Summer Safari
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in Highland Park, was the place to be Friday night for the annual Summer Safari, a sold- out event with more than 1,400 guests. Partygoers enjoyed libations and light bites from 24 city vendors before snapping selfies with an alpaca, giraffes, a prehensile- tailed porcupine and more. “This event is always a lot of fun, and more importantly, it’s an opportunity to educate people about many disappearing species. That’s the mission of today’s modern zoo,” said longtime supporter Sally Wiggin. As everyone made their way through the park, they enjoyed interacting with elephants, watching the tigers roam and dancing to seven bands. “This is Pittsburgh’s wildest party,” said board chair Ed Goncz. “What the zoo represents both locally and internationally with respect to conservation and education is unparalleled. We have something really special here.”
And new to the # SEEN is a young professionals’ group dubbed Young Friends of the Zoo. This organization is hoping to encourage younger people in our communities to take an interest in wildlife conservation and the many educational experiences that the zoo has to offer. “I personally have a passion for animals and great memories of the zoo. Five years ago, when I moved to Pittsburgh, I knew this was one of the places I wanted to support on a deeper level,” said member Katy Tufts. To learn more about the activities and conservation efforts that the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium supports, visit pittsburghzoo. org.