Visit with Donkey Kong at the LA Zoo for Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

Written by Brandon Hofer on May 21, 2013

DKC Returns News: Participate in the Donkey Kong interactive experience to help celebrate the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D on the Nintendo 3DS.

Donkey Kong Returns is hitting the Nintendo 3DS on May 24 and Nintendo is marking the occasion by partnering with the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens on Memorial Day weekend (May 24-27) to host an event on the Los Angeles Zoo grounds.

The four-day event will feature fun activities for all members of the family, including an interactive experience at the Campo Gorilla Reserve, various demo stations where attendees can play the Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D game and coupon giveaways for $5 off the game at participating GameStop retail stores. For the weekend, the gorilla area will be temporarily renamed the “Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at Campo Gorilla Reserve.”

“Fans will get a chance to spend time with Donkey Kong and some of his friends from the animal kingdom at the L.A. Zoo this Memorial Day weekend,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “They’ll be able to experience a fun day with Nintendo at the zoo and play Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.”

One of the weekend’s main events, a “Donkey Kong Interactive Experience,” allows visitors to watch L.A. Zoo staff feed the real-life gorillas from giant cardboard barrels that are inspired by the barrels featured in the video game. This friendly, educational activity is a one-of-a-kind experience for families and a treat for the gorillas. In addition to the feeding, there will be opportunities for fans to take pictures with the costumed Donkey Kong character around the zoo.

“Our gorillas have never had a visit from a celebrity of Donkey Kong’s stature,” said John R. Lewis, director of the Los Angeles Zoo. “All the planned activities for the weekend fit perfectly in line with the family-friendly environment of the zoo, as well as bring awareness to the animals in the gorilla reserve.”

The original Donkey Kong Country Returns game has been rebuilt from the ground up for ease of play on Nintendo 3DS. Players control iconic character Donkey Kong as he runs, jumps, blasts, rides and pounds his way through a series of beautiful, challenging, side-scrolling levels. The upcoming Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is optimized for portable play and features a new mode, eight additional levels and stunning 3D graphics.

Will any of our LA readers take advantage of this event at the L.A. Zoo & Botanical Gardens? Who is planning on picking up the game on the 3DS?