Omaha zoo blacks out exhibits to raise awareness about extinction

[Omaha Steve]

CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
A ring-tailed lemur eats a banana injected with medicine.


http://www.omaha.com/go/omaha-zoo-blacks-out-exhibits-to-raise-awareness-about-extinction/article_246075d8-fb19-11e4-9cb2-7b9b82fe65dc.html

POSTED: FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 10:43 AM
By Chris Peters / World-Herald staff writer

Animals are vanishing from their exhibits at the zoo today.

Ring-tailed lemurs, red-collared brown lemurs and radiated tortoises are gone from their exhibits at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium until 5 p.m. In front of their blacked-out spaces sit graphics explaining why.

Today is Endangered Species Day. The lemurs and tortoises are considered endangered in their native Madagascar. The zoo is blacking out their exhibits for the day to raise awareness about these and other species facing extinction.

The same thing is happening in Ashland at the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari, where swift foxes are gone from their exhibit.

FULL story at link.

I babysat a sick granddaughter the other day. Yep I have it now. I may not be on much the next few days. It just depends on how I feel full of cold meds.

OS

[misterhighwasted]

1. Kudos to the Omaha Zoo. Hope all others follow their lead.

I have visited the magnificent Omaha Zoo.
Appreciate the work they do & thanks for the post.
Perhaps a city to city challenge for all zoos around the country is in serious order.

[MoonRiver]

2. That is great!

I have mixed feelings about zoos, but this one is doing something very important. People need to know about the horrors we are inflicting on species around the earth.

[marym625]

3. Look like Chicago Zoos and Aquarium etc

Are doing similar things today

Thanks for the info! Maybe I will go to the Shedd today

Shedd, zoos put endangered species in spotlight

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/pets/ct-pets-endangered-0512-20150512-story.html


Hope you feel better!

[JaneyVee]

4. Went to endangered species day at the Bronx Zoo yesterday.

I love that zoo.

[liberal_at_heart]

5. That is a great idea. I know a lot of people are critical of zoos but informing the public and

connecting people to the wildlife so that they care enough to save them is one of the functions a zoo carries out. Sometimes just telling people polar bears will become extinct or that lemurs will become extinct, sometimes just saying the words is not enough to make people realize or feel the loss. Blacking out the exhibits will create a visceral feeling that will make people realize just how close we are to losing these precious animals.