Minot Zoo Lifts Age Limit So a Fifth-Grader Could Meet Helen the Sloth
The Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, North Dakota, made an exception on November 8, waiving its age limit for close animal encounters so a fifth-grade girl could live out her dream of meeting a sloth.
Sadie Kraft, an elementary school student, had long dreamed of meeting Helen the sloth. The zoo not only relaxed its usual rule requiring participants to be at least 14, it also gifted the encounter free of charge. Helen has lived at Roosevelt Park Zoo since 2020 and has served as an animal ambassador since 2024, appearing at adults' events at the zoo. The zoo said the special arrangement let the girl get close to her favorite animal and gave the whole family an unforgettable experience.
Roosevelt Park Zoo is Minot's community zoo, running animal-ambassador and public education programs that use visitor-animal encounters to teach wildlife conservation. The zoo said it will keep evaluating similar special requests case by case so more children can meet animals and learn about nature.
(Source: Parade)
Source: Parade
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：米诺特市区（资料图）。Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Downtown Minot (file photo). Wikimedia Commons.
