With Valentine's Day and some big football game quickly approaching, Ross Park Zoo is all about joining the fun while teaching about animals and the environment.

Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News
Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News
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The zoo's community education coordinator, Rachel Davenport is the guest on the weekly local public affairs program Southern Tier Close Up talking about the Courtship Tails Valentine tour that allows people a peek at the personal lives and mating rituals of many of the animals at the Morgan Road, Binghamton zoo.

Davenport jokes about keeping the conversation clean when talking about the adults-only tour of the zoo coming up February 16 and 17.  The event, which has been going on for over 10 years, is an annual fund-raiser for the zoo and features refreshments as well as little-known facts about animal romance.  The sessions often sell-out.

Also, in honor of the big football game this weekend, Ross Park Zoo is having its second annual Penguin Bowl where the zoo's flightless, funny, flippered friends take over their own gridiron for a February 3 display of avian athleticism. The event is being live-streamed on social media with viewers given the chance to donate to the zoo.

More information on Courtship Tails and the Penguin Bowl as well as opportunities for Wild Encounters with penguins, sloths and red pandas can be found at www.rossparkzoo.com.

Southern Tier Close Up is heard Saturday at 6 am on 98.1 The Hawk.

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