Celebrate World Elephant Day at Oakland Zoo this Friday
Oakland, CA (PRWEB) August 10, 2016 -- The public is encouraged to wear grey in support of World Elephant Day on Friday, August 12. Oakland Zoo, in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society’s “96 Elephants” campaign, is hosting a day to raise public awareness about African elephants. Zoo guests will have the opportunity to meet Co-Elephant Manager, Gina Kinzley, learn fun facts about elephants, and receive a special bracelet and pin.
“We will be raising awareness of both captive and conservation issues that surround elephants,” said Co- Elephant Manager, Gina Kinzley. “Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the conservation and protection of elephants. Last fall we aided in passing AB 96, banning the sales of ivory in California, and have been lobbying and providing expert testimony to ensure the passage of SB 1062, a bill that will ban bullhooks in California. We need our visitors to take action and become involved in these efforts and together we can give elephants a voice.”
As part of the World Elephant Day celebration, Oakland Zoo will give children the opportunity to color elephant templates to take home and share with friends, learn all about elephants from their care at the zoo to the perils they face in the wild, and get their faces painted. Families will have the opportunity to take action for elephants by taking an “elphie” to #FightTheCrime and take a stand against wildlife trafficking, a collective effort around the country through WSC’s “96 Elephants” campaign. More than one hundred North American zoos are partners of 96 Elephants, which last month collectively secured a moratorium on the sale of ivory in the U.S.; while continuing to bolster protection of African elephants; and also educate the public about the link between ivory consumption and the elephant poaching crisis.
Oakland Zoo and the “96 Elephants” campaign praise the California State Legislature for passing AB 96, a bill that bans the sale of ivory and rhinoceros horn in the state of California last October. The bill has gone into effect as of July this year. We are also thrilled that last month the United States has condoned a federal ban of ivory sales under the leadership of President Obamas Wildlife Trafficking Task Force. Please show support of elephants and join Oakland Zoo on Friday, August 12th in honor of World Elephant Day.
ABOUT 96 ELEPHANTS:
96 Elephants was named for the number of elephants gunned down each day for their ivory. Wildlife Conservation Society is leading global efforts to save Africa’s elephants and end the current poaching and ivory trafficking crisis. WCS launched its 96 Elephants campaign (http://www.96elephants.org) to amplify and support the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). The WCS campaign focuses on: securing effective moratoria on domestic sales of ivory; bolstering elephant protection; and educating the public about the link between ivory consumption and the elephant poaching crisis.
ABOUT OAKLAND ZOO:
The Bay Area's award-winning Oakland Zoo is home to more than 660 native and exotic animals. The Zoo offers many educational programs and kid's activities perfect for science field trips, family day trips and exciting birthday parties. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and wildlife conservation onsite and worldwide; with 25¢ from each ticket donated to support conservation partners and programs around the world. The California Trail, a transformational project that more than doubles our size, opens in 2018, and will further our commitment to animal care, education, and conservation with a focus on this state’s remarkable native wildlife. Nestled in the Oakland Hills, in 500-acre Knowland Park, the Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road, off Highway 580. The East Bay Zoological Society (Oakland Zoo) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization supported in part by members, contributions, the City of Oakland and the East Bay Regional Parks. For more information, go to: http://www.oaklandzoo.org
ABOUT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (WCS):
MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. VISION: WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in more than 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. For more details, go to http://www.wcs.org.
Erin Harrison, Oakland Zoo, +1 510-632-9525 Ext: 135, [email protected]
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