25 October 2006

Push Play with the animals

Auckland Zoo is getting behind National Push Play Day on 3 November and is encouraging visitors to take up the challenge.

Auckland Zoo has always been a great place to push play and on National Push Play Day, the zoo will be living up to its reputation. Visitors to the zoo will have the chance to borrow a pedometer while they explore the zoo. Once finished, walkers can check out the zoo’s speed facts board highlighting speeds of some of the animals, to see how they compare.

Can you walk as far as an elephant would in a day? Could you beat a Galapagos tortoise in a race, or leg it as fast as your fellow kiwi name sake? By comparing your own steps, you will not only see how far you walked while at the zoo, but will gain an insight into the animal kingdom and how some animals push play everyday.

While you hot-foot it around the zoo there will also be animal themed exercises to get involved in, as well as a push play trail to follow. Can you balance on one leg like a flamingo, or learn how to pronk like a springbok?

“It’s great to support National Push Play Day. We are going to make it fun for people to get involved – the games, a push play trail to follow and, of course, the pedometers,” says Auckland Zoo events co-ordinator Jackie Sanders. “We are also putting pedometers on some of the keepers at the zoo – they are very active throughout the day, so it will be interesting to see how they compare to the animals they care for.”

“We realise that people need to push play for 30 minutes every day, not just on National Push Play Day, so we have come up with some push play tips that also reduce energy consumption to help the planet. A win-win situation – help yourself and help the planet.”

Push Play and help the planet

Walk to the shops instead of driving

Walk to work, or get off the bus a stop early

Take a walk in the park or at the beach and pick up any rubbish you see along your way.

Push Play @ the Zoo, Auckland Zoo, Friday, 3 November from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Normal zoo admission prices apply.

ENDS

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