Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Nature Zoo Tour Kicks Off On Earth Day

Hosted by PBS' Nature Series and Toyota, Tour Will Highlight Endangered Species Conservation

CONTACT: Steve Feldman, AZA, (301)562-0777, x 252 or Jackie Marks, AZA, (301)562.0777, x 236

Silver Spring, Maryland (April 16, 2008) PBS'- NATURE series and its corporate sponsor, Toyota, are teaming with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to kick off a national zoo tour on Earth Day weekend. The partners have announced a tour of nine zoos to increase awareness of the need for endangered species' conservation, and show how people and environmentally-responsible companies can help support these efforts.

"Members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums meet high standards for animal care and conservation; PBS' NATURE series is the highest quality television programming; and Toyota has the highest commitment to environmental stewardship," said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. "This is a best-in-class partnership, and we know that the millions of people who visit AZA-accredited zoos will appreciate and enjoy this initiative."

"NATURE's mission has always been to show people the beauty and struggles of wildlife and the environment in the hope that they will gain an appreciation for it," said Fred Kaufman, Executive Producer of NATURE. "This Zoo Tour enables us to reach the public in a very personal way with that message. We're grateful that our corporate sponsor, Toyota, is funding this initiative."

The NATURE Zoo Tour will provide the foundation for a variety of activities for all ages at zoos around the country, from educational workshops and lectures to special games and prizes, all geared to spreading the word about wildlife conservation and earth-friendly lifestyles. Throughout the Tour, Toyota will sponsor public events and showcase its hybrid technology and NATURE will disseminate information about the series and its resources.

Tour dates are booked at these AZA-accredited zoos this spring and summer:

April 19, Denver, Colorado
Denver Zoo, Party for the Planet™ Earth Day event
April 20, Chicago, Illinois
Lincoln Park Zoo, Green Apple Festival April 20
April 26-27, Dallas, Texas
Dallas Zoo, Party for the Planet™ as part of Dallas Roars
May 10, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati Zoo—Zoo Babies event
May 17-18, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Zoo, Bernstein Bears event
May 17-18, New York, New York
Bronx Zoo, Zoo Cruise
May 24-26, Portland, Oregon
Oregon Zoo, Memorial Day weekend event
May 31-June 1, Boston, Massachusetts
Zoo New England's Stone Zoo, Black Bear Celebration
July 12-12, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City Zoo, Kid's Fun Fest

NATURE, which airs nationally Sundays on PBS, is public television's leading showcase for natural history and wildlife films. This award-winning series has raised the environmental consciousness of millions of Americans by celebrating the beauty, diversity and value of the Earth's species and habitats.

About NATURE
NATURE is produced by Thirteen/WNET New York for PBS. Celebrating its 26th season, NATURE has been honored with over 450 national and international industry awards for its programs about wildlife and natural history and has won every major award including three Peabody Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, eight News and Documentary Emmy Awards, and six Genesis Awards. Additional support for NATURE is provided by Canon U.S.A., Inc., the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the nation's public television stations. Watch NATURE Sundays at 8pm (ET) on PBS (check local listings). For more information, log on to www.pbs.org/nature.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and currently operates 13 manufacturing plants here. There are more than 1,700 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2.9 million vehicles in 2007. Toyota directly employs over 43,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $21 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com.

About AZA
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is America's leading accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums, and admits only those institutions meeting rigorous, mandatory standards. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. To learn more, please visit www.aza.org.

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