Tzatziki and Sriracha are in for a treat with the return Saturday of the annual Tiger Fun Day at the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens.
Tiger Fun Day is the annual birthday celebration for the zoo’s two Bengal tigers, which both turned 8 years old at the end of June.
The celebration is also a main fundraiser for Friends of the Pana‘ewa Zoo, a nonprofit dedicated to zoo facility improvements, fabricating new animal enclosures, and purchasing animal enrichment items.
The day features lots of fun activities while attendees get the chance to witness the majestic tigers up close as they get special treats.
“This is our first time celebrating Tiger Fun Day since the (Americans with Disabilities Act) renovation project and COVID-19, so it’s been three years. We are very excited to bring it back,” said Mindy Runnells, the Pana‘ewa Recreational Complex administrator. ”This is a celebration fundraiser based on the tigers’ birthdays, and there will be activities available across the zoo.”
Attendees will be able to watch the two tigers open birthday presents that include new enrichment toys and a birthday cake made from meat and bones.
There also will be games, face painting, a scavenger hunt, and tours of the native plants in the garden from volunteers with the Hawaii Forest Association.
The petting zoo also will be open from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for keiki, educators will be speaking about ‘alala and ‘ohia trees, and the gift shop will host a puppet show.
“We have so many volunteers that are ready to help, and it’s so rewarding to see how the community is coming to support,” Runnells said.
According to Runnells, the tigers are getting along and doing very well due to their active lifestyles.
Runnells is spending her second year as the zoo’s administrator coming up with projects for the future and bringing back popular events in full force.
“We’re planning to bring back more events like Tiger Fun Day, and I’m looking to Halloween for the next one. We want to find new ways to get the community back in here to explore,” Runnells said. “I’d love to organize the zoo into geographical areas to tell a cohesive story in the near future, as well. We’d love to update and expand many of our habitats.”
Runnells came to Hawaii Island after spending 17 years as a zookeeper at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, where she worked with reptiles and amphibians and in educational outreach.
“The educational part of a zoo is something I’m very passionate about. People love to see things, but learning about the animals is what fuels the fire of conservation,” Runnells said. “Coming to Hawaii has been amazing. The county has been so welcoming and so friendly. The community and volunteers are wonderful, and we have an amazing crew here.
“The zoo is a beautiful gem.”
To amplify education at the zoo, teachers are given packets and activities for their students to do while they are at the zoo and afterward. Several school groups come through the zoo and are encouraged to use the park as a living classroom.
Runnells predicts that the zoo sees about 1,000 visitors a day that range from tourists from the cruise ships to local families that frequent the zoo for their animal-loving keiki.
“We are one of the most visited parks in the county, and we take great pride in that,” Runnells said. “We’ve had keepers that have worked here for decades that have seen the little kids they used to show around with kids of their own. It’s amazing to see.”
The zoo will be celebrating 45 years of operation this fall.
“We have a lot of exciting plans we want to carry forward, even if they take time,” Runnells said. “With support from Friends of the Zoo, we have a big list we want to keep checking off, so we can lift the zoo up to be as amazing as ever.”
Tiger Fun Day will be the first annual event to come back in full force at the zoo. Those interested can celebrate the majestic tigers from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.
To donate to the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, volunteer at the zoo, or become a Friends of the Pana‘ewa Zoo member, visit the website at hilozoo.org.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.