MEDIA PAGE
Contact Allen at: (317) 273-1957 or anyhuis@hotmail.com
Jon at: jjwassner@inbox.com
or our Publisher at: (203) 469-0214 or admin@intrepidtraveler.com
or our Publisher at: (203) 469-0214 or admin@intrepidtraveler.com
Allen Nyhuis
"Nyhuis" rhymes
with "My Goose"
ALLEN has been writing about zoos since 1994, when his first book (The Zoo Book) was published. He's written for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and has been interviewed by USA Today, as well as many radio and TV stations across the nation. In his travels, he's visited all 50 states, Canada, and 13 European nations. Often with one of his 4 children, he has toured over 200 zoological parks. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and children. <Read Complete Bio>
Jon Wassner
where he once worked,
at the Indianapolis Zoo
JON has worked as a zookeeper for 3 zoos. Since childhood, he has been a zoo fanatic, pushing his family to include zoos on cross-country vacations. His list of zoos toured is now up to 70. Jon's passion is exhibit design, as illustrated by his Sichuan Takin Exhibit at the Potawatomi Zoo (he designed it!) Jon lives in Indianapolis with his wife and cat. <Read Complete Bio>
Allen and Jon can tell you:
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Why all zoos are not the same, why you should visit another zoo
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How a day at a great zoo compares well with a theme park visit
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What they like best about your hometown zoo
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What amazing new zoo exhibits are opening this year in the USA
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What animals would no longer exist -- if not for zoos
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Updates on news and controversies involving zoos, such as:
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Pandas from China
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Elephants in zoos
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San Francisco tiger tragedy
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Unexpected animal deaths (or births) in zoos
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Why did Newt Gingrich write the Foreword for the book
< Allen's Interview Notes > < Jon's Interview Notes >
Downloads: Press Release (PDF) Press Release (MS Word)
Book Cover (High Res) Book Cover (Low Res)
Radio Interviews: The Travel Queen: July 19, 2008 <Listen>
Did You Know?
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With more than 150 million annual visitors, America's zoos attract more people than all of the major pro sports combined.
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Based on a 2004 survey, we estimate that fewer than 10% of all zoo visitors are tourists. We aim to change that!
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The typical family of 4 will pay over $250 per day for admission and parking at a major theme park. By comparison, that same family of 4 pays an average of $37 for a full day at a great zoo.
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The average "best" zoo (in our book) has nearly 3,000 animals of almost 400 different species.
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Only 4 USA zoos exhibit Giant Pandas. Only 9 have Koalas. Only 3 zoos with Dolphins, 3 zoos have Manatees, and similarly, only 3 exhibit Kiwi birds. We can tell you where.
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Tourists going on safari to Africa look to photograph the famous "Big Five" animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo). Only 1 USA zoo has all five of them!
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Two of every 3 adults at the zoo visits with a child -- thus the emphasis on children's zoos.
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"A fantastic resource for people of all ages. If you're hooked on zoos like I am, you'll treasure this book!"
