Columbus Zoo in Ohio to welcome 2 millionth visitor for ‘09, breaking yearly attendance record

By Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — One of the nation’s largest zoos is set to reach an annual attendance record of more than 2 million visitors.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Tuesday expects to welcome its 2 millionth guest for 2009 and plans to shower the lucky person with gifts including an assortment of books by the zoo’s celebrity zookeeper, Jack Hanna, and four free season passes for 2010.

Hanna has helped to raise the profile of the central Ohio zoo through his many appearances with animals on talk shows including David Letterman’s.

The Columbus Zoo says this year’s attendance breaks the record set in 2008, when the opening of the Zoombezi (zoom’-BEE’-zee) Bay water park helped draw 1.86 million people to the zoo.

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