuff), imagine endless possibilities for plain old cardboard boxes, and play with others of their kind.

Get your little animal out of the house this Saturday for a once-a-year event at the Oakland Zoo. Bring your kid (small person, not baby goat) to the Oakland Zoo this Saturday at 9am to experience the Feast for the Beasts Event.

Feed your little beast and those inside the Zoo. Humans eat first. The main gate opens early at 9am, at which time a hot breakfast of French toast sticks, eggs, and bacon is served. After fueling your herd, head to the Elephant exhibit at 9:45am or 10:15am to gain special access into the elephant enclosure and leave breakfast for your favorite elephant. Watch from a safe place as the grandiose beasts enter their habitat and enjoy the fresh produce you have provided for them.
After all the rumbling tummies in the 525-acre park have been satiated, help zookeepers create enrichment items for the lions and tigers.  Once your cardboard creations are completed, watch the lions and tigers (no bears, oh my!) play with your handmade toy. When animals play, their natural behaviors are stimulated, such as scent marking and vocalizations, activities that increase natural behavior and improve quality of life.
 
ANIMAL FEEDING SCHEDULE
 
10:00am    Bat        10:30am    Elephant
11:00am    Lemur        11:30am    Giraffe
11:45am    Meerkat    12:30pm    Baboon
1:15pm    Otter        2:00pm    Alligator
2:30pm    Sunbear    3:30pm    Tiger
3:30pm    Monitor    3:30pm    Sun Bear

What to bring: fruits and vegetables like apples, watermelon, grapes, carrots, and lettuce
The Feast for the Beasts event is free with regular Oakland Zoo admission. Pick up your tickets in Flamingo plaza. General admission for children under 2 is free, ages 2-14 is $6, adults ages 15-54 is $9.50, seniors ages 55+ is $6. Hot breakfast costs $6. Parking fee for cars is $6.
The Oakland Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road, off Highway 580. For more information, call (510) 632-9525 or visit I bet your kids and the 440 native and exotic animals at the Oakland Zoo have more in common than you think. Both your little mammal and those at the Zoo love to munch messily on snacks (okay, maybe your tot hates vegetables, but the kids at the zoo are vegetarians and love that stuff), imagine endless possibilities for plain old cardboard boxes, and play with others of their kind.

More information at www.oaklandzoo.org.

 

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