Hogle Zoo plans benefit Monday for cheetahs

Hogle Zoo's annual benefit for cheetah conservation, the Eighth Cheetah Cha-Cha, will be on Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Utah Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), proceeds will go to the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia and Kenya, Africa. Raising awareness of the endangered cheetah and the challenges the big cat faces to survive in the wild is the goal.

According to the CCF, "the cheetah has suffered from inbreeding, high infant mortality, loss of habitat, a reduction in its prey base, conflicts with livestock farming and a reduced ability to survive in parks and reserves due to the presence of larger predators." The cheetah is literally in a race for survival and is on the United States' Endangered Species list. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to researching and implementing strategies for conserving the cheetah in its natural habitat.

The event is free with park admission, with a small fee for games and cheetah merchandise. It features storytelling, games, crafts and face painting. Guests can also visit with keepers who take care of Hogle Zoo's 11-year-old male cheetah, Wakati. And there will be live music throughout the day, including African drumming.

Also, on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m., Mary Wykstra, the director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Kenya, will share her experiences of working in Africa to save the endangered species. Wykstra, a former Hogle Zoo employee, will be give the free lecture at the EdZooCation Station, near the zoo entrance.

For information, call 584-1729 or visit www.hoglezoo.org.