San Diego Zoo Celebrates 100th Birthday with a Party for Guests at Elephant Odyssey

The San Diego Zoo hosted a fun-filled birthday party for its guests, during the opening weekend of its annual Play Days event. Guests touring the Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey between noon and 1:30 p.m. today (Saturday, March 19) were part of the celebration, which featured face painting, a cakewalk and party favors. The party’s guests of honor were the elephants, which were given special enrichment items and were the hit of the party.

 

A specialty wreath made of stripped branches wrapped with ficus and acacia leaves—in the shape of the number 100—was placed in the main elephant yard by the pool. There were also fruits skewered on branches, which encourage the elephants’ natural foraging behaviors; and animal care staff placed balls in the elephant pool, for female elephants Devi, Tembo and Sumithi to play with. The Zoo is planning another birthday party for its guests on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at the hippo exhibit.

San Diego Zoo Celebrates 100th Birthday with a Party for Guests at Elephant Odyssey

Guests can also visit the Play Days website to take a fun online quiz. Find out which San Diego Zoo elephant you’re most like, and you’ll be automatically entered in a sweepstakes for passes to the Zoo or Safari Park.

San Diego Zoo Celebrates 100th Birthday with a Party for Guests at Elephant Odyssey

Play Days runs from March 19 to April 3, with extended Zoo hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. All Play Days activities and entertainment are included with admission to the San Diego Zoo.