By Barbara Arnstein
Why wait for the annual visit of the Easter Bunny when you can visit him, a week before Easter? This weekend, Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, kid visitors to the Buffalo Zoo can enjoy the Bunny Treat Trail and meet that human-sized bunny. Children from ages two and a half to twelve who follow the trail, between 8:30-11am, that weekend, can collect goodies at indoor exhibits, plus get up close with animal ambassadors (animals that are used to being around people), and more, that weekend. The admission prices for the Bunny Treat Trail, which include a full day’s admission from 10am-4pm are $25 for General Admission and $20 for members, while kids two and under are admitted free. Those interested in seeing a real rabbit at the zoo can always visit the Desert Cottontails. Fun Facts: Female Desert Cottontails are larger than the males. Unlike other cottontails, they’ve been known to climb trees.
“The most popular animals at the zoo are the gorillas, giraffes and rhinos”, said Lisa Smith, President and CEO of the Buffalo Zoo. On Tuesday, April 7th, at 7pm, at “Rhino Roundup”, she will talk about global rhino conservation efforts, how their initiatives are helping rhinos in the wild, and more. The doors open at 6:30pm, and the evening continues until 8:30pm. Admission is $20. A new, futuristic part of the zoo is the Virtual Reality Experience in the M & T Bank’s Rainforest Falls building. For seven dollars, participants can choose among three virtual reality experiences, which separately involve dinosaurs, silverback mountain gorillas and migrating animals. 
If paying $55.50 for an adult and two children to visit the zoo is more than you want to spend on an outing, then how about $22.50? Or even just $19.50? An adult and two kids can enjoy an entire day there for thirty or thirty-three dollars less than the regular admission cost for all three, by using the little-known Adventure Pass. Thanks to the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, an adult library card holder under sixty-five years of age can get a big discount rate at the Buffalo Zoo simply by borrowing the pass, and then paying only the admission price for an adult (in advance). Those calling for a discount pass rate must mention the pass. If the cardholder is sixty-five or older, they only have to pay the zoo’s (regular) reduced senior ticket rate of $19.50, which also enables them to bring one or two children to the zoo along with them for free. Everyone will enjoy seeing the many animals, including lions, sea lions, polar bears and much more. Fun Fact: A recent adorable addition to the Rainforest Falls area is the baby ocelot, Luca, who just turned ten months old.
The pass is good for a week, and although it can only be used once at the zoo, there are many other places it can also be used. They include: the Buffalo Museum of Science, the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, the Erie Zoo in Pennsylvania, the National Comedy Center and the LucyDesi Museum, the Roger Tory Peterson Institution, the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, and more. L.J. Martin, Assistant Director of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, said, “It’s a great resource offered by our libraries”.
The Buffalo Zoo is located at 300 Parkside Avenue in Buffalo, NY. It is open from 10am-4pm every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fun Fact: Last year it celebrated its 150th anniversary. For more information, go to buffalozoo.org or call (716) 837-3900.