I asked a neighbour last month if they planned to attend any local Earth Day activities. Perhaps he was just trying to explain his lack of interest.
I’m going to tell him on his next birthday that I thought of giving him a gift today. But shouldn’t people celebrate their lives every day?
Although April’s Earth Day events are over, Earth Day is still celebrated by many who work in the environment. Zoos are one place that continues to do environmentally beneficial work throughout the year.
Ventura County residents are fortunate to have two local Zoos. The Americas Teaching Zoo at Moorpark college is the one closest to residents on the east side. The Santa Barbara Zoo is just a short drive away.
Both zoos hosted Earth Day celebrations last month. They also have ongoing programs to educate and conserve species.
The release of more than 500 Palos Verdes blue butterflies was the highlight of Earth Day activities at Americas Teaching Zoo. This once extinct species has been rescued and Moorpark College students have contributed to its recovery.
A craft event celebrating Earth Day was also held at the Moorpark Zoo. Children transformed water bottles into decorative flowerpots to plant seeds.
Mara Rodriguez, the development coordinator at the zoo, stated that these activities fit within our year-round mission. This is to encourage conservation action through engaging connection with wildlife caretakers and others.
The Santa Barbara Zoo’s Earth Day activities were focused on education. Students from UC Santa Barbara manned booths near animal exhibits and administered quizzes about the educational signs. Participants received reusable sporks as well as Earth Day All-Star animal cards that explained how children can have Earth Day every single day.
This advice covers things that they can do year-round at the zoo to learn more about animals as well as things everyone can do at their home to preserve wild habitats. The cards direct readers to read the information on nearly all exhibits that describes what they can do. These signs provide information about the animal, its habitat and examples of what zoo patrons may do to help them in the wild.
The sign at the gorilla exhibition explains how important it is to recycle your old phone. You can help reduce the amount of materials that are mined in and around gorilla habitat by recycling your cell phone and small electronics in our ECOCELL drop boxes.
The sign at the zoo’s penguin pool says, Choose sustainable seafood. There are only so many fish in our oceans. Get a Seafood Watch Card at any of the Zoos restaurants to help you make better choices for your oceans.
The sign, which is located on the rail that overlooks the gibbon island, describes a problem with palm oils. Indonesian and Malaysian forest are being degraded to make way for palm oil farms, resulting in habitat loss for many animals. Use sustainably produced palm oil instead of palm oil in your treats.
While some people may be concerned about animals kept in captivity for display purposes, it is many years since American Zoos began to capture wild animals. Modern zoos often have animals that are not capable of living in nature. Many animals at Moorpark Zoo were rescued by owners who kept them illegally as pets. Most animals at Santa Barbara Zoo were born into other animals in zoos.
Americas Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College7075 Campus Rd. Moorpark, is open Saturdays & Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with Wildlife Education Shows at noon, and 2 p.m. (805 378-1441).
The Santa Barbara ZooSanta Barbara’s 500 Ninos Dr. location is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Special events and holidays are subject to closure. (805) 962-5339.
David Goldstein, an environmental resource analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, can be reached at (805) 658-4312 or [email protected]
