Listen Live
St Jude banner
CLOSE

http://www.newsnet5.com

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is hosting a four-day event starting Thursday to kick off the opening of its new $25 million African Elephant Crossing exhibit.

The African Elephant Crossing features two outdoor elephant yards for roaming, a deep-water swim channel, waterfall, interactive visitor center, five African elephants, meerkats, naked mole rats, colorful African birds, an African rock python and more.

“The finishing touches are being applied, the elephants have been introduced to the whole exhibit and we can’t wait for everyone to see it all come together,” Zoo Director Steve Taylor said in a release.

The celebration begins Thursday at 10 a.m., with a performance from the marching band at James Rhodes High School, and lasts through Sunday when all moms get into the zoo free to celebrate Mother’s Day.

The zoo has a variety of events planned over the next few days, including performances by African drummers, Radio Disney and the Beachwood Community Theater. There will also be crafts and a chance to meet the zookeepers who take care of the elephants.