 Des Moines, Iowa – March 30, 2007 – Officials with Great Ape Trust of Iowa announced today the 2007 public visitation program for the world-class research facility in southeast Des Moines. The program begins May 15 and runs through October 30. From May through August, tours will be available to Great Ape Trust members and their guests on a first-come, first-served basis through reservations at www.GreatApeTrust.org. Great Ape Trust has set aside September and October for free educational tours to schools and students.
“Members of Great Ape Trust contribute to breakthrough scientific research, innovative educational experiences and conservation efforts of great apes. We wanted to reward our members for this commitment by providing them an opportunity to visit our campus,” said Jim Aipperspach, operations director at The Trust. “It’s also important for students to learn about Great Ape Trust and our important scientific and conservation work. That’s why we’ve committed two months of free tours this fall for students ranging from middle schools to university graduate programs.”
Aipperspach added that the paid memberships and guest tickets will defray some of the costs of conducting the 2007 visitation program and allow The Trust to provide the free tours to students in the fall.
While membership is required to visit Great Ape Trust from May through August, members are not guaranteed a tour because of limited availability. In mid-April, registrations will begin through The Trust’s Web site, www.GreatApeTrust.org.
“To better accommodate those interested in the Great Ape Trust experience, we will implement an on-line ticketing system that allows visitors to electronically select their own dates and purchase additional tickets with a credit card,” said Aipperspach. “We have a limited number of slots so we suggest members register quickly when the program goes on-line in April.”
Visits will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Group sizes are limited to 30 people per day. Due to the more advanced nature of this experience, Great Ape Trust requires that visitors be at least 10 years old.
Through first-come, first-served reservations at www.GreatApeTrust.org, members of Great Ape Trust will be entitled to receive two tickets and depending on their membership, the opportunity to buy additional tickets for $15 each.
- $35 membership – 2 tickets
- $75 membership – 2 tickets w/option to purchase 2 additional tickets at $15 each
- $250 membership – 2 tickets w/option to purchase 6 additional tickets at $15 each
- $500 membership – 2 tickets w/option to purchase 12 additional tickets at $15 each
- $1,000 membership – 30 person tour
- $2,500 membership – Private, behind-the-scenes tour for small group.
The visitation program was designed by Great Ape Trust scientists to work in concert with their ongoing research into ape intelligence, language, tool use and culture. In addition to a presentation about the scientific work conducted on The Trust’s 230 acre campus, the two-and-a-half hour tour will include an orientation on the plight of great apes in the wild and an overview of Great Ape Trust’s global conservation efforts. If weather permits – and the apes wish to participate – an introduction of great ape residents will be provided to visitors.
| Online registration for the 2007 visitation program begins in mid-April on a first-come, first-served basis and is provided to active members of Great Ape Trust. While membership is required to visit or purchase guest tickets, members are not guaranteed a tour because of limited availability. If you'd like to learn more about becoming a member of Great Ape Trust, go here. |
Great Ape Trust Background
When completed, Great Ape Trust will be the largest great ape facility in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape – bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans – for noninvasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.
Great Ape Trust is dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes. Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and is certified by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). |
Great Ape Trust is certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums
