Virginia Zoo Holds Groundbreaking for Newest Animal Exhibit,
“Asia - Trail of the Tiger”

Bank of America Charitable Foundation to Make Significant Grant

Announcement at Ceremony on Friday, June 20

Norfolk , VA – Construction of the Virginia Zoo's newest exhibit, “ Asia —Trail of the Tiger,” will officially get underway this week as the Zoo holds a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, June 20 at 11:00 a.m. At the event, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will make a special grant announcement at the construction site, inside the Zoo, near the Compass Rose Plaza and water feature.

In addition to the ceremonial dig of the site's first soil, the event will include remarks from community leaders and Zoo supporters, including the Honorable Paul Fraim, Mayor of the City of Norfolk; Greg Bockheim, Zoo executive director; Charles Henderson, Hampton Roads market president, Bank of America; George Clarke, president of Mideastern Builders; Ace Torre, architect for Trail of the Tiger and the 2002 Africa exhibit of Torre Design Consortium, Ltd.; and Carolyn Betz, president of the Virginia Zoological Society Board. The gift announcement will be followed by a reception featuring Asia-themed refreshments.

The Zoo has been engaged in a $16.5 million capital campaign to bring the exotic animals and plants of Asia to Hampton Roads. “Six years ago, the Virginia Zoo opened our Africa exhibit, creating one of our most popular features with natural open exhibit spaces, remarkable animals and lush landscaping,” notes Bockheim.

"Asia will be just as immersive and grand, as we continue our journey to make this a world class zoo. When Asia is completed in 2010, we will be introducing a spectacular community asset to Hampton Roads. It will be a beautiful and exciting place for families to visit, a source of increased education opportunities for the Zoo, and an opportunity to increase our participation in important conservation programs that protect the welfare of our world's most valuable and vulnerable resources – its animals.”

The future Asia exhibit will include whooping, playful primates, bamboo forests and fantastic animals including orangutans, Malayan tapirs, giant hornbills, and more.

The Virginia Zoo is located at 3500 Granby Street in Norfolk . For more information about the groundbreaking or the capital campaign, call Annie Vogt, director of development and communications, at (757) 441-2374, ext. 222.

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