GEICO Sponsors Conservation Efforts through Traveling Gecko Exhibit

In conjunction with the San Diego Zoo and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), GEICO recently kicked off a national conservation campaign featuring a live gecko exhibit, the GEICO Gecko, and a series of animated television commercials.

The exhibit is at the Children's Zoo, which is part of the San Diego Zoo, from January 5 to February 17. The exhibit includes giant day geckos, native to Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands. The GEICO Gecko costume character also will appear at the zoo every weekend.

While the GEICO Gecko may put the topic of car insurance in the minds of some visitors, his official role is to publicize the work of wildlife conservation, according to Tony Nicely, chairman of GEICO.

"We are proud to support the work of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums," Nicely said. "Our Gecko has proven to be a powerful spokescreature for our insurance products. Now he's taking on an additional assignment to help promote the wildlife conservation work done by zoos and aquariums across America."

The three-year partnership between GEICO and AZA will take the traveling GEICO Gecko exhibit to AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across the country. At each stop GEICO will make a contribution to wildlife conservation.

In addition, GEICO will be a lead sponsor for AZA's Earth Day Party for the Planet(tm).

 "The power of the GEICO Gecko to reach the public, combined with the power of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums to reach 157 million visitors every year, is a winning combination," said Jim Maddy, AZA president and CEO. "We are grateful that GEICO has made such a major commitment to wildlife conservation."

- U.S. Insurance News