The Zoo's new Acacia Station - a giraffe feeding platform--will open on June 6.

Once it opens, a $3 ticket will buy visitors a chance to ascend the 16-foot high platform to get a new view of the exhibit and its wildlife. Onlookers will be eye-to-eye with the tallest giraffe and will see zebras and ostriches from a whole new angle. Climbers will also receive a leaf to offer to the giraffes if one of them approaches for a nibble.

For the first couple of months, we anticipate that our giraffes may be a bit leery of the new structure and the two-legged animals on top of it. But, with just a little time, the giraffes should adjust and begin eating out of our visitors' hands.

Over the last year, the Zoo has brought in four young giraffes, all of whom are expected to cozy up to our visitors on the feeding platform.  Two of the new giraffes are about a year old. The other two are around two years old. They share the exhibit with Julie. She is a stately matriarch and is the second oldest giraffe in a North American zoo.

The feeding station will be open a couple of hours every day. Whenever it is open, a giraffe keeper will be on the deck answering questions and handing out browse.

Last modified 05/21/2009 09:13am.