Oriole Beach student adopts otter and exhibit
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News Scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Katie Russell, 6, adopted Tsunami the otter at The Zoo-Northwest Florida for her birthday.

What do you want for your birthday? We hear this question every year, and are usually able to name several gifts that we find desirable. Katie Russell, who attends Oriole Beach Elementary and turned 6 on Christmas Day, was asked what she wanted this year, like any other year. Her answer, however, was anything but ordinary. Russell wanted to forgo the gift giving routine and give to the zoo instead.

Katie loves the animals, and the Zoo in general, so much that she made a decision this year that most 6-year-olds could not. She decided that she wanted a zoo for her birthday. Instead of asking friends and family to buy her toys, clothes or give her money, she asked for donations to help save the zoo.

Katie collected $220 in cash and checks at her birthday party, and gave it to the zoo on Dec. 17. "She also received a Zoo Calendar," said Jodie. "And the money spent on that also contributes to the effort to save the zoo." In addition to the general donation, she adopted one of the otters, Tsunami, because he is her favorite animal.

As the adoptive parent of Tsunami the otter, Katie received a Certificate of Adoption and a decorated paint can that includes Tsunami's biography and a gift card. She will also be invited to experience special activities that aren't available to normal zoogoers. One such activity is Tsunami's birthday celebration, which Katie will get to attend.

It should not be overlooked that Katie made this decision independently, without any influence from others. "I don't know where she came up with the idea," said Mike, her father. "She definitely did not get it from me."

Her mother also stated that she didn't influence Katie's decision. "She was the one that wanted to do this," Jodie said.

Katie, and her mother, Jodie, and father, Mike, live less than 10 minutes from the zoo. The Russell family spends countless days enjoying the animals housed there, and is growing concerned about the threat of loosing the zoo.

"We are only five minutes away so we come here all the time," Jodie said. "We would really hate to loose such a great place."

Katie especially enjoys spending time with the animals, and according to her mother, has always been a huge animal lover. "Katie has always loved animals," Jodie said. "Her favorites are the otters."

In return for Katie's donation, she and all the other children in Northwest Florida have a better chance of enjoying the excitement of going to the zoo for years to come.

"It's truly amazing to me and I was really touched," said Zoo Director, Danyelle Lantz. "I don't think that I was that generous when I was that age."