Zoo animals will have their own egg hunts over Easter weekend

Hunting for Easter eggs is fun for everyone, even the animals at Naples Zoo.

Throughout the holiday weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 10-12, zoo guests will be able to watch animals claw and gnaw their way into special treat-filled eggs. Different animals will be treated each day to papier-mâché eggs that have been filled with goodies especially for them (volunteer residents of local Brookdale Senior Living communities filled the eggs). The feeding schedule is as follows:

. 10:30 a.m. each day - Fosas

. 11 a.m. each day - Alligators . Noon each day - Red river hogs

. 1:30 p.m. Friday only - Lions

. 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday - Monkeys, lemurs and apes on Primate Island

. 2:30 p.m. each day - Hard-boiled eggs and cookies for predators in the open-air Safari Canyon theater

. 3:30 p.m. Sunday only - Alligators

. 4 p.m. Sunday only - Leopards (also meet Zookeeper David Tetzlaff)

In addition to the special feedings, the Easter Bunny will make appearances from 9:30-10:30 a.m., from noon to 12:45 p.m. and from 1:45-2:25 p.m. each day in front of Safari Canyon. While visiting the zoo this weekend, families can also have fun searching the colorful interpretive graphics for wild answers to a special scavenger hunt. One winning group will be picked each day to receive a free family or grandparent membership to the zoo.

The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the last ticket for admission sold at 4 p.m. Admission for ages 13-64 is $19.95; 65 and older, $18.95; 3-12, $11.95; 2 and younger, free. Zoo members are admitted free.

For more information, call 262-5409 or visit www.napleszoo.com.