Are you ready to join the camel caravan? We have exciting news that a new Bactrian camel companion will be heading north soon to join Knobby at the Alaska Zoo. This new arrival follows in the footsteps of late camel Mary Lu and zoo supporters N.E. "Knobby" and Mary Ellen Segelhorst, who first brought camels to the Alaska Zoo in the early 1990's. The two remained ardent supporters of the zoo and camels, with their estate now continuing their legacy of support for our mission.

With this new camel arriving soon and the recent move of the Tibetan yak herd to their new home across the trail, we have an opportunity to use this valuable real estate to expand the camel habitat. This expansion will include new fencing, a sandy area which the camels will enjoy during summer months, a pole barn for standing shelter to aid in joint health and an elevated platform which will allow visitors to have camel encounters with a closer vantage point.

Our goal is to reach $50,000 in donations for this habitat expansion by December 31st. This effort will begin on Giving Tuesday, December 2nd. On this day, we hope to jumpstart fundraising for this project through public donations of $12,000 to match an additional $12,000 offered by a generous zoo supporter. Every dollar you donate will go twice as far on Giving Tuesday!

As an added bonus, zoo staff will be going LIVE on Facebook on Giving Tuesday with Knobby the camel at 10am, 12pm and 2pm AK time. While we will be accepting donations online throughout the day to reach our $12,000 goal in public donations, these live sessions on Facebook will allow you to get to know Knobby and learn about his life at the zoo. We will discuss his personality, care, the habitat project and the many fascinating facts about this species whose wild counterparts live in the Gobi Desert. We hope you will join us in making this expansion a reality!

Donations above the $12,000 public goal on Giving Tuesday will apply toward the overall project goal of $50,000. If we exceed this overall project number, donations will go toward animal care and zoo operations in our General Fund. Thank you for your support! Photo of Knobby by Zookeeper Sarah.