The Sunset Safari after-hours visit to the LA Zoo for SAFARI CLUB members

 

Saturday, April 21^st from 6 to 8 pm the Los Angeles Zoo treated their Safari Club donors to an after-hours evening, showcasing the new Lair Habitat(living amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles), and the Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel, plus with keeper talks, an international buffet dinner, and more.

The Sunset Safari is an after-hours visit to the LA Zoo for SAFARI CLUB members and their families hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA). One of many SAFARI CLUB benefits, the evening, showcased the new LAIR habitat with (living amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles)

and the popular Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel.  Also featured were zoo and animal keeper talks, animal training demonstrations, animal viewings and feedings, and strolling "animal walkabouts," which include chats with Docents and the chance to observe small animals up close.   An International-themed buffet dinner and music concluded the festivities.  Donors to the SAFARI CLUB, which is GLAZA's premier annual giving society, in support of the Zoo and they along with some family and friends, had the opportunity to experience events that offer up close experiences with wildlife and demonstrate the latest developments in zoo research and conservation efforts.  GLAZA is the non-profit organization that supports the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

The evening started with guests checking in, at the front entrance of the zoo and they were then treated with the night’s itinerary, a beverage of choice and a bag of popcorn, to hold them over until the meal. Shuttles then took guests to a backside entrance within the zoo where the Komodo dragons, male and female, were being fed.

Guests were then either escorted along a specified animal walkabout if they wanted a guided tour or they were able to view the exhibits on their own. Beverage tables serving wine, water, and soda were available throughout the zoo and the night.

 

Dinner was served starting at 6:45 with most guests arriving after 7 once they had a significant tour and interaction with the animals, keepers and Docents. Dinner was Latin themed with an assortment of foods such as tamales, Brazilian beef stew, salads, and other foods. There was a dessert table with a beautiful layout of pastries and tea and coffee to warm folks as the night cooled off.

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Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening and even the animals seemed to enjoy being on display.

The SAFARI CLUB is GLAZA's mission-based giving society in support of the Zoo and its various programs; SAFARI CLUB participants make tax deductible donations, which begin at $1,500, that have an impact on many levels.  Locally, they support the Zoo, an oasis of plant and animal life that continues to flourish, educate and enrich the community.  Globally, they contribute to the Zoo's conservation and breeding programs, which offer hope of recovery for many of Earth's endangered species. Some donors also sponsor specific animals such as the Gorillas, making sure they have a nurturing experience at the LA Zoo.

The SAFARI CLUB is among the many programs presented by the private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), founded in 1963.  For nearly five decades, GLAZA has funded exhibits, plant and animal species conservation, capital projects, and education and community outreach programs at the Los Angeles Zoo, an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife.  GLAZA also builds and invests endowment funds and operates five essential departments on behalf of the Zoo, including development, publications, membership, volunteers and oversight of the Zoo's food/retail concessions.  There are currently 72,000 GLAZA member households representing more than 300,000 adults and children, the largest membership base of a cultural organization in Los Angeles, and a volunteer corps of over 700.