Local Girl Scouts donate more than $20,000 to Milwaukee Co. Zoo

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – The Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Southeast donated more than $20,000 to the Milwaukee County Zoo on Friday.

The Girl Scouts presented a $20,035 check to zoo officials in honor of World Elephant Day.

More than 3,000 girls raised the money through cookie sales to help the zoo's costs of building a new elephant exhibit.

“They [Girl Scouts] were able to choose to donate part of their earnings to the Milwaukee County Zoo,” Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Southeast Director of Product Program Wendy Dahl said. “Having them give at that young age… it’s moving. We had no idea it would get this big.”

The zoo accepted the check a few days ahead of World Elephant Day on Sunday.

The day hopes to teach people about elephants and bring awareness to conservation efforts.

“Elephants are endangered in the wild,” Milwaukee County Zoo public relations coordinator Jennifer Diliberti said. “[We want people] making that connection that we need to save them for future generations.”

The zoo’s new elephant exhibit is expected to open next year.