Zoos across America will be celebrating Chinese New Year.
Zoos across America and around the world will be celebrating Chinese New Year, and this year is of special importance to reptile lovers everywhere as the new year brings in the Year of the Snake, one of 12 animals on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. Be sure to check your local zoos and aquariums for celebrations. Below is a sampling of events at zoos across the country that will celebrate the Year of the Snake.
The Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans is celebrating Chinese New Year, The Year of the Snake, with a variety of snake themed programs Feb. 9 and Feb. 10 at the Audubon Zoo. The zoo will have two full days of snake related events, including displays of some of the world's largest snakes and informed chats with reptile experts about the life of snakes and their varying habitats. www.auduboninstitute.org
The San Francisco Zoo will host Lunar New Year events including Chinese acrobatic performances, Chinese lion and folk dancing, yo-yo tricks and a Zodiac Scavenger Hunt.www.sfzoo.org
The Oregon Zoo will ring in the Year of the Snake with free admission to the zoo on Feb. 10. Of special note will be Bubba, the zoo's Burmese python, who will help usher in the Lunar New Year. The zoo will feature speakers to discuss Asian wildlife and the importance of snakes to the ecosystems in which they inhabit and visitors will get a chance to get up close with various snakes. oregonzoo.org.
The Santa Barbara Zoo will celebrate the Year of the Snake with a variety of snake themed events, including snake feedings, and talks with snake keepers throughout the day on Feb. 10. Chief, the zoo's 10.5 feet long Burmese Python will also be on hand for viewing.
The Queens Zoo in New York will host its Year of the Snake event Feb. 9-10 with fact filled day that will include snake stories told by zoo staff, animal encounters with the zoo's boa constrictor and black rat snake, and the first 100 children who come to the zoo each day will receive the traditional Chinese red envelope with a surprise inside.www.queenszoo.com
