Zoo offers animal encounters in winter

BUFFALO, N.Y. (RELEASE) - In support of the Buffalo Zoo's mission to educate the public about the world's wildlife, the Zoo is now offering a new holiday sea lion encounter.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Pocus, one of the Zoo's two male California sea lions, and his keepers. For $20 per person, each participant will have the chance to have a holiday photo taken with Pocus behind-the-scenes inside the holding area at NOCO's Sea Lion Cove. Participants can choose to receive a kiss from Pocus or pose next to him as a "trainer" holding a target pole.

Photos sessions will take place at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the following weekend dates:
November 13, 14, 20 and 21 and December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19.

The minimum age requirement for participants is 6 years. Each encounter is limited to 15 guests. Reservations can be made by calling the Zoo's Switchboard Operator at 837-3900 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The zoo also has the following winter offering between Nov. 13 - March 13:
-Elephant Encounter on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.; 2:00 p.m. -2:15 p.m.; 2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ($5 per person-tickets available at the Zootique Gift Shop. Limit of 10 people per session.)
-Carpet Python Experience on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. (keeper will bring out python for a talk) (FREE)
-Delta Sonic Heritage Farm Training Demonstration on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 a.m. (FREE)
-Caiman feed/keeper talk on Sundays at 1:00 p.m. (FREE)
-Gorilla baby keeper talk on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. (FREE)

You can find more information at the Buffalo Zoo's website.