An African savanna awakens to the sound of elephants trumpeting, lions roaring and gazelles and antelopes trotting toward a watering hole. The beauty of the Serengeti, thousands of miles away, may seem unreachable, but seeing the beauty of this world in one day isn�t difficult for those who visit the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo�s Wild Animal Park. Home to more than 3,500 animals, representing 429 species, the Park is a wildlife preserve that mimics the natural habitats of African and Asian animals. While the collection of animals also includes animals from other parts of the world, including North American species in Condor Ridge, it is the expansive African and Asian exhibits that remind visitors of a safari. With a new exhibit that allows visitors to see lions closer than ever before, the addition of seven African elephants and a robotic dinosaur exhibit showcasing the enormous creatures of the past, the Wild Animal Park has never been more exciting. In late summer the Park will debut a naturalistic lion exhibit overlooking the rolling hills of East Africa. This 1-acre habitat will allow pedestrians to come face-to-face with lions. The new exhibit will have two glass viewing areas, one offering a view set amidst a kopje � a rock outcropping -- where the lion pride may be found atop the boulders. Visitors who wander into the tented research camp might encounter a lion occupying the other half of the tent � of course people and cats will be separated by glass. Also new to the Park, seven African elephants imported in August 2003 from the Kingdom of Swaziland are growing by leaps and bounds. The bull and six cows have adjusted to their state-of-the-art home. The herd has access to its 3-acre enclosure and is visible to Park visitors who ride the Wgasa Bush Line Railway. This group of elephants was saved from being culled, due to an elephant overpopulation in their southern African home. Educating visitors about the plight of African elephants and all of the world�s rare and endangered species is an important part of the Park�s daily efforts, but learning about the world�s animals shouldn�t stop there. That�s why this summer the Park will also be home to some of the world�s extinct creatures that lurked on earth before humans appeared. Life-size robotic dinosaurs return to the Park after several years of absence in hopes that visitors will learn about some of the animals long past. The Wild Animal Park is located in an agricultural valley just 35 miles north of downtown San Diego.

Wgasa Bush Line Railway The Wgasa Bush Line Railway is a 5-mile, 1-hour tour offering views of African and Asian animals in open plains. Inspired by the legendary safari trains of Africa, the railway provides one of the best vantage points to see zebras, pygmy chimps, tigers, vultures, and hundreds of other exotic creatures. There is no additional fee to board the railway and travel the perimeter of the Park�s largest animal exhibits. Photo Caravan Ever hand-feed a giraffe or touch a rhino's horn? You may get that once-in-a-lifetime experience by embarking on a safari adventure with a private guide at the Wild Animal Park. The Photo Caravan tours take guests on a canopy-covered safari truck through the expansive enclosures of East and South Africa, the Asian Plains and Asian Waterhole for up-close photography opportunities of rare wildlife including rhinos, giraffes, cape buffalo, gazelles, wildebeest and more.

Photo Caravan tours are available for passengers 8 and older. Several tours are available ranging from 1:45 -hour to 3:30 hours. Prices range from $90 � $130 per person (Park admission and parking are not included) and reservations are required. Call (619) 718-3050 for more information and to book a tour.

Night events A different world awaits visitors during summer and winter evenings when the Park opens its gates at night to exciting performances and unique holiday celebrations. Beginning in mid-June and running through Labor Day, twilight transforms the Park into �Park at Dark,� a nocturnal experience with high-energy African harmonies including music, sunset rides aboard the Wgasa Bush Line Railway and the ever popular up-close animal encounters. A ride on the railway allows guests to see animal activities not seen during the summer days. Admission allows guests to come in any time during open gate times, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and stay until 10 p.m. In December, the Park once again opens it gates to evening visitors who want to celebrate the season with holiday lights and activities. Festival of Lights features more than 100,000 lights that illuminate the Park beginning at 4 p.m. and provide the perfect holiday atmosphere for cookie decorating, caroling, story telling and of course Santa. Seasonal events There is something new throughout the year for families to enjoy on their return visits to the Wild Animal Park. Children of all ages will enjoy games, crafts and other special kid-friendly activities of the Kids� Conservation Fun Fair held during President�s Day weekend. If the three-day celebration does not fill the appetite of the animal lover, visitors can come back in April to watch thousands of exotic butterflies flutter past them in a frenzy of wings and beauty. Families always enjoy trying to find the stick insects and leaf-cutter ants in the Hidden Jungle during Butterflies & Orchids. As the name states, a spectacular display of exotic orchids can be found under the covered walkway across from the animal care center in the Nairobi Village. For the plant lover, the Park will host the 28th annual Garden Festival October 30 and 31st with botanical experts from all over San Diego County coming together to educate the public about caring for their gardens. This festival celebrates the botanical side of the Wild Animal Park including its unique gardens, many developed and maintained by local botanical clubs and societies.

