FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          January 19, 2010

CONTACTS:

Candice Rennels:        (405) 425-0298, (405) 412-6172, cell or crennels@okczoo.com

Tara Henson:               (405) 425-0219, (405) 919-9038, cell or thenson@okczoo.com

OKC ZOO ANNOUNCES GOAT-NAMING CONTEST WINNERS

 Bixby?! Shawnee?! Okarche?! Norman?! The Oklahoma City Zoo and Frontier Country are pleased to announce the results of our Children’s Zoo Name That Goat Contest!

December 18 through January 13, Zoo fans had the opportunity to vote for the names of the 12 Nigerian Dwarf Goats soon to take up residence in our brand new Children’s Zoo, which is set to open on March 12, 2010. There was one catch – all submitted names had to be the names of towns and cities in Oklahoma. We want our new additions to put down some native roots and represent some of the finest folks in our great state.

Voting was held online at okczoo.com. After a tremendous response, the Zoo received a total of 4,398 votes from 588 voters, with 643 different town names suggested. After tabulating the votes, the new names of our goats are (in order of highest votes received):

• Gotebo (the overwhelming winner with 366 total votes)
• Norman
• Duncan
• Edmond
• Bixby
• Hugo
• Perry
• Oologah
• Bowlegs
• Chandler
• Dewey
• Jet

The Children’s Zoo staff assigned the names to the goats, taking into account their coloring and distinct personalities.

“This is an exciting time for the Zoo and we can’t wait for our guests to meet the goats and the other animals in our wonderful, soon-to-open Children’s Zoo,” said Darcy Henthorn, Curator of Birds and Children’s Zoo.

To view photos of the newly-named goats, visit www.okczoo.com. 

In addition, 12 lucky contest participants were randomly selected to receive prize packs from Frontier Country, which included plush goats and tickets to one of Frontier Country’s attractions. The winners were notified by email.

Visit the Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma’s #1 attraction and one of the top three family-friendly zoos in the nation. The wild is calling! Located at NE 52^nd and Martin Luther King Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111, in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, Zoo hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Standard admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages three to 11 and seniors ages 65 and older. Children two and under are free.  For more information, call (405) 424-3344 or visit www.okczoo.com.

-okczoo-