Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 8
Sponsored by westbury bank

Mahal

Celebrate Mother’s Day At The Zoo

All Moms Receive Free Admission
Courtesy of westbuy bank

Mother’s Day is special at the Milwaukee County Zoo, as all mothers receive free admission on their special day, Sunday, May 8, thanks to westbury bank (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, 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.  See our specially-made grocery basket on display with items you can purchase on your next shopping trip – and help save these precious animals. All of the items are made without palm oil. Orangutan artifacts, including a preserved skull, will be featured to show how similar these animals are to humans. Crafts for kids include 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, along with posters of paintings created by the orangutans; all proceeds benefitting the Orangutan Outreach. Activities at the outreach booth take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At 11 a.m. 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.

The Zoo is open on Mother’s Day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Milwaukee County residents with I.D. receive $1.75 off regular Zoo admission. Regular Zoo admission is $13.25 for adults, $10.25 for children ages 3 to 12, $12.25 for seniors age 60 and over, and free for children 2 and under. Parking is $11.

For more details, call the Zoo’s Public Affairs and Services Division at (414) 256-5466.

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