Princess and Pirate Weekend returns to the Santa Barbara Zoo, 10 am.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3. Children are invited to dress up as their favorite princess, pirate, or anyone they want to be. (Zoo members can enjoy early admission at 9 a.m.)
Princess and Pirate Weekend features meet-and-greets with favorite fairy tale characters, photo opportunities, crafts and activities, animal encounters, storytime, keeper talks, Theater Gone Wild live stage shows, and bounce houses.
The event also offers a chance for visitors to learn more about frog conservation efforts.
Did you know that frogs and toads in the wild face major threats, and up to one-third of the world’s amphibian species are in danger of extinction?
Frogs and toads play an important role as both prey and predator in wetland ecosystems and are considered indicators of the health of their environments. But many previously abundant frog and toad populations have declined dramatically in the United States and around the world.
Zoo visitors can also learn about and join FrogWatch USA, a nation-wide program the Santa Barbara Zoo participates in, where “community scientists” are trained to identify and count frogs and toads in local wetlands, creeks, or other habitats.
The information gathered by FrogWatch chapters is entered into an online database, and may ultimately lead to practical and workable ways to stop amphibian decline. Learn more about how to get involved by clicking here.
Princess and Pirate Weekend is free with zoo admission or membership. Online reservations are still required to visit the zoo, click here to reserve. For more information call 805-962-5339 or visit www.sbzoo.org.