PBI Creates Arctic Ambassador Centers in Zoos
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PBI Creates Arctic Ambassador Centers in Zoos
Millions of zoo visitors in North America, Europe, and Australia are learning more about polar bears and climate change thanks to a network of “Arctic Ambassador Centers” established by PBI in alliance with the Zoological Society of San Diego. So far, nearly 30 centers are up and running, with another 10 scheduled to open their doors this fall. In addition to offering educational programs, the centers focus on animal well-being issues and actively support research that will help wild polar bears.
"Scientists believe that we still have a 10-year window before we reach the tipping point with global climate change, although it will take 30 to 40 years for significant changes to show," says PBI President, Robert Buchanan. "By working closely with zoos, we can reach millions of people and inspire change."
Some of the programs developed for these Arctic Ambassador Centers include:
Leadership Camps to educate and inspire teens to return to their communities and motivate change
Distance Learning Classrooms that will connect students with scientists in the field
Project Polar Bear, a way for teams of young people to make a difference
Interpretive Carts for each zoo consisting of a polar bear skull and claw replica, a polar bear pelt, a sample satellite collar, and images of polar bears in the wild
Photo Galleries of scientists working in the field
A Scientific Lecture Series
Special Tours to see polar bears and learn about the Arctic
In-depth Articles on polar bears and the problems they face
Committees to handle animal well-being issues
Participation in PBI's Polar Population Project, a far-reaching research effort to gain information on each of the world's 19 polar bear subpopulations and see how they are faring
"Each of these conservation centers will provide leadership in their communities to terms of reducing carbon emissions—a scientifically proven, contributing factor to the rising temperatures on our planet," says Buchanan.
Buchanan adds that each center will play an integral role in PBI’s project thermo-STAT program, a “turn down the heat” effort that will culminate in events in Churchill, Manitoba, in November 2008.
Participants to date include:
1. Alaska Zoo
2. Assiniboine Park Partners in the Park
3. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society
4. Buffalo Zoological Gardens
5. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
6. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo AAZK
7. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
8. Como Zoo & Conservatory
9. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
10. Hannover Adventure Zoo
11. Louisville Zoological Garden
12. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
13. Memphis Zoo
14. Milwaukee County Zoo
15. Oregon Zoo
16. The Philadelphia Zoo
17. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
18. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
19. Reid Park Zoo
20. Roger Williams Park Zoo
21. Saint Louis AAZK
22. San Diego Zoo
23. Scandinavian Wildlife Park
24. Seneca Park Zoo
25. Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park
26. Toledo Zoological Gardens
27. Toronto Zoo
28. Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum
29. Utah’s Hogle Zoo
30. Vienna Zoo
Arctic Ambassador Associates include:
Frontiers North Adventures
Future Farmers of America
Gault, Inc.
Manitoba Conservation
National Museum of Wildlife Art
Parks Canada/Wapusk National Park
PBI Australia
Millions of zoo visitors in North America, Europe, and Australia are learning more about polar bears and climate change thanks to a network of “Arctic Ambassador Centers” established by PBI in alliance with the Zoological Society of San Diego. So far, nearly 30 centers are up and running, with another 10 scheduled to open their doors this fall. In addition to offering educational programs, the centers focus on animal well-being issues and actively support research that will help wild polar bears.
"Scientists believe that we still have a 10-year window before we reach the tipping point with global climate change, although it will take 30 to 40 years for significant changes to show," says PBI President, Robert Buchanan. "By working closely with zoos, we can reach millions of people and inspire change."
Some of the programs developed for these Arctic Ambassador Centers include:
Leadership Camps to educate and inspire teens to return to their communities and motivate change
Distance Learning Classrooms that will connect students with scientists in the field
Project Polar Bear, a way for teams of young people to make a difference
Interpretive Carts for each zoo consisting of a polar bear skull and claw replica, a polar bear pelt, a sample satellite collar, and images of polar bears in the wild
Photo Galleries of scientists working in the field
A Scientific Lecture Series
Special Tours to see polar bears and learn about the Arctic
In-depth Articles on polar bears and the problems they face
Committees to handle animal well-being issues
Participation in PBI's Polar Population Project, a far-reaching research effort to gain information on each of the world's 19 polar bear subpopulations and see how they are faring
"Each of these conservation centers will provide leadership in their communities to terms of reducing carbon emissions—a scientifically proven, contributing factor to the rising temperatures on our planet," says Buchanan.
Buchanan adds that each center will play an integral role in PBI’s project thermo-STAT program, a “turn down the heat” effort that will culminate in events in Churchill, Manitoba, in November 2008.
Participants to date include:
1. Alaska Zoo
2. Assiniboine Park Partners in the Park
3. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society
4. Buffalo Zoological Gardens
5. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
6. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo AAZK
7. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
8. Como Zoo & Conservatory
9. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
10. Hannover Adventure Zoo
11. Louisville Zoological Garden
12. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
13. Memphis Zoo
14. Milwaukee County Zoo
15. Oregon Zoo
16. The Philadelphia Zoo
17. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
18. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
19. Reid Park Zoo
20. Roger Williams Park Zoo
21. Saint Louis AAZK
22. San Diego Zoo
23. Scandinavian Wildlife Park
24. Seneca Park Zoo
25. Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park
26. Toledo Zoological Gardens
27. Toronto Zoo
28. Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum
29. Utah’s Hogle Zoo
30. Vienna Zoo
Arctic Ambassador Associates include:
Frontiers North Adventures
Future Farmers of America
Gault, Inc.
Manitoba Conservation
National Museum of Wildlife Art
Parks Canada/Wapusk National Park
PBI Australia
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