Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 9
Sponsored by Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort

Elephant

Celebrate Mother’s Day At The Zoo

All Moms Receive Free Admission
Courtesy Of Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort

Mother’s Day is special at the Milwaukee County Zoo, as all mothers receive free admission on their special day, Sunday, May 9, thanks to Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort. (No coupon necessary).

The Zoo is home to a wild group of animal moms and babies this Mother’s Day. The most well-known story might be that of our orangutans, Mahal and MJ. Mahal’s inexperienced mother did not accept Mahal when he was born at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2007. Our Zoo’s resident female orangutan, MJ, was chosen as a surrogate mother in 2008, and the two orangutans are now living well together, and can be seen at the Zoo in their Primates of the World Exhibit.

In recognition of Mahal and MJ’s story, and to raise awareness of the importance of saving this precious species, primate zookeepers and volunteers will host special outreach areas throughout the Primates of the World Building, called “Project M.O.M.”  Our Zoo partners with other zoos across North America, along with Orangutan Outreach, to present outreach activities entitled “M.O.M. – Missing Orangutan Mothers.”

As Mahal and MJ demonstrate, orangutan mothers and babies have an incredibly close relationship. Baby orangutans don’t have a support network to give them lessons like finding fruit, building nests and other survival techniques. Today, because of the growing demand for palm oil, more and more orangutan mothers are being killed every year in Indonesia. Their rainforest homes are being wiped out to make way for palm oil plantations – leaving hundreds of helpless orphans.

Visit the outreach booth to learn how you can help the plight of these beautiful red apes – fliers, info sheets, games, quizzes, pictures and commemorative bookmarks will be available.  Orangutan artifacts will be on display to show how similar these animals are to humans.  Crafts for kids include making a personal greeting for Mahal by coloring a copy of his very own handprint, and coloring a picture of Mahal and MJ and placing it in a display (mural) of the rainforest, symbolic of putting these endangered animals back in their natural forest habitats.  Custom note cards featuring our own Mahal and MJ will be available for purchase; proceeds benefit the Orangutan Outreach. Activities at the outreach booth take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New this year

At 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. the Zoo will present the documentary film, “Green.” Showing in the Peck Welcome Center Theater, the 48-minute film focuses on the Indonesian rainforest, deforestation and orangutan extinction.

The documentary touches on “slash and burn” practices in the rainforest for the creation of palm oil and the orangutans left without a home, many of them becoming victims to pet trading. The film’s central figure is a female orangutan who has been retrieved because her rainforest home has been destroyed due to these practices. It was winner of Best Short Documentary in 2009.

Be sure to purchase your copy of “Little Mahal and the Big Search for a Real Mom.” The Zoo will have a quantity of author-signed books on hand by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer, Jan Uebelherr, for visitors to purchase. Proceeds benefit the Orangutan Outreach.

Special thanks to our Mother's Day sponsor:
Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort