This autumn, indulge yourself with an exotic flare of entertainment, delicious food and wine, and some of the world�s most precious wildlife at the San Diego Zoo�s annual fund-raiser �Celebration for the Critters.�

Celebration for the Critters is known as San Diego�s largest annual food and wine tasting event and is expected to draw more than 3,000 people. This after-hours extravaganza, presented by Ford Motor Company, will take place on October 2, 2004 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Proceeds from Celebration for the Critters benefits the San Diego Zoo�s Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES).

This year�s party will feature more than 175 food and beverage vendors. San Diego�s favorite restaurants will unleash their culinary creativity to prepare an incredible assortment of edibles for partygoers to sample, again and again. Aside from the finest cuisine, Celebration for the Critters will be home to a palate-pleasing array of wine and beer from San Diego County.

New this year at Celebration for the Critters is a Zootini lounge, featuring all the hip and cool trends of an indoor nightclub lounge amidst the evening stars. Zootinis such as Absolutely Apetini and a Lucky Liontini will be served in a special flashing Celebration glass, while supplies last.

And what would a San Diego Zoo fund-raiser be without animals? Goodwill ambassador, Joan Embery and Zoo trainers will be on hand to provide up-close animal encounters. The fun doesn�t stop there, as guests can enter an opportunity drawing, bid in a silent auction, experience a nighttime gondola-style Skyfari ride, dance to the sounds of the Antix and Makai and cruise by the CRES pavilions and get the scoop on animal poop and learn why it�s so useful in research.

For more than a quarter of a century, CRES has celebrated significant breakthroughs in research, science and wildlife conservation including the successful translocation of rock iguanas to four new sites in the Turks and Caicos Islands; the discovery of a new Western Lowland gorilla population in the Ebo Forest of Cameroon and the establishment of a new release site for California condors in Mexico. Funds raised from Celebration for the Critters will allow CRES to continue its efforts of conservation, health, genetic management, reproduction and general well being of endangered animals.

A limited amount of early bird tickets are now available at $75 per person if purchased before Sept. 17. A special V.I.P package and Premier Wine Tasting package are also available, for $150 and $250, respectively. These early-event admission packages include an opportunity to sip and taste limited wines and delicacies, champagne and receive an assortment of party favors. The early-bird tickets and special V.I.P packages to Celebration for the Critters can be purchased by calling 619-231-1515 ext. 4199 or online at www.sandiegozoo.org/celebration. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend. No children or strollers permitted.

For more information about Celebration for the Critters and CRES� field research programs, log on to www.sandiegozoo.org.

The Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), operated by the not-for-profit Zoological Society of San Diego, is working to establish field stations in five key ecological areas internationally and participates in conservation and research work around the globe. The Zoological Society also manages the 100-acre San Diego Zoo and the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo�s Wild Animal Park (more than half of which has been set aside as protected native species habitat).

###

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