PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

As of “toaday,” The Detroit Zoo’s Amphibiville has a new leader. Blake Myers, 11, of Oxford, was sworn in as Mayor of Amphibiville on Saturday for a two-year term. Amphibiville is a 2-acre wetland village at the Detroit Zoo that is home to the National Amphibian Conservation Center (NACC).

The Detroit Zoological Society invited candidates ages 7-12 who live in Michigan to enter the race for Mayor of Amphibiville by submitting essays of 100 words or fewer on what they can do to help amphibians.

In Blake’s essay, he vows to create a monthly newsletter called The Amazing Amphibians, organize a 5K race benefitting the NACC and educate others on how to preserve habitats while also creating new ones.

In honor of his victory, a plaque bearing Blake’s name and photo will be displayed in the NACC throughout his term. He also received a plush frog and one-year family membership to the Detroit Zoo.

Amphibiville’s outgoing mayor – Trinity Favazza, 14, of Shelby Township, was on hand for the swearing-in ceremony. Trinity was 9 years old when she became mayor in 2016 and served an unprecedented two terms.

During her tenure, Trinity was one of 10 students nationally recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a President’s Environmental Youth Award. She also submitted a proclamation to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to declare a statewide Amphibian Conservation Awareness Week, which was adopted and set annually for the first week of December.

Called “Disneyland for toads” by The Wall Street Journal when it opened in 2000, the NACC is a world-renowned center for amphibian conservation, care, exhibition and research.  The state-of-the-art facility features a spectacular diversity of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians.