Oakland Zoo’s “Celebrating Elephants” Evening Gala and Day Event to Benefit Elephants in Africa, Sponsored by The Oakland A’s

Oakland Zoo is proud to announce 21 years of taking action for elephants with our annual Celebrating Elephants events on May 20 and 27. Both events are designed to increase awareness about elephants while offering guests rare and fun experiences around elephants that take place only at these events. The two events serve as fundraisers for elephant conservation and have raised over \$300,000 for elephants in the wild since 1996.

The Oakland A’s are serving as the presenting sponsor of Celebrating Elephants at Oakland Zoo this year. In addition to sponsoring the event(s) on May 20 and 27, the Oakland A’s are now the official sponsor of the Zoo’s elephant exhibit for the next two years.

"The Oakland Athletics are proud to support the efforts of the Oakland Zoo to help raise awareness for elephant conservation and welfare around the world," said A's President Dave Kaval. "Our deeper partnership, including sponsoring the elephant habitat, provides enjoyment for Bay Area families and the necessary funds for this important mission."

On May 20 at 6:00pm an Evening Gala will feature keynote speaker Christine Browne-Nuñez, PhD, of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants in Kenya. Dr. Browne-Nuñez conducted research in the Greater Amboseli Ecosystem to examine the relationship between local Maasai people and elephants in a time of increasing interaction and conflict between elephants and people of Amboseli National Park in Southern Kenya.

Dr. Browne–Nunez worked closely with Cynthia Moss, the founder and president of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. Cynthia and her team have led the longest-running elephant field research project in the world; the park also serves as home to more than 1,700 African elephants.

These 1,700+ elephants have been studiously observed, catalogued, and protected by the Amboseli Elephant Research Project (AERP) since Dr. Cynthia Moss founded the project in 1972. Over the last 30 years, the AERP team has identified and named every elephant in the park, following and recording each individual's social behavior, reproductive history, feeding habits, and communication with the herd. Due the presence and efforts of Dr. Moss and her team, the Amboseli elephant population has been increasing slowly since the late 1970s.

The Evening Gala will also include a reception and silent auction of many unique items from Bay Area restaurants, Oakland A’s luxury box-suite tickets, paintings by Oakland Zoo’s own African elephants and other zoo animals, behind-the-scenes experiences with zookeepers, a signed Warriors basketball and more.

The Celebrating Elephants Evening Gala begins at 6:00pm in the Zoo’s Zimmer Auditorium with the reception and silent auction, followed by Dr. Brown-Nunez’s presentation at 6:30pm. The cost for this event is a sliding scale of \$40 - \$100 per person and tickets can be purchased at the door or online: http://www.oaklandzoo.org/Celebrating_Elephants.php

“We are very proud that over the years thousands of people have had the opportunity to better understand elephants and the issues facing them through these events,” said Colleen Kinzley, Director of Animal Care, Conservation, and Research. “The most important role of a modern zoo is to connect people with animals in order to generate support for their protection in the wild.”

May 27 is the daytime event, which takes place at the Zoo during regular operating hours. The day event features once-a-year elephant barn tours where guests can get up- close and personal with one of the Zoo’s four African elephants and learn about the Zoo’s fascinating elephant program from one of their Lead Zookeepers. Elephant barn tours (\$10) are not included with Zoo admission and may be purchased in advance (http://www.oaklandzoo.org/Celebrating_Elephants.php) at or in person on the day of the event at either Flamingo Plaza or the elephant exhibit.

The Oakland A’s mascot, Stomper, will be in attendance to greet and mingle with zoo guests at the Oakland A’s sponsored elephant exhibit from 11am to 1pm.

Other day event activities include a mock research camp designed to offer guests the opportunity to don binoculars and become a field researcher for the day. Fascinating facts about these enormous animals will also be shared at Elephant Education Stations throughout the Zoo, such as touching gigantic pachyderm bones, holding an eleven-pound tooth, and stepping into an elephant-sized footprint.

Circus Finelli, an animal free circus, will perform in the Clorox Wildlife Theater at 12:00pm and 2:00pm. The acts feature comedy, acrobatics, juggling, dance, and live music.

Both the Evening Gala and Day Event are designed for all to become inspired by elephants while raising funds to ensure their survival in the wild. All proceeds from both Celebrating Elephants events will be donated to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, which helps ensure the long-term conservation and welfare of Africa’s elephants through scientific research, training, community outreach, public awareness and advocacy. For more information, please go to http://www.oaklandzoo.org/Amboseli_Trust.php.

About the Oakland Athletics

One of the American League’s most successful franchises, the Oakland Athletics are now in their 50th year in the East Bay. The team is proud to be #RootedinOakland and is committed to continuing the tradition of championship-caliber baseball. The A’s, in conjunction with the A’s Community Fund, strive to make a positive impact in the community by working with corporate and nonprofit partners in three impactful areas: education, youth baseball and softball, and support for the cultural and artistic ventures of Oakland and East Bay residents. For more information on the team, and to purchase tickets, visit www.athletics.com

About Oakland Zoo

The Bay Area's award-winning Oakland Zoo is home to more than 660 native and exotic animals. The Zoo offers many educational programs and kid's activities perfect for science field trips, family day trips and exciting birthday parties. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and wildlife conservation onsite and worldwide; with 25¢ from each ticket donated to support conservation partners and programs around the world. The California Trail, a transformational project that more than doubles our size, opens in 2018, and will further our commitment to animal care, education, and conservation with a focus on this state's remarkable native wildlife. Nestled in the Oakland Hills, in 500-acre Knowland Park, the Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road, off Highway 580. The East Bay Zoological Society (Oakland Zoo) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization supported in part by members, contributions, the City of Oakland and the East Bay Regional Parks.