Who/What: Hippos, sea otters and Visayan warty pigs receive heart-shaped enrichment treats to celebrate Valentine's Day. The celebration features shiny, red heart-shaped ice treats for sea otters (10:30 a.m.), heart-shaped boxes filled with fruit and vegetables for the warty pigs (10:50 a.m.) and a Valentine-treat sculpture for the hippos (11:10 a.m.).

When: Friday, Feb. 13, at 10:30 a.m.

Where: Media should meet Bill or Linda at Gate D. Public may see the enrichment at the Steller Cove, hippo and warty pig viewing areas.

Why: This is the ninth year special Valentine's enrichment treats have been given to Oregon Zoo animals. The zoo is internationally renowned for its enrichment programs, which mentally stimulate the animals and provide them with the opportunity to play, hunt and forage. The zoo is always looking for innovative ways to keep the animals engaged for their overall well-being.

OREGON ZOO ANIMALS TREATED TO VALENTINE'S DAY SURPRISES
Zookeepers show their love for hippos, sea otters, warty pigs

PORTLAND, OR -- Roses are nice, chocolates are too, but animals crave other treats at the Oregon Zoo. Keepers will be spreading the love Friday, Feb. 13, beginning at 10:30 a.m., with some nontraditional Valentine's Day gifts for the zoo's sea otters, Visayan warty pigs and hippos.

A valentine made of ice might not be the best thing to give your sweetheart in the wintertime, but nothing could be tastier for a sea otter. The zoo's festivities kick off at 10:30 a.m. when the sea otters receive heart-shaped ice treats filled with shrimp and mussels.

The Visayan warty pigs join the fun at 10:50 a.m. with valentines from their keepers: heart-shaped boxes stuffed with their favorite fruits and vegetables. And the love keeps flowing at the hippopotamus exhibit, where Valentine food sculptures are sure to entice the hippos out of the water at 11:10 a.m.

This is the ninth year that special Valentine's Day enrichment treats have been handed out to zoo residents. The Oregon Zoo is known internationally for its enrichment programs, which mentally stimulate the animals, and provide them with the opportunity to play, hunt and forage. 

After watching the animals receive their gifts, visitors can pick up some sweets for their sweethearts in the zoo's gift shop. Purchase four pieces of delicious homemade fudge, and receive a fifth piece free.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington's pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive $1 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $2 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.