Visit WCS's Prospect Park Zoo This Thanksgiving
Brooklyn
, NY – November 10, 2009
– “Franklin,”
a magnificent male wild turkey, resides with his female companions at the
Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo. The wild turkey
is an American bird, originally brought to Europe
in early 16th century by Spanish conquistadors. The species was
transported to England and throughout northern Europe.
The English then brought the domestic turkeys back with them when they settled
the colonies. In 1776, in search of a national bird, Benjamin
Franklin nominated the wild turkey as a symbol because of its courage. Visitors
can see Franklin
strutting in the barn area on Thanksgiving day and the other 364 days during
the year.
In the field, the Wildlife
Conservation Society is working on turkey conservation in Guatemala
– home of the spectacular oscillated turkey, which is a close cousin to
the wild turkey.
Prospect Park Zoo – Open every day of the
year. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and older, $3 for kids
3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10am to 5pm weekdays, and 10am
– 5:30pm weekends, April through
October, and 10am – 4:30pm daily, November through
April. The Prospect Park Zoo is located at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park,
Brooklyn. For further information, call
718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.
The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places
worldwide. We do so through
science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's
largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together
these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine
wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission
because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.