Eight-year-old Aaron Adamo of New Castle, Lawrence County, this week became the 1 millionth visitor to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium this year.

The boy and his family arrived at the Highland Park zoo at about 11 a.m. Tuesday. They received a lifetime zoo membership, a $500 shopping credit for the zoo's gift shops and a behind-the-scenes tour for 10 people.

This was the third year in a row that visits to the zoo topped 1 million and the earliest the milestone was achieved. Last year the zoo welcomed its 1 millionth visitor on Dec. 27, and in 2007 that visit occurred on Dec. 7, according to a zoo news release.

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