Detroit Zoo celebrates International Tiger Day with help from Paws and the Tigers wives
Scavenger hunt will lead visitors to crafts and prizes from the Tigers and Zoo
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - Help us find PAWS!
As part of the Detroit Zoo's celebration of International Tiger Day on Tuesday, July 29, the Detroit Tigers mascot, PAWS, will be hiding somewhere inside the Zoo, with prizes awarded to the first visitors who find PAWS after completing a scavenger hunt. The day will continue with a special tiger craft project hosted by the Detroit Tigers Wives, as well as animal enrichment and zookeeper talks at the tiger habitat.
"Tigers are an iconic and charismatic species, much like our local ball club, and we are thrilled that the Detroit Tigers Wives want to help us celebrate International Tiger Day and raise awareness about tiger conservation efforts," said Paul Buzzard, Detroit Zoological Society's director of conservation. "The Detroit Zoological Society is actively engaged in conservation efforts for a number of endangered species, both locally and globally."
The scavenger hunt will take place between 9 and 11 a.m. Detroit Zoo mascots Junior Z and the Zooperheroes will lead visitors on a scavenger hunt through the Zoo using conservation clues that lead to PAWS' location. Prizes from the Detroit Tigers and the Zoo will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last for those who complete the scavenger hunt by acquiring a stamp from each of the Zoo mascots before finding Paws.
From 10 a.m. to noon, the Detroit Tigers Wives will hold a craft station with a special tiger-related art project in the Ford Education Center for the first 1,000 participants. At noon and 2 p.m., there will be enrichment and zookeeper talks at the tiger habitat, as well as an education station with biofacts. In addition, the Tigers Pennies for Paws campaign will be set up at every retail and concession location throughout the Zoo, with donations benefitting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife Without Borders Tigers Fund to support tiger conservation efforts.
"The Tigers Wives are excited to join the Detroit Zoological Society in celebrating International Tiger Day," said Erica Scherzer, wife of Detroit Tigers Cy Young award-winning pitcher Max Scherzer. "The day provides a wonderful opportunity to educate the public about endangered wild tigers and the conservation efforts to save our team namesake."
Max Scherzer is also supporting the DZS and its tiger conservation efforts through Big League Impact, a one-of-a-kind experience combining fantasy football and baseball's biggest stars. Participants will enjoy perks such as a live moderated fantasy football draft, autographed swag, a behind-the-scenes tour of Comerica Park, VIP access to watch Tigers batting practice on the field at Comerica Park, game tickets and weekly interaction with participating big leaguers like Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Torii Hunter and Alex Avila. Interested fantasy football players can visit www.bigleagueimpact.com for more information or to register for Scherzer's Motown Showdown fantasy football league.
The Detroit Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic habitats, the Detroit Zoo is located at 10 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue off I-696 in Royal Oak, Mich. The Detroit Zoo is open 362 days a year, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day (with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day after Labor Day through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $14 for adults 15 to 61 and $10 for children 2 to 14, senior citizens 62 and older and active military with ID; children under 2 are admitted free. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission to the Nature Zoo is free; however, a State of Michigan Recreation Passport is required for all personal vehicles to enter Belle Isle State Park. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.