GEICO insurance company said the gecko lizard character it usesfor advertising will promote the cause of zoo conservation.

The Chevy Chase, Md.-based auto insurer, the Association of Zoosand Aquariums (AZA), and the San Diego Zoo announced the kick-offtoday of a nationwide tour featuring a live gecko exhibit, theGEICO Gecko costume character, and a series of animated televisioncommercials.

“We are proud to support the work of AZA-accredited zoos andaquariums,” said GEICO Chairman Tony Nicely.

He said the British-accented lizard is “a powerfulspokescreature for our auto and motorcycle insurance products. Nowhe's taking on an additional assignment to help promote thewildlife conservation work done by zoos and aquariums acrossAmerica. We know he'll be great at spreading the word.”

The traveling GEICO Gecko exhibit will be located from Jan.5-Feb. 17 in the San Diego Zoo's Children's Zoo, featuring giantday geckos, a unique group of lizards native to Madagascar and theIndian Ocean islands.

GEICO and the zoo groups' announcement said visitors will havethe chance to meet the GEICO Gecko costume character at the zooevery weekend the exhibit is there.

It was explained that a three-year partnership between GEICO andthe AZA will involve taking the traveling GEICO Gecko exhibit toAZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across the United States. At eachstop GEICO will make a contribution to wildlife conservation.

GEICO will also be a lead sponsor for AZA's Earth Day Party forthe Planet. The GEICO Gecko is already being used to help zoos andaquariums, with television and radio appearances highlighting hiswild cousins.

AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy noted, “The power of the GEICOGecko to reach the public combined with the power of AZA-accreditedzoos and aquariums to reach 157 million visitors every year is awinning combination. We are grateful that GEICO has made such amajor commitment to wildlife conservation.”

GEICO is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies,and AZA is a nonprofit organization with more than 200 accreditedmembers dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in theareas of conservation, education, science and recreation.