Wellington Zoo celebrates Great Apes

8 December 2005

Wellington Zoo celebrates Great Apes

Wellington Zoo is celebrating the New Zealand release of Peter Jackson's King Kong with a special week - the Truth about Great Apes week - from 10 - 18 December, Zoo CEO Alison Lash announced today.

'The excitement surrounding King Kong gives us a great opportunity to let people know more about apes and why their numbers are decreasing in the wild,' said Alison.

'We have a really exciting week planned with special guided tours, daily chimp talks and some fantastic prizes to be won.'

On Sunday December 18, 'Big Kong Day,' top artists from Weta Workshop - who helped to create King Kong and many other creatures in the film - will be holding art workshops in the Zoo's Living Room, showing Zoo visitors how to draw and sculpt their own creations.

'We are thrilled to announce that Weta Workshop will be joining us to celebrate Big Kong Day,' said Alison.

'Their designers will be here on 18 December along with some of their creatures, transforming our Living Room into a magical studio workshop.'

All visitors to Wellington Zoo during the Truth about Great Apes week will go into the draw to win a daily double pass to Reading Cinemas to see King Kong. The Zoo is also offering an exclusive behind the scenes chimpanzee tour, where 20 lucky winners get to visit the chimpanzee night quarters and see what happens when the chimpanzees are put to bed.

The Truth about Great Apes week, Wellington Zoo, 10-18 December 2005.

ENDS

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