Johannesburg - Summer is in full swing over at Montecasino as it boasts a number of new additions to its Bird Garden over the past few weeks.
The new additions include a Southern Ground Hornbill chick and a baby Ring-tailed Lemur, both of which are endangered species, have been successfully reared over the past few weeks.
Taking the kids for a fun yet educational experience over the holiday would be a really good idea as the endangered and vulnerable species reared at the Montecasino Bird Gardens have grown to 50 – including 39 bird species, four mammal species and seven reptile species.
“The breeding and hand-rearing of these endangered and vulnerable species is a process, but one to which we are certainly committed,” says Property Manager of Montecasino, Deidre Jameson. “Our membership of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and recent acquisition of PAAZAB (Pan African Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accreditation, sees us join a group of just seven other institutional PAAZAB members responsible for the African region, and bears testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into the breeding programme. We are very proud of the achievements of our staff and the specialised care they provide to the over 1200 bird, reptile, amphibian, arachnida and mammal species housed at the Gardens.”
In addition to this, from Monday 08 December to Friday 12 December and again from Monday 05 January to Friday 09 January the Montecasino Bird Gardens will be running a special school holiday programme for children aged between six and 11 years old.
At only R135 per child per day, which includes an action-packed day filled with fun and learning activities, the Flight of Fantasy Bird Show, interactive tours through the Bird Gardens, educational games and take home crafts, a cold drink and a packet of chips, it’s the perfect way to spend the holidays!
Your children will be able to enjoy a special themed programme of fun and learning each day. The programme consists of:
- Mondays: Reptile Rascals - where the little ones get to learn more about snakes and other exciting creatures.
- Tuesdays: Birds of Prey - where they will learn all about raptors, owls and hawks.
- Wednesday: Bush Survival – which will see kiddies learning all about the bush and how to survive in it.
- Thursdays: Feathers & Fur - giving the children a glimpse into the world of beautiful birds and amazing mammals.
- Fridays: Showtime – everyone’s favourite behind the scenes look at the Montecasino Bird Gardens where children will be able to experience the joys of working closely with some of the birds and animals housed in the Gardens.
This is just a taste of the many exciting adventures to be had at the Montecasino Bird Gardens this December and January! The programme starts at 08:30 and finishes at 14:30 daily. Children should bring a packed lunch, sun hat, water bottles and sunblock. Bookings are essential as space is limited. To book call the Montecasino Bird Gardens on 011 511 1864.
The Montecasino Bird Gardens is open to the public every day, excluding Christmas day. Through its children’s holiday programme and other special events, the Bird Gardens fulfils an important role in environmental awareness and provides a tranquil and fun-filled environment for the whole family.
Visit the Montecasino website for more details