Northeast Wisconsin Zoo throws a "Tail" Gate Zoo prepares for giraffe in 2005 By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle The NEW Zoo will be home to a giraffe starting next summer. The process is a lot of work, and that work included a day of play Saturday. The NEW Zoo's third annual Tail Gate party attracted at least 6,000 visitors to the zoo Saturday. The annual Tail Gate event raises $10,000-$20,000 to help cover the zoo's operating expenses. Zoo staff and volunteers are running a campaign to fund the creation of a habitat to house the giraffe. The giraffe's habitat, which will cost about $800,000, will consist of a raised walkway so zoo patrons can have an eye-to-eye encounter with the long-necked animal. Visitors will be able to hand-feed the giraffe, said zoo director Neil Anderson, noting a giraffe's 16-inch tongue acts like a hand to reach out and take food from the hands of mesmerized visitors. The Tail Gate event featured numerous inflatable play attractions, including a slide, maze and jumping tent. The inflatable attractions were sponsored by Peter Piper's Pickles. Three Green Bay Packers players donated their time by tossing footballs with children and sitting on a dunk tank, waiting a watery fate. Packers defensive lineman Kenny Peterson threw footballs, but surrendered his turn at the dunk tank to his teammates, rookie cornerback Joey Thomas and second-year defensive tackle James Lee. "I'm going to try to weasel my way out of it," Peterson said. On a more serious note, he added, "It's good to see the community come together and come out and have a good time on this beautiful day," Peterson said, "I'm glad to be a part of it." While volunteering for three hours to raise money for the zoo, he said he happens to be an animal lover. "But I don't like frogs. I hate frogs," he said. It's their large eyes and ugly skin Peterson said he doesn't like. Anderson said the Tail Gate event is a significant fund-raiser for the zoo, which is not supported by tax money. There are only six self-supported zoos in the country out of the 213 that are accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, he said. Because it's not funded by tax dollars, the zoo is less impacted by a shrinking county budget, Anderson said, adding, "As long as the people want to support their zoo, we're going to have an outstanding zoo." Joseph Ledwell, 9, of Green Bay said it was fun to see Packers players, but it was also fun to see the animals. "I like the penguins because they're funny," he said about the water-loving birds' failed attempts to fly. As visitors purchased food, they listened to music by Bill Jorgenson, a bluegrass artist inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. Marion Murzello of Appleton said she brought her daughter and her daughter's friend to the event. She most liked the activities for the kids, she said. Although, she said, she has a special affinity for the Packers. "I love the Green Bay Packers," she said, "You can't live here without backing the Pack." The atmosphere was pleasing to Ron Smith, a Wisconsin Rapids resident. "My kids are having a good time. The food's good, the music's good," he said. The otter was his family's favorite attraction. "We just sat their and watched it for 30-45 minutes," he said.