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CBeebies, Â鶹Éç Worldwide's channel for pre-schoolers, has concluded a two year partnership agreement with the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, which operates Sydney's Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, in regional NSW.

CBeebies will produce educational interstitials entitled ZooBeebies, a series of 20 x 90 second fun and informative stories about animals presented by a real zoo keeper, Gabe, for broadcast on the channel.

It will also work with the Zoos to create an interactive play structure to encourage children to learn through play at Taronga Zoo and it will implement similar themed branding at the children’s playground at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

"Every year, NSW's two great Zoos are enjoyed by more than 100,000 children under the age of four. Partnering with Taronga offers CBeebies a unique opportunity to practically illustrate to parents and carers how we promote learning through play.

"Both organisations share an ethos which seeks to encourage a lifelong love of learning. ZooBeebies is a marvelous on-air and on-ground celebration of animals and conservation," said Amanda McGregor, Â鶹Éç Worldwide Channels' Director of Marketing.

A Zoo spokesman said: "The Zoos are raising awareness of the urgent needs of wildlife among all parts of the community and provided comprehensive curriculum-based conservation education to students. It’s never too early to get children interested in wildlife."

Shot on location at Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos, ZooBeebies features animals from the zoos' 31 different species - from Australian natives to insects and farm animals - that particularly appeal to pre-school children.

ZooBeebies will engage Australian children with simple messages about conservation and endangered species and ask questions such as: how do you build a frog house? What is it like to have a pouch? How smart are pigs?

ZooBeebies first interstitials are currently on-air supporting Animal Funtime, a programming stunt which includes a new segment "Five at 5" showcasing the best animal content at 5pm each weeknight.

The week starts with the chirpy and cheerful community of 3rd & Bird on Mondays; followed up the lovable barnyard characters in Big Barn Farm on Tuesdays; the eco-warriors of Green Balloon Club on Wednesdays; the unique documentary aimed at pre-schoolers, Little Big Cat on Thursdays; and finish with two different worlds of Opposite Town in Harry and Toto on Fridays. At 'Animal Funtime' kids will be sure to go wild!!

The interactive play structure concepts are in development and are due to be in place by 2010.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About CBeebies
CBeebies provides a mixed-genre portfolio of pre-school and early-school programming created to encourage "learning through play" for boys and girls aged six and under.

Our audiences are curious, natural learners and they love to laugh.  And we believe to be successful we need to provide them with programmes that are distinctive, high quality and original. Our portfolio blends music, movement, storytelling, arts & crafts, simple science, natural history, puzzles and animation, all in a fun but safe environment. 

In the UK, CBeebies is the No. 1 children's preschool channel. Internationally, the channel launched in India in April 2007, followed by launches in Singapore, Hong Kong and Poland that year. In 2008, the channel continued its international roll-out, with launches in Indonesia, Latin America, Africa, Australia and the U.S.

In Australia, CBeebies is an advertising-free, safe environment for children. The programming emphasises educational entertainment and is supported by the core Â鶹Éç values, ensuring it’s trustworthy, reliable and informative

Dominic Schreiber/Linda Deubel