Eagles Featured at Free Show October 17, 11:45 a.m.
A special Year of the Environment outdoor presentation that focuses on endangered or threatened animal species is set for Wednesday, October 17, at 11:45 a.m. sharp at the Campus Center Quad stage.
Staff and students of America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College will be bringing two eagles: Laramie, a golden eagle that has lived at Moorpark College since the mid-70s and Ghost, a bald eagle that came to the zoo several years ago from Alaska.
“Bald eagles declined in the US due to the unintended effects of the pesticide DDT’s
use but have made a remarkable comeback,” said Professor Gary Wilson.
“When bald eagles disappeared from one of the Channel Islands, golden eagles moved in and greatly impacted the ecology of the islands. Efforts are now underway to return the bald eagle to the Channel Islands.”
The public is invited to come see these magnificent birds and hear their fascinating stories.
This is the second wildlife presentation this semester.
Last month the zoo featured two other threatened species: a Moluccan cockatoo and a chattering lory. Both these species have been affected by the pet trade, said Wilson.
“The willingness for people in the U.S. to pay as much as $2,000 for a Moluccan cockatoo provides a huge incentive for poachers in Indonesia to capture these birds illegally.”
Wilson has been a faculty member in the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program since 1985. The EATM program prepares students to care for endangered animal species and to educate about wildlife and conservation.
Wilson has a masters in Biological Sciences, a bachelors in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, and has trained dolphins, sea lions, and belugas for the US Navy; and handled lions and tigers for public appearances.
During the Year of the Environment, Wilson is coordinating threatened animal species presentations on and off campus. “I have loved the time I have spent interacting with animals and nature. We need to take care of the planet to insure the survival of all of nature including ourselves,” he says.
Moorpark College’s Year of the Environment has been organized to facilitate critical thinking both inside and outside the classroom, while helping to prepare students to be responsible members of the global community.
According to the college’s mission statement for the Year of the Environment , “One of the greatest challenges before us as students and citizens is safeguarding the environment and addressing the effects that our actions have on the biosphere. The academic year 2007-2008 is dedicated to inquiry, dialogue, and action toward the goal of protecting and sustaining our environment. We hereby designate this “The Year of the Environment: From Awareness to Action.”
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The zoo is open weekends - Saturdays and Sundays, from 11am to 5pm.
A special Boo at the Zoo events featuring special activities is set for the weekend of October 27-28. Call or log on for zoo information.
www.moorparkcollege.edu/zoo (805) 378-1441
More information on endangered or threatened species is available at
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ |
