The Montecasino Bird Gardens is turning 12 years young

PRESS RELEASE

FEBRUARY 2013

The Montecasino Bird Gardens celebrates its 12^th birthday on Saturday, 27 April and you’re invited! There will be sweets, treats, and birthday cupcakes, face painters, stilt walkers with marionettes, mime artists, jumping castles and much, much more to see and do. So diarise the date and join us for a day of family fun in the sun, filled with laughs and good times.

Tango the Toucan

Get there early and have your picture taken with Tango the Toucan, the colourful Montecasino Bird Gardens mascot. Be mesmerised by the magical ‘Flight of Fantasy’ bird show, an educational show guaranteed to thrill spectators and take them on an intimate journey into the world of birds. Wander the enchanted walkways and gardens which house a collection of 322 cycads from 37 species and over 1 000 reptiles, small animals and birds from over 60 different species, or enter the main aviary and enjoy the sights and sounds of the unique array of wonderful creatures in their specially built housing structures.

Then, after all that adventure, why not enjoy a relaxing lunch at Flamingo Café, a 90-seater family restaurant overlooking the Flamingo Pond.

Entry into the Montecasino Bird Gardens is R53 for adults and children over the age of 10 years, and R30 for pensioners and children under the age of 10 years. For more information call the Montecasino Bird Gardens on 011-511- 1864 or visit www.montecasino.co.za

You can also see reptiles at Montecasino Bird Gardens

About the Montecasino Bird Gardens

Joburg’s “Best Kept Secret” opened its gates to residents of Johannesburg for the first time in April 2001 and has since been a sanctuary to a variety of bird, reptile, and mammal and plant species. Having taken it upon itself to educate adults and children alike on the importance and relevance of our environment and the wild life that live alongside us, while at the same time running highly successful breeding programmes for a variety of bird, mammal and reptile species – including the White-Naped Crane and the Southern Ground Hornbill – as well as an extensive local owl and bat conservation effort along with primary schools in the Fourways area and surrounds, the Montecasino Bird Gardens has not disappointed, and 12 years on is stronger than ever.

In support of the nationwide conservation effort to increase the numbers of the vulnerable Southern Ground Hornbill, the Montecasino Bird Gardens is running a breeding and release programme within the Breeding Centre with the two resident breeding pairs of Southern Ground Hornbills and have since 2011 successfully incubated, hatched and socialised two Hornbill chicks, who will be released into the wild.

More recently, the Montecasino Bird Gardens rescued an Asian toad (since named Jack B. Nimble, as he was found by Mr Price employees packaged with a candlestick) from being euthanised. Jack travelled over 12 000km from Asia, and following a quarantine process and a few days in a climate controlled enclosure, plus travelling another 1000 odd kilometres, arrived safely at the Montecasino Bird Gardens where he has now found a caring home and habitat – equipped with cave, pond and a  never-ending supply of crickets.

For more information on the Bird Garden’s conservation projects, contact the Montecasino Bird Gardens at education@montebg.co.za.

'Flight of Fantasy' bird show

The Montecasino Bird Gardens is open seven days a week until 5pm. The 'Flight of Fantasy' bird shows take place every weekday at 11am and 3pm, and on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Montecasino – We’ve Got It!

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF MONTECASINO BIRD GARDENS BY STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL 011 672 2037 OR EMAIL admin@stratpr.co.za