By Mike Fossano

In celebration of the 2012 Memorial Day weekend, the Detroit Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27. On Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, the Zoo will close at the regular time of 5 p.m. The Zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily.

“With all the new and exciting things to see and do, we want to give the community extra time to enjoy their zoo over the holiday weekend,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan.

Holiday visitors can take advantage of the extended hours to check out some of the Detroit Zoo’s most recent arrivals. Bulgan, a male Bactrian camel calf, can be seen in his habitat across from the Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain. The Australian Outback Adventure is hopping with six red kangaroo joeys, and about 20 black-tailed prairie dog pups can be spotted in their habitat.

Mike, Thor and Boo – the orphaned grizzly bear cubs rescued late last year from Alaska – can be seen exploring their new home and frolicking in their pool. For a dose of cuteness with their Vitamin Z, visitors can stop by the Great Apes of Harambee, where 10-month-old female chimpanzee Akira can be found clinging to mom and playing peek-a-boo with her 3-year-old brother.

The newly renovated lion habitat has doubled in size and features a 17-foot-tall glass wall for a closer encounter with the big cats, and a striking new home for an 18-foot reticulated python has been built at the Holden Museum of Living Reptiles.

The Detroit Zoo’s attractions will remain open late as well, including the Tauber Family Railroad and the new Carousel, featuring 33 hand-carved and hand-painted figures. Two new films are showing at the Wild Adventure Ride (“Happy Feet: Mumble’s Wild Ride”) and Wild Adventure 3-D/4-D Theater (“Great Escapes: Life in 4-D”, alternating with old favorite “Dora & Diego’s 4-D Adventure”), located in the Ford Education Center.

Visitors can feast their eyes on the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition – a collection of images from the world’s largest and most prestigious wildlife photography competition – at the Ford Education Center. Science On a Sphere – an animated, hologram-like globe that displays dynamic representations of Earth’s atmospheric, oceanic and land activities – can be experienced at the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery. Both exhibits are free with Zoo admission.