Subject: [Tweeters] Zoo lecture on Asian Hornbill Conservation
Date: Oct 3 19:13:16 2006
From: Eric Kowalczyk - aceros at mindspring.com


One final reminder:

Here is a presentation not to be missed!!!! If you have never heard Dr. Pilai Poonswad talk about her passion for hornbills in Thailand, here is your chance! Her successful nest adoption program can be a model conservation program for any threatened habitat or species.
Zoo lecture
"Hornbill Research, Conservation and Education in Thailand"

WHAT: Join 2006 Chevron Conservation Award Winner, Dr. Pilai Poonswad, of the Hornbill Research Foundation, at Woodland Park Zoo for a slide-illustrated lecture, "Hornbill Research, Conservation and Education in Thailand." Hornbills are a keystone species in tropical forests. Learn about the efforts of the Hornbill Research Foundation and Woodland Park Zoo to save and protect habitat for these magnificent birds.

WHEN: Sunday, October 8, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Woodland Park Zoo's Education Center near the zoo's South Entrance at N. 50th St. & Fremont Ave. N. Parking is free.

COST: Free to the public; donations gratefully accepted. (All proceeds go directly to the Hornbill Research Foundation.)

INFO: The survival of Thailand's forests and wildlife depends upon people understanding the importance of the forests to their lives, and experiencing an urgent need to conserve them. To develop this interest the Hornbill Research Foundation (HRF) began the Hornbill Nest Adoption Project, initiated by Poonswad, which provides local villagers with cash for protecting nests and birds instead of poaching them. One hundred percent of the funds collected through nest adoptions go to these guardians, who also collect valuable information for researchers. To date, Woodland Park Zoo, zoo members, and friends have adopted 162 nests since 1999.

An offshoot of this program was the establishment of the Budo Hornbill Conservation & Education Center in Tapoh village. Today this Center, partly supported by the Woodland Park Conservation Department, is used by school groups to learn more about the local flora and fauna in their backyard.

For more information on the lecture, call 206.684.4800 or 684.4026 (TDD) or visit the zoos Web site at www.zoo.org. For information on how to adopt a nest, email eric.kowalczyk at zoo.org


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Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting international standards for zoos all over the world. Conservation, education and excellent animal care are at the core of the zoo's mission. The zoo is helping to save animals and their habitats in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring people to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet's future.