East Allen Township’s summer camp program recently presented a check to the Lehigh Valley Zoo for its giraffe project.

The $1,019.59 check was presented to the zoo at the board of supervisors’ Sept. 22 meeting.

“I’d like to thank all of the campers who participated in the campaign,” township Recreation Director Chuck Frantz said.

Doreen Carl, development manager for the zoo, provided the board with an update on the giraffe project.

According to Carl, construction on the giraffe exhibit is underway.

“We will have the giraffes here in April,” she said.

The Masai giraffe, she noted, is on the endangered species list.

The zoo also plans to upgrade its Africa exhibits, Carl said.

Overall, the project will cost $700,000, with the zoo securing $500,000 to date.

“We have never raised this kind of money in the history of the zoo,” she said.

Carl referred to the Lehigh Valley Zoo as a “community zoo.” Lehigh Valley residents, she said, generally do not want to drive to Philadelphia to see dynamic animals.

“We will be getting some wildebeests,” she told he board. “We would like to integrate animals that live together in the wild in one exhibit.”

Additionally, the zoo will be receiving two young male elephants which will be held for breeding purposes.

“We’re really excited,” Carl added. “We are the leaders of conservation in the Lehigh Valley. We do global things.”