“Pick it up. Pitch it in. Protect Wildlife” that’s the slogan for Fort Wayne Zoo’s new “Pick it up for Penny” Conservation Campaign.
Fort Wayne Zoo news release:
Fort Wayne Zoo Announces “Pick It Up for Penny” Conservation Campaign
Penny the ostrich. Photo courtesy of the Fort Wayne Zoo.
Fort Wayne, Indiana (September 15, 2026) – “Pick it up. Pitch it in. Protect Wildlife” that’s the slogan for Fort Wayne Zoo’s new “Pick it up for Penny” Conservation Campaign. After a plastic cup blew into the African Veldt and led to a partial amputation performed on Penny the ostrich’s right wing, the Fort Wayne Zoo is announcing a “Pick It Up for Penny” campaign to encourage the community to pick up trash to support local wildlife.
As part of the campaign, the Zoo will have:
A mailbox in African Journey, next to the entrance of the Zebra Research Station, for guests to drop off letters of support to Penny and her care team. Attached to the email are photos.
Penny the ostrich’s mailbox. Photo courtesy of the Fort Wayne Zoo.Penny the ostrich’s mailbox. Photo courtesy of the Fort Wayne Zoo.
T-shirts coming soon that have the slogan “Pick It Up for Penny”, with proceeds supporting these local conservation and clean up efforts. T-shirt design and purchase links will be available soon at fwzoo.com.
A pledge for guests, staff, and community partners to commit to picking up trash and helping protect wildlife.
The Zoo will be hosting community clean-up and recycling initiatives to encourage everyone to keep recyclable plastic out of landfills.
Our Teens for Nature Volunteers are leading a Community Action Day on Sept. 27 to pick up trash on bike & park trails in Franke Park. Community members of all ages can sign up during one of our Wild Weekends or online.
“Small actions can make a big impact, which is why we are encouraging everyone in the
community to “Pick it Up for Penny”! Pick it up, pitch it in, protect wildlife: everyone can support
by picking up trash.” Says Rick Schuiteman, Zoo Executive Director & CEO. “We have an incredibly
talented team here at the Zoo who excel at providing exceptional care, but unfortunately, not all
of our local wildlife has that resource, so we have to bring care to them. We can take care of their
environment and ensure that our trash isn’t keeping wildlife from thriving.”
About the Fort Wayne Zoo:
The Fort Wayne Zoo is northeast Indiana’s largest tourist attraction, hosting more than 650,000 guests annually. The Zoo is home to Red Panda Ridge named #6 in USA Today 10 Best Zoo Exhibits for 2024. In 2021, the Zoo was voted Visit Indiana’s “Summer Bucket List Top Attraction” and is consistently named one of the nation’s Top Ten Zoos for Kids by national media outlets.
The Zoo is a conservation leader, investing annually in local, regional, and international efforts to protect wildlife and their habitats. The Zoo cares for more than 1,500 animals and participates in 41 cooperative species survival plan programs and 42 taxon advisory groups, which are critical to supporting threatened species.
As a self-supporting facility, the Fort Wayne Zoo receives no tax dollars for daily operations, unlike most accredited zoos where those dollars fund approximately 40% of their annual operating budgets. The Zoo’s mission is made possible thanks to support derived from admissions, memberships, donations, group picnics, special ticketed events, and other visitation-related activities.
