The Tarangire Elephant Project captured the rare sighting of an elephant moments after its birth in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. The Project will be represented next week at the Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation conference and summit hosted by Woodland Park Zoo
The Woodland Park Zoo will host an international conference and summit next week to support the zoo’s growing role in conservation and its role as an important regional institution.
Nearly 250 zoo and aquarium conservationists, field biologists, wildlife agencies, and conservation organizations from 23 different countries and disciplines will come together for the biennial conference of Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation (ZACC) conference.
Scheduled at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, the 2011 ZACC conference will draw some of the most successful field conservationists in one room to share knowledge and findings, to build stronger conservation bridges between wildlife and local communities, and to establish direct links to zoos, aquariums and their stakeholders.
The conference will include presentations from recognized conservation experts on a variety of pressing environmental issues ranging from human-elephant conflict in Tanzania and technological advances in snow leopard research, to linking human and wildlife health to the environment.
On a global scale, the planet’s precious wildlife is facing the worst extinction crisis since the dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago. The ZACC conference represents a reason for hope of turning the tide of extinction.
“Hosting the ZACC conference underscores our mission of conservation and education at Woodland Park Zoo. We’re very proud to bring together these expert individuals who have dedicated their lives to creating sustainable solutions for wildlife and people in real places around the world,” said Woodland Park Zoo President and CEO Dr. Deborah Jensen.
To celebrate this important global network for wildlife and habitat conservation, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has proclaimed the week of March 7 to 11 to be Woodland Park Zoo Field Conservation Week.
In honor of Woodland Park Zoo Field Conservation Week, half off admission will be offered to visitors wearing green this weekend on March 5th and 6th.
In addition, special keeper talks, discovery stations, and the zoo’s 1,000 animal ambassadors will introduce visitors to critical field conservation projects.
For more information, visit www.zoo.org.
