Between wise-crackin’ senior pitchwoman Betty White, and actor and local conservationist Ed Begley Jr., there should be lots of squawking at the L.A. Zoo on June 11, and we’re not just talking about the macaws. The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association’s Beastly Ball comes only days after California’s delegate rich primary, which has been causing a flap from one coast to the other.
While politics is sure to come up, the “mane” event here revolves around the lions, tigers and bears.
In keeping with tradition, the 46th annual beastly bash will take place under the stars at the Los Angeles Zoo, celebrating the zoo’s essential work, while honoring wildlife supporters/longtime donors Patricia and Stanley Silver, as well as eco-charged actor and planet steward Ed Begley Jr. Ed is in line to pick up this year’s Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award.
Expect guests to come gussied up in “safari chic,” with loads of wild animal prints, cargo pants and pith helmets on display.
By helping the zoo, they’ll have the rare opportunity to stroll the grounds after dark, getting up close and personal with their animal friends. They’ll also have a chance to get a look at feeding time, catch up with keepers, ask questions and view some of the area’s smaller residents within hands’ reach.
All the while, they’ll wet their whistles with exotic drinks, enjoy world music and dance, as well as have a chance to pay a visit to the zoo’s special “Dinosaurs: Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo” exhibit as they make their way to creatures large and small, and dine on small bites from some of the city’s best eateries. The bash also features live and silent auctions with mobile bidding on hundreds of remarkable items and one-of-a-kind opportunities. You’ll usually find more than 1,000 animal lovers who raise more than $1 million annually for the zoo’s animal conservation, education and community outreach programs.
The awards presentation will honor Patricia and Stanley Silver, whose passion for wildlife has impacted creatures around the world. They have been donors to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for almost 20 years, supporting key capital projects such as the Children’s Discovery Center, Campo Gorilla Reserve, Elephants of Asia, Red Ape Rain Forest and the Rainforest of the Americas. They have traveled the world to experience animals in the wild. Patti’s lifelong enthusiasm for wildlife began when her father took her on safari to Africa, and she has visited gorillas in the wild with Dian Fossey.
And there will be environmental cheers all around when Ed Begley Jr. receives the Mankiewicz Award. The prize recognizes entertainment industry professionals for outstanding leadership in local or global wildlife and environmental conservation. Ed has been considered an environmental leader for many years. He serves on the boards of Green Wish, the Coalition For Clean Air, The Thoreau Institute and the advisory board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and is also active with many other organizations. His work has earned awards from some of the most prestigious environmental groups in the nation, including the California League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Coalition for Clean Air, Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper and the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
Animals showcased at the Beastly Ball include the zoo’s new Tasmanian devil brothers, as well as wombat, sugar glider, echidna, bettong, Komodo dragon and the wallaby. As for amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles, check out the archer fish, Grey’s monitor and poison dart frogs, Chinese giant salamander, green mamba, and Gila monster. On the cuddlier side, you have the zoo’s most popular animals: orangutans, harbor seals, elephants and gorillas. What can you say, but get ready for a roaring good time!