Louisville Zoo & Glacier Run

Wow. It has been way too long since I've posted. I will be sure to fix that, don't worry. Here's what has been happening in the meantime:

In the heart of the Louisville Zoo, construction has begun on the $25 million Glacier Run exhibit. Upon its completion, Glacier Run will house polar bears, sea otters, seals, sea lions, and Steller's sea eagles. Currently, our polar bear is staying at the zoo in Cleveland (makes me somewhat happy to know my polar bear is at my former home zoo). There will be more room for the animals at Glacier Run, and visitors will have a better viewing and educational experience. More information can be found at http://www.louisvillezoo.org/glacierrun

Now some people hate zoos. They say zoos are bad for wildlife. And as a wildlife lover myself, I understand their concerns. But zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) can be wonderful. Not every zoo is accredited. If done correctly, these zoos are not about entertainment. They are about education. These zoos give a name and face to wildlife (many endangered) that people wouldn't pay attention to otherwise. I hear all the time about children and adults alike learning new things about these animals and becoming inspired to help conserve habitat and fight to protect these creatures. Without zoos, these people might never pat attention to what's happening in the wild. I know this for a fact because my grandparents visited the Louisville Zoo just last week, and when I went home my grandma and I talked about the "green" movement. That's not something my grandma would normally pay attention to.

And why do you think the Christian Children's Fund shows dirty, adorable children or the ASPCA shows way too cute dogs and cats in cages looking so sad in their commercials? To pull at our hearstrings and educate us. To give us a face. People wouldn't pay attention unless they could see these animals and these issues right in frton of them. Then they become attached and want to do something to help.

Zoos accredited by the AZA, inluding the Louisville Zoo, work hard everyday to educate and conserve. The Species Survival Plan (SSP) program works to ensure species survival and genetic diversity (http://www.louisvillezoo.org/conservation/SSP.htm). Being able to work with the animals close by lets us learn things we might not learn by observing in the wild, so we know how to better protect them.

So I encourage everyone to visit your zoo and make sure it is accredited. Specifically, visit the Louisville Zoo! The exhibits have won numerous awards. We have lots of new animals as well as old favorites. Come see what's new. And please donate to the Glacier Run capital campaign. The Louisville Zoo is a non-profit, so your donations mean better space and care for the animals. We received 4 stars from Charity Navigator (the highest rating). And we are always working toward "Bettering the Bond Between People and the Planet."

And most important of all, educate yourself about the world around you. Humans are animals. We share some DNA with many species. If bad things are happening in the environment and are negatively affecting other animals, it could spell bad news for humans as well. Ever heard of the canary in a coal mine? Speak out. Educate yourself. Choose a cause and fight for it. And conserve the planet.