Brevard Zoo's Mission:
"Wildlife Conservation Through Education and Participation" ...it's more than a slogan at Brevard Zoo!
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Our keepers with puppets from environmental education suitcase they purchased for Congo Project.
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We actively support in Brevard County the following programs: sea turtle research, manatee rescues, the Monofilament Recycling Program, the Right Whale volunteer network, and education programs. Around the world, the Zoo supports chimpanzee research in Congo, an education center in Kenya, and the development of education materials for projects in Dominica, Peru, Zimbabwe, Namibia, the Republic of Congo, and MORE. |
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Conservation Evenings
Presented by Florida Power & Light
This fall Brevard Zoo will host Conservation Evenings, a series of talks by guest speakers Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo; Ian Nichols, wildlife photographer and conservationist; and Dr. Paul Andreadis of Denison and Stetson Universities. To reserve a seat at any of the talks below, please call 321.254.9453 x 234 or email lpalardy@brevardzoo.org. Ticket prices vary per evening and can be sold individually. However, the Zoo is offering a discounted ticket on the entire Conservation Evenings series, all three for $95, a savings of $10. All proceeds will benefit Brevard Zoo’s wildlife conservation programs.
Dr. Paul Andreadis
Burmese pythons are everywhere in the news in Florida. Most Floridians know that this
species is not native to North America. But beyond that, much confusion and many
incorrect statements abound. Dr. Andreadis will review what is known about the natural
history of this beautiful, fascinating animal. Surprisingly, there is genuine conservation
concern for this species in Asia. The irony will be apparent when the discussion turns
to the status of Burmese pythons in South Florida, where they are reviled invaders.
Dr. Andreadis will conclude by addressing their potential for northward expansion.
This species can serve as a multifaceted mirror for self-examination of our attitudes
toward nature and our commitment to conservation.
Date: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Where: Nyami Nyami River Lodge
Cost: $8 for Talk
$7 for Meet and Greet with Dr. Andreadis, 6 to 7 p.m.
Total Package: $15
All proceeds raised will be used to support Brevard Zoo’s field conservation projects.
Jack Hanna
Jack Hanna, best known for his television show (Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures) and appearances on programs such as Good Morning America and the David Letterman Show, has been director and then Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo for more than 30 years. What most people don’t know is that Jack Hanna has been a pioneer in the zoo world through his commitment to promoting the Columbus Zoo’s support of field conservation and research for the last 20 years. Jack’s conservation commitment created a conservation ethic that has resulted in over $3.8 million dollars being allocated in just the last five years alone through the Columbus Zoo Conservation Fund (CZCF). Field projects that have received grants from the CZCF have involved species as diverse as gorilla, chimpanzee, snow leopard, manatee, elephant, rhino, drill, tiger, Bongo antelope, as well as support for numerous education programs around the globe concerning animal habitat preservation..
Date: Friday, November 20
Lecture Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Where: Nyami Nyami River Lodge
Cost: $25 per person
Meet and Greet with Jack from 6 to 7 p.m. at a cost of $50 per person.
Total Package: $75
All proceeds raised will be used to support Brevard Zoo’s field conservation projects.
Ian Nichols Lecture
Ian Chase Nichols is an emerging figure in the field of photography. Comfortable behind the camera, Nichols first began work in Gabon in 2003 with his father Nick, who was in Gabon on a seven-month assignment for National Geographic Magazine (NGM). While there, he volunteered as a photographer for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Whale Team. Photographing under difficult conditions proved challenging, but successful, as he developed a body of work as well as an aesthetic vision.
Upon graduation from the University of Virginia in 2005, Nichols applied for a grant to photograph "naive chimps" at the Goualougo research site in Congo where he spent two years photographing undocumented "tool use.” These two years produced a story on Lowland Gorillas for NGM in January 2008 and an upcoming article on tool use and chimpanzees to be published in NGM in February 2010. He was also part of the Bioko Expedition in the August 2008 issue of NGM. Patient and sensitive to the nuances of primate behavior, Nichols has captured rare glimpses into man's closest relative. His intention is to capture authentic moments that inspire awareness in others and foster positive change in our world.
Date: Thursday December 10
Lecture Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Where: Nyami Nyami River Lodge
Cost: $8 for Talk
$7 for Meet and Greet with Mr. Nichols, 6 to 7 p.m.
Total Package: $15
Raffle item will be available for extra cost: Framed photo from Ian Nichols – signed/dated
Proceeds raised will be used to support the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project
Digital Photography Workshop with Ian Nichols
The Art Gallery of Viera will host a digital photography workshop on Friday, December 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at a cost of $50 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $25 is required by November 20. Contact cpurnell@brevardzoo.org for more information, registration, and payment information.
2008 Conservation Highlights:
Funds spent 2001 through 2008: $274,761
Total funds spent in 2008: $47,268
Number of field projects supported in 2008: 19
International projects supported since 2001:
Africa: $137,334
Asia: $7,340
Latin America: $38,140
Local projects supported since 2001: $72,570
Butterfly Monitoring Program, Florida Wildlife Hospital, Monofilament Recycling Program, Mammal Stranding Network, Manatee Research,
Oyster Restoration Project, Right whale monitoring, Scrub jay research, and Sea Turtle Research
Miscellaneous: $19,377
Grants and Fundraisers received:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services--$21,000 to purchase soccer uniforms for PASA sanctuaries
Suntree Rotary Club and Stuart Interact Club--$2000 grant to create mini-suitcases and purchase soccer uniforms
Earth Friendly Transportation Expo--Raised $5,800 to support local projects
Conservation Dinner--Raised money to give a $3,100 grant to guest speaker Anne Savage, who runs Proteyto Titi (Cottontop Tamarin) in Colombia
Recommended Conservation Reading
Gorilla in the Mist – Dian Fossey
Shadows of Man – Jane Goodall
Visions of Caliban – Jane Goodall
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds –Joy Adamson
Cry of the Kalahari – Mark & Delia Owens
Babylon’s Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo – Anthony Lawrence
Gorilla in Our Midst: The Story of the Columbus Zoo Gorillas – Jeff Lyttle
Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Amazon Rain Forest– Mark Plotkin
Children's Books:
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest – Lynne Cherry
Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship – Craig Hatkoff
Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes (Scientists in the Field) – Pamela Turner
