MR. HERSHEY'S ZOO

PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN

A 4-day session starting on [Date} [Time]

The ZooAmerica we know today had its beginnings 119 years ago, when it was called the Hershey Zoo. In 1905, Franz Zinner, the original zookeeper of Hershey Zoo, gave Milton S. Hershey 12 prairie dogs that would form the foundation of the future zoo. A few years later, bears, birds, deer, and exotic animals such as lions, leopards, monkeys, and exotic birds were added.

The Hershey History Center celebrates that long history this summer with a hands-on children’s program presented by Lori Mitchell.

The program:
Recommended for children ages 4-7. Join in fun and interactive crafts. (Materials provided.) Listen to stories to learn about the zoo created by Mr. Hershey.
Program fee: $30 per child. (Member discount: $25.)
Pre-registration is required. CLICK HERE.
Snack provided.

MEET SOME OF THE ANIMALS FEATURED IN OUR STORY

Click on an animal for fun facts!

What is special about a lioness?

The lioness works together with other lionesses to hunt and help rear the cubs. This allows them to get the most from their hard work, keeping them healthier and safer. Being smaller and lighter than males, lionesses are more agile and faster. During hunting, smaller females chase the prey toward the center of the hunting group.

What is the zebu known for?

Zebus help the farmer to pull a plow or a cart. They are sometimes riding animals. They give milk like cows on a dairy farm. Some small breeds such as the miniature zebu are also kept as pets. They have a hump like a camel's hump, which is used to store fat in hot, dry spells when access to food and water is limited.

The porcupine

The North American porcupine is one of the largest rodents found in North America, coming second to the North America beaver. The porcupine's most famous feature—the quill. Porcupines are covered in about 30,000 quills. Contrary to popular belief, porcupines do NOT shoot out their quills.

And monkeys, too?

Monkeys, like humans, have a unique set of fingerprints of their own. Most monkeys have tails. All monkeys have opposable thumbs that allow the fingers to grasp and handle objects, like in human hands.

Crocodile or alligator?

This is an alligator. Crocodiles have a narrower snout than an alligator. The American alligator is found in south Florida, among other places, and are native only to the United States and China.

The prairie dog

The prairie dog is a plant eating ground squirrel native to the grasslands of North America. It excavates elaborate systems of burrows in flat prairie lands and create “towns” comprised of thousands of animals. The burrows are easily identified because of the large mound of dirt surrounding the entrance, providing a vantage point to spot approaching predators as well as flood protection.