BRIDGEPORT, CT - Just in time for Halloween weekend, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is pleased to present Rainforest Reptiles, a dynamic, interactive, and educational show sure to engage and excite young and old alike. The show features over 200 exotic reptiles, ranging from iguanas, Burmese pythons, and boa constrictors to lizards, turtles, and American alligators, including a "ghost-like" rare albino alligator. Rainforest Reptiles is at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo for a limited engagement with performances on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30 only. Show times will be at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. All shows will be free with paid admission to the Zoo.
"We've brought the Rainforest Reptiles show back by popular demand," explained Gregg Dancho, director, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. "Halloween is the perfect time for our guests to get up close and personal with the creepiest crawling reptiles on the planet. The show's rare albino alligator is truly a sight to see!"
Rainforest Reptile Shows features exotic crawlers, unusual slitherers, and fascinating creepers, all of which are creatures of the rainforest. Experience direct contact with live animals, artifacts, and fascinating stories about these unusual animals and their natural habitats. The rare albino alligator, one of only 30 known in the world, will be on display in its own special exhibit during the two days the show is at Connecticut's only zoo.
Visitors also will appreciate the Zoo's newly renovated "Alligator Alley" exhibit, which is home to five new alligators. Improvements were funded by a generous community grant from Trumbull-based Unilever. Alligator Alley's redesigned exhibit accommodates the five new alligators, all male, which reside there. A new deck has been constructed for the alligators, allowing visitors to better observe these reptiles as they go about their daily activities and feedings. A new roof now provides visitors with shading and protection from the elements, and the new audio system allows zookeepers to better interact with the audience. A higher plexi-glass wall prevents debris from easily falling in.
Alligators have been around longer than the dinosaurs, almost 65 million years, and are relatively unchanged in that time. Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo's alligators are between the ages of four and five and are still small, the largest weighing approximately 55 lbs, while the smallest averages 30 lbs. They range from four to five feet long. Known to grow continuously throughout their lives, these creatures are known to reach lengths of thirteen to twenty feet and weights from 400 to 2,000 pounds. They can bite down with 2,000 pounds of pressure with a mouth that contains 65 teeth. Formerly an endangered species, more than one million adult alligators live in the wild today, representing a conservation success story!
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is closer than you think and is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Adult admission (ages 12 & older) is $12.00, children (ages 3 -11) and senior admission (62 and older) is just $10.00, and children under 3 years old are free. Zoo members are also admitted free. Parking at the Zoo is free of charge. For information, call: (203) 394-6565. Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is located at 1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
