CHEETAHS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL 

 

Contact:    Brian Hill
Pager:      713-801-8040

CHEETAHS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

 

 

(HOUSTON) September 24, 2008 … When is the last time you had lunch or spent an evening with a cheetah?  Well, that’s too long.  On October 7 the Houston Zoo is offering two unique opportunities to see cheetahs up close and to support cheetah conservation in Africa.  Both opportunities feature special appearances by our resident cheetahs, Kito and Kiburi and opportunities to hear about efforts to save these amazing animals from one of the foremost cheetah conservationists, Rebecca Klein.

            The Houston Zoo invites you to join us from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 7, 2008 at the Zoo’s Brown Education Center for the Feed Your Wild Life Fall Luncheon.  This unique presentation features exotic African-themed cuisine, an authentic African percussion performance, silent auction items and a special guest appearance by our ambassador cheetahs, Kiburi and Kito.  The Feed Your Wild Life Fall Luncheon also features a special presentation by guest speaker Rebecca Klein, Director of Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB).  All proceeds from the Feed Your Wild Life Fall Luncheon benefit CCB.

            At 7 p.m. on October 7, 2008 Kiburi, Kito and Rebecca Klein return to the Brown Education Center auditorium for the second presentation in the Zoo’s Call of the Wild lecture series titled Cheetah Conservation Botswana.

            Seating is limited for both events.  For ticket information for the Feed Your Wild Life Fall Luncheon and the Call of the Wild lecture series, visit the Zoo on the Web at www.houstonzoo.org or call 713-533.6500 for more details.  
 

About Cheetah Conservation Botswana and Rebecca Klein

            Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) was former to help protect the remaining population of endangered cheetahs in Botswana, one of the last strongholds for cheetahs in the world.  In the spirit of community participation, CCB is helping to create trans-border strategies to manage the cheetah population in all of Southern Africa.  The first step, led by conservationist Rebecca Klein, is to learn more about the Botswana cheetah and how to protect this very fast and very rare cat.