By DELANIA TRIGG, Register Staff Writer
Gainesville Daily Register
Gainesville — Call it a case of too much of a good thing. Frank Buck Zoo Executive Director Susan Kleven said the zoo is so popular with the Facebook crowd, the zoo’s entry on the Web site recently reached its limit of 5,000 friends. Now Kleven said she’s asking zoo devotees to follow zoo news by becoming “fans” of the Frank Buck Zoo. Kleven and her staff are busy this time of year. Monday’s Spring Break crowd topped 1,800 visitors, she said. “The trend that we’re seeing is 60 percent of our annual visitation comes between March and June,” she said. Last year, 65,000 people visited the zoo — impressive for a zoo in a rural area such as Cooke County. With a population of only about 17,000 in Gainesville, outreach efforts to bring attention to the zoo are essential. Kleven said she recently returned from a zoo-related event in Dallas during which she helped promote zoo activities including daily giraffe and bison feedings and the zoo’s educational programs. Visiting Gainesville and stopping by Leonard Park and Frank Buck Zoo are a package deal for families looking to have fun closer to home. “The zoo is the perfect place for a ‘stay-cation,’” she said. In addition to Spring Break crowds, the zoo is also planning some special events. Today is the Frank Buck birthday celebration. It’s also the zoo’s only dollar day promotion. “Everyone pays a dollar admission in honor of Frank Buck’s birthday,” Kleven said in a press release. The zoo will be open regular hours — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — for the event which includes birthday cake, giraffe feedings at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., concessions prepared and sold by members of the Frank Buck Zoological Society, popcorn and snowcones sold by Red River AAKZ Chapter, a bison feeding and visits with some zoo animals including the camel. Spring break week also marked the debut of the zoo’s newest kangaroo “Rufus” who many have watched grow up via Facebook. Upcoming events include the zoo’s annual Easter event Breakfast with the Bunny which is set for April 3. Kleven said those who plan on attending Breakfast with the Bunny should call the zoo for reservations. Zoo staff are also booking school field trips, and the zoo is involved in educational programs for youth including summer day camps and the zoo’s Junior Zoo Crew program. Applications for Junior Zoo Crew are due May 19, Kleven noted. Participants must be 14 years old. They must also write a essay describing their interest in the program and provide recommendations from non-family members. Daily giraffe feedings and VIP feedings are also popular. VIP giraffe feedings should be scheduled in advance, Kleven said. The feedings include a tour of the giraffe barn, biofacts for visitors and the chance for visitors to help prepare the giraffe feed. VIP giraffe tours are $75 each. Kleven also the zoo’s recently-repaired petting zoo is up and running after a severe storm last July damaged a portion of the fencing around the habitat. The zoo is also in the middle of a nationwide contest which allows fans of the zoo to vote online for the Frank Buck Zoo. The Pepsi Refresh project is expected to provide over $1.3 million worth of grants to fund ideas across the country. Voters can view the site at www.refresheverything.com/frankbuckzoo or simply open the Homepage and type in “Animal Ambassadors Reaching Rural Classrooms.” Winners of the Pepsi contest receive $50,000 grants. The zoo could use some help with the voting which ends March 31, Kleven said. It was rated number 56 (out of 1,100) Wednesday morning. If Frank Buck Zoo wins, Kleven said the money will help fund the facility’s animal ambassadors program designed to reach rural North Texas and Southern Oklahoma classrooms. The grant will pay for a vehicle, fuel and staffing for the project. According to the Website, the “Animal Ambassadors Reaching Rural Classrooms” project will take place in pre-selected rural school and youth organizations. The wildlife education outreach project will be free of cost to participants and will include hands-on experiences with animal pelts, horns and eggs. Kleven said the program is designed to, “Inspire students and youth to learn about the natural world that surrounds them.” To learn more about the Frank Buck Zoo call 668-4533 or visit www.frankbuckzoo.com. The Frank Buck Zoo is located at 1000 W. California St. in Gainesville. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
