KEEPER FOR A DAY
The Cerows’ Wild
Family Adventure
A ugust 10 was a day to remember for Tonya and Michael
Cerow, their sons Pierce and Kian, and Tonya’s parents, Joan
and Ed. These lucky animal lovers won an exclusive VIP tour
of the Zoo during the Safari Under the Stars live auction back
in April, and it was finally time to embark on their behind-the-
scenes safari!
Pierce and Kian donned adorable “junior zookeeper” outfits
and went on their way. The first stop was the Sea Turtle Healing
Center, where the Cerows saw firsthand how Zoo staff and volunteers
care for injured marine life. They watched Rocky Road receive his daily
medicine and had the honor of feeding the famous Guacamole several
delicious heads of lettuce!
As the day grew warmer, the group savored the sweet relief of air
conditioning after heading inside the Animal Care Center to observe
a flamingo exam. One of our veterinary technicians was on hand to
explain the procedure and answer questions.
Following a made-to-order lunch at the Flamingo Café, the Cerows were
treated to a private Rhino Encounter; Pierce especially enjoyed meeting
Howard, our resident male. Before departing Expedition Africa, the
group made a quick detour to feed the giraffe from ground level.
Trekking from the savanna to the Outback, Pierce and Kian had the
distinct privilege of bottle-feeding Lilly the hand-raised kangaroo. They
ended the day with an enchanting tour of Butterflies and the Magic of
Nature, complete with an introduction to goat kids Violet and Lilly—a
truly remarkable finale!
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