Palm Beach Zoo Debuts 'Rhythm of the Wild'

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
Photos by Gerry and Pamela Barker

If you enjoy music, food and the opportunity to hear the stories behind some of the Palm Beach Zoo's most iconic animals, you'll want to explore "Rhythm in the Wild," the Palm Beach Zoo's new springtime music series.

Now running through April 25 on select evenings from 6-9 pm, guests acan expect intimate animal encounters and even a surprise or two along with the music, and no two evenings are alike. 

We were there on Valentine's Day, along with our Cate, our granddaughter. Just after we entered, Cate had a close encounter with two leafy friends on stilts, who welcomed us to the event. Appropriately, the band playing that night was Leafy Greens, specializing in Americana/folk music.

Our first stop was into the "Tropics of the Americas," past some very chatty macaws, to listen to a talk about conservation while Zooka, one of the zoo's magnificent jaguars, paced back and forth in the Jaguar Habitat. The zoo's conservation efforts will help assure jaguars and other wildlife will be preserved for Cate and future generations.

Aside from the event itself, the zoo overall takes on a whole new persona at night, where softly-lighted pathways exude the feeling of trekking into a jungle. But even better, this jungle has concession stands, and the animals around you are safely secured in their own habitats.

There are 33 "Rhythm in the Wild" events set, with different big cat conservation  themes each month. February features Jaguars, while March will focus on Florida Panthers and in April, Malaysian Tigers. Tickets are adults, $19.95, and children $17.95. Proceeds support Palm Beach Zoo’s conservation programs, and for more information, visit palmbeachzoo.org/rhythm.

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'Rhythm in the Wild' Slideshow