Close Encounters brings BIG Wildlife to Ann Arbor and Saline

On September 6, 2014 from 12pm to 5pm, a line-up of exciting animals from the Columbus Zoo, including a cheetah, snow leopard and penguin, will join an already impressive list of animal presentations at The Creature Conservancy’s much anticipated Close Encounters Benefit, located at 4940 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. in Ann Arbor.

About The Creature Conservancy -- The Creature Conservancy is a 501c3 non-profit organization that has taken the act of rescuing wildlife and developed it into a full-blown conservation and educational effort, with a Wildlife Park and curriculum to teach and inform the public about the importance of wildlife conservation. Their mission is to work within their community to create personal connections between people, animals and their shared environment.

Steve Marsh is the Head Curator at The Creature Conservancy. “We’re really excited to share more of The Creature Conservancy with everyone, especially the animal habitats that have recently been completed,” he said. “The new Enrichment Yard will be a really important part of the experience visitors will have when we are open to the public, and we’ll showcase it on the 6th. We’re really happy that the Columbus Zoo is supporting us by joining us for the day and bringing such exciting animals!”

In addition to animal presentations, guests will enjoy food vendors, a beer tent, photos, feeding and petting select animals, raffles, a silent auction, bouncy houses, tee shirts, face painting and more! Advanced tickets are required, $20 for adults (ages 14 and up), $12.50 for kids (ages 2-13), kids under 2 are free. Ticket prices go up after September 1st to $25 for adults and $15 for kids ages 2-13.

Kim Ellis, Mammal Curator at the park, explains how everything at the conservancy is a group effort. “Everybody here works really hard to give these animals a good life and help educate people about them,” she said. “It’s fantastic to be able to welcome several hundred people to see how it’s all coming together.”

Ellis went on to say they are very close to scheduling regular open hours of their indoor areas. Currently, The Creature Conservancy hosts private groups, parties and school trips.

For more information about The Creature Conservancy, including how to purchase tickets to the Close Encounters event, and to view pictures of the visiting animals from the Columbus Zoo, visit www.thecreatureconservancy.org.