Blank Park Zoo Launches Prank Animal Phone Lines for April Fools' Day

The zoo's new voice mail gags aim to spread laughs without tying up main lines.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:45pm

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Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa has set up a series of prank animal-themed voice mail lines that people can send to friends and family as an April Fools' Day joke. The zoo created characters like Wally Bee, Don Kee, Cass O'Wary, and Mr. Rory Lyon to greet callers with silly messages, allowing the zoo to celebrate the holiday without disrupting their main phone lines.

Why it matters

Zoos and other family-friendly attractions often look for creative ways to engage the public and build excitement around holidays like April Fools' Day. Blank Park Zoo's prank phone lines provide a fun, low-stakes way for people to play a harmless trick on their loved ones while also promoting the zoo's brand and services.

The details

Blank Park Zoo has set up several prank animal-themed voice mail lines that people can share with friends and family. When called, callers will be greeted by characters like Wally Bee, Don Kee, Cass O'Wary, and Mr. Rory Lyon with silly, animal-inspired messages. The zoo says this allows them to celebrate April Fools' Day without tying up their main phone lines.

  • Blank Park Zoo unveiled the prank phone lines on April 1, 2026, which is April Fools' Day.

The players

Blank Park Zoo

A zoo located in Des Moines, Iowa that is launching the prank animal phone lines for April Fools' Day.

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The takeaway

Blank Park Zoo's creative prank phone lines demonstrate how family-friendly attractions can find lighthearted ways to engage the public and build excitement around holidays, without disrupting core business operations.