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Middfest folks visit the zoo to gear up for Botswana-themed event

Photos: 'Zoofari' at Cincinnati Zoo

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 8:54 AM Monday, August 2, 2010

CINCINNATI— Middfest supporters can’t easily travel to Botswana, so on Saturday, July 31, they took a trip to the closest equivalent — the Cincinnati Zoo.

Most of the Cincinnati Zoo isn’t dry, arid territory like Botswana, but about 100 Middfest volunteers and supporters saw a number of animals that would live in Botswana, like elephants and rhinoceroses. The occasion was the organization’s annual summer party, which serves as a primer on the featured country.

After a short tram tour of the zoo, the attendees gathered for a dinner featuring special guests, some of whom were human.

The non-human visitors were two of the zoo’s “animal ambassadors” — a baby alligator named Sarasota, and a Brazilian porcupine named Caroline.

Some volunteers petted the alligator, and many clamored around the porcupine, who hopefully approached anyone who might have his favorite food — a banana.

“We’re not going to pet the porcupine,” Middfest supporter Ginny Getter said with a laugh.

Middletown Municipal Court Judge Mark Wall, who was also the co-chair of the Botswana celebration said of Sarasota, “I just hope that’s not the same gator that’s going to play my Miami Redhawks.”

Walter Leap, the other co-chair ,said of the alligator, “We’re going let this one run around and clean up the scraps.”

The evening also featured a performance by the Medasi African Dance Theatre, and an early look at Middfest’s fall events, which will include a dramatic reenactment of “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” which is set in Botswana. There will also be demonstrations of basket-weaving and Botswanian food.

Middfest will run from Oct. 1 through 3 on Donham Plaza and in the City Building.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.

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