The Los Angeles Zoo Announces an Interactive Draw-Along Series Beginning Saturday, April 18; Bringing Awareness to the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and Endangered Species Day in “Wild for the Planet” Virtual Efforts
April 14, 2020 (Los Angeles, CA) — As part of its “Bringing the Zoo to You” initiative, offering educational and entertaining activities and content from the Los Angeles Zoo into animal-lovers’ homes during the COVID-19 crisis, the L.A. Zoo announces a partnership with L.A.-based artist Brian Kesinger, a 20-year veteran of Walt Disney Feature Animation and a Supervising Director for Disney Television Animation.
Going virtual for 2020, L.A. Zoo kicks off its “Wild for the Planet” event with a series of Facebook Live draw-alongs taking place on the L.A. Zoo Facebook page for four consecutive Saturdays, starting this Saturday, April 18th. “Wild for the Planet” is an annual springtime celebration from Earth Day (April 22) to Endangered Species Day (May 15.)
Over the course of four weeks, Brian Kesinger will draw four endangered animals that the L.A. Zoo has helped bring back from the brink of extinction:
- Week 1 (April 18): California Condor
- Week 2 (April 25): Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog
- Week 3 (May 2): Peninsular Pronghorn
- Week 4 (May 9): Western Lowland Gorilla
In addition, Brian Kesinger created an original animal babies coloring book exclusive to the L.A. Zoo to celebrate the oodles of adorable animal babies born at the Zoo this spring. The brand-new “L.A. Zoo Spring Babies Coloring Book” is available on the LAZoo.org website now and uses the award-winning photography of Zoo photographer, Jamie Pham.
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The L.A. Zoo is also planning to launch an official T-Shirt Design Contest later this spring, for which Brian Kesinger will participate as an expert judge, evaluating artwork submitted by the public. Details coming soon.
WHAT
L.A. Zoo Presents: Animal Draw-Alongs with Brian Kesinger
WHEN
Four Saturdays at 1 p.m. (PDT) – April 18; April 25; May 2; May 9
WHERE
To participate in each draw-along, tune in to Facebook Live on the L.A. Zoo Facebook page: Facebook.com/LAZoo
WHY
To bring awareness to the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22 and Endangered Species Day on May 15 by creating original animal-related activities for everyone to enjoy.
L.A. ZOO
The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.8 million visitors each year, is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare and has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife.
GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION (GLAZA)
The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), which has supported the Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades and provides funding for and operates seven essential Zoo departments, has 55,000 member households representing more than 210,000 adults and children. As evidence of the Zoo’s popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.