Woodland Park Zoo Press Release

What:
Who’s the first person credited to capture and study all 23 species of wild crocodilians? It’s Brady Barr, and he’s made it his life’s work to study and protect alligators and crocodiles. National Geographic and Woodland Park Zoo invite families and children to meet the reptile expert, conservationist and TV host. Barr will be in Zoomazium with a selection of live reptiles and interacting with the audience as he tells them about the animals and shares stories of his time in the field.

Photo: Simon Boyce

When:
Monday, March 31, noon-1:00 p.m.
Brady Barr will present three 15-minute presentations.

Where:
Woodland Park Zoo’s Zoomazium near the West Entrance at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N.

Cost:
Brady Barr presentations are free with zoo admission.

Zoo admission October 1-April 30: Adult (13-64) $11.00; Child (3-12) $8.00; Toddler (0-2) Free. Seniors and people with disabilities receive a discount and zoo members receive free zoo admission year-round.
Zoo hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily through April 30
Parking: $4.50. Consider taking the bus, biking, walking or carpooling. Conserving resources is one more way of helping the animals. Call Metro at 206.553.3000 for bus service to the zoo.

Info:
Brady Barr will be in Seattle for the 2008 National Geographic Live! Speaker Series presented by BH Music Center and Seattle Symphony on Monday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. Barr is the third of five speakers in the series at Benaroya Hall.

Currently, nearly one third of all croc species are considered endangered. Having traveled through more than 50 countries in the last 15 years, Barr is devoted to saving crocodilians and other reptiles in the wild. One of the 23 species he has captured, the wild Siamese crocodile, was thought to be functionally extinct in the wild prior to Barr’s rediscovery of it. This historic achievement was documented on National Geographic’s “Dangerous Encounters: Countdown Croc.” Barr’s passion for adventure has led him to the most extraordinary situations, including a vicious attack by a python in Indonesia and an unforgettable expedition in which he approached a group of wild crocodiles in Africa disguised in an 80-pound croc suit. He has hosted or contributed to more than 70 wildlife documentaries – more than anyone in the history of National Geographic, including “Reptile Wild With Dr. Brady Barr,” “Croc Chronicles” and the ongoing series, “Dangerous Encounters,” on the National Geographic Channel. Tickets can be purchased by phone by calling the Benaroya Hall ticket office at 206.215.4747, online at www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/ or at 200 University St. in downtown Seattle.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting international standards for zoos all over the world. Conservation, education and excellent animal care are at the core of the zoo’s mission. The zoo is helping to save animals and their habitats in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring people to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.