Roar & Snore camp-over An enchanting evening awaits visitors who are willing to brave the sounds of exotic worlds coming together and the cool nights of the San Pasqual Valley to participate in the �Roar & Snore� camp-over program.

An exclusive �Dusk Discovery� guided tour will expose campers to interesting animal facts and stories. Armed with lanterns and a wealth of information, guides will lead campers through meandering Park trails to see some of the nocturnal animals � guests may even find tigers on the prowl.

Campers will have dinner overlooking the Wild Animal Park�s 100-acre East African plains exhibit where they may observe natural animal behaviors including herds moving in harmony, while animal trainers will provide guests with up-close animal encounters. Roar & Snore is offered on Fridays and Saturdays � with select Sundays � May through October. For further Roar & Snore information or a brochure containing detailed information, call (619) 718-3050 or visit www.wildanimalpark.org. Shows As part of the Wild Animal Park�s efforts to educate visitors about the world of animals, the Park offers daily animal presentations including the Elephant Show, Bird Show and Wildlife Discoveries. Some of the Park�s Asian elephants participate in a show that demonstrates the strength of the 10,000-pound pachyderms, their intelligence and versatility while delivering important conservation messages. Similarly, the Bird Show uses the natural talents of the Park�s avian critters to illustrate behaviors such as mimicking parrots or the flight of macaws to pass along conservation messages. Comedy and singing � from both parrots and humans � are only some of the fun activities visitors will enjoy during this educational program. While not exactly a show, there are regularly scheduled Wildlife Discoveries animal encounters (see the Wild Animal Park map for times and locations) and some surprise encounters throughout the day. This educational program gives visitors an opportunity to have face-to-face contact with the Park�s animal ambassadors like an African cheetah, serval, tamandua and other rare and exotic animals. Visitors may interact with trainers, ask questions about the species or simply get an up-close photograph of some of the Park�s ambassadors from around the world.

Gardens and hikes Approximately half of Wild Animal Park�s 1,800 acres provide visitors with unique trails meandering past exotic animals and pristine gardens. One of the most traveled paths, the Heart of Africa, is a 32-acre walking safari through African wilderness with a variety of habitats from dense forests and grassy savannas to a watering hole and simulated research camp. Animal exhibits include okapis, cheetahs, rhinos, giant eland, colobus monkeys, warthogs, hornbills, flamingos and more. A special highlight is the opportunity to hand-feed giraffes. Featuring 13 North American species -- five of which are endangered � Condor Ridge provides guests with a rare opportunity to observe the majestic California condors, as well as endangered bighorn sheep, black-footed ferrets, thick-billed parrots, Northern Aplomado falcons and more. A tour journal and interpretive center explain the national conservation efforts underway to protect and preserve these species. Visitors who hike through some lesser-traveled paths of the Park will see why this facility is an accredited botanical garden. Its world-renowned collection represents 3,500 species and 1.5 million specimens. While visitors may find a variety of native and exotic plants throughout, the Park offers several areas for plant enthusiasts to really enjoy the botanical collection. Gardens include Baja, Old World succulent garden, water garden, bonsai, conifer, epiphyllum, herb, native plant, protea, water-wise, Australian Rainforest and compost.

History The Wild Animal Park is operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The Zoological Society also manages the 100-acre San Diego Zoo and the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), the Zoological Society�s research division. In 1969, the Society began construction on a facility that was solely meant to be a propagation center for the San Diego Zoo. This San Pasqual Valley facility generated so much public interest that in 1972 the Society decided to open the propagation center to the public, now known as the San Diego Zoo�s Wild Animal Park. More than 30 years later, the Wild Animal Park is known around the world for its successes in breeding many rare and endangered species including Indian and white rhinoceros, the Przewalski�s wild horse and African cheetahs. The Park has also worked with various government institutions to reintroduce some of these animals back into their native habitats including the California condor and the Arabian oryx. The San Diego Zoo�s Wild Animal Park is open every day of the year with hours varying by season. Membership to the Zoological Society of San Diego provides unlimited free admission to the Wild Animal Park and the San Diego Zoo for a year. Prices vary by age group while a single day�s admission is $26.50 for ages 12 and older and $19.50 for children 3-11. There is a $6 parking fee. Visitors can call (760) 747-8702 for general Park information or visit www.wildanimalpark.org. Membership prices, animal facts, visitor information and directions are all available online. Guests can even purchase a ticket to the Park and the San Diego Zoo, book a hotel in San Diego or shop for animal-themed products.

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Media Contact: Paul Garcia +1 619-685-3291 pgarcia@sandiegozoo.org