Photo by: Monika Blazs

Earth Day 2013
Please join us Saturday, April 20th for Earth Day at the Zoo from 10 am to 2 pm!

Note: Kids' craft and face painting will be available at the main tent until 4pm!

Plant a tree and help protect polar bears from global warming!
Henry Vilas Zoo will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 20, 2013 by giving away trees and with many more fun activities including:

• Distribution of 1500 saplings - courtesy of Wisconsin DNR with thanks to Kohl's A Team volunteers for helping with distribution. Available only while supplies last.
• Kids' Tree Climb - courtesy of the Dane County Regional Arborist Group
• MG&E Solar Energy Trailer
• Education Animals
• Face Painting - courtesy of Old Navy East and West Madison stores. Proceeds will go to to wild African penguin conservation.
• Kids' Craft - courtesy of Old Navy East and West Madison stores
• Earth Day Fun Books will be handed out at the Gates, while supplies last - courtesy of MG&E
• Henry the Lion Zoo Mascot

Habitat destruction is one of the leading causes of animals becoming threatened or endangered across the world, including orangutans, red pandas, and polar bears. There are many ways that habitat destruction can happen: forests may be logged for wood or to be replaced by farmland, pollution, or global warming may impact habitat quality.

Planting Trees Helps Polar Bears.
Even though polar bears do not live in forests, planting trees helps protect their habitat. Polar bears are losing their arctic habitat due to global warming. As the earth gets warmer, more ice melts. Polar bears need ice for their food (hunting seals on sea ice) and homes (dens). High levels of carbon dioxide gas in our atmosphere is causing the earth to heat up.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere to make their food. This process, called photosynthesis, also gives off oxygen. The more trees there are, the more carbon dioxide gas is absorbed from the air. The more carbon dioxide gas we can remove from the air, the more we can slow down the earth's heating trend, helping protect the arctic ice and the polar bears that rely on it.

The tree planting event is made possible due to our partnership with the DNR, County Foresters and MGE. Kohls Department Stores will be the volunteer sponsors.



Here Are Some Facts:

• New Children's Zoo barn; post and beam timber from sustainable forests, solar and geothermal heat, closed cell foam insulation (R-42) and rain water collection
• Using solar powered visitor counters at all gates
• 170 tons of animal waste are composted every year
• Lighting systems replaced with energy efficient florescent and LED lamps
• Rain water is collected and used to water plants in the rain forest and Education Pavilion
• Green living roofs on flamingoes, bear and badger areas
• Modulating condensing natural gas boilers
• Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV)
• Converted 50% of lawn areas to original woodland cover
• Solar aerator in wetland
• Monthly energy use reports to all areas (electric and gas use reduced by 25%; water and sewer by 30%)
• Rain gardens have been built to collect runoff



PUTTING ENERGY TO WORK AT THE ZOO!
The Henry Vilas Zoo believes that all natural resources are precious and must be carefully conserved. The Zoo is working hard to keep our community clean and energy efficient.

Go Green with the AZA Green Practices Toolbox!
Environmentally sustainable or "green" practices are becoming an increasingly important focus of AZA-accredited institutions. The AZA Green Scientific Advisory Group has added many resources to the Green Practices Toolbox which are designed to raise awareness of ways to conserve natural resources. Click here for more information!