mbayless
09-07-05, 09:24 PM
Hi everyone,
This is a press release from the AZA, American Zoo and Aquarium Association, regarding gathering funds to aid the zoos that have been directly impacted by the hurricane. The Aquarium of the Americas has lost most of their animals as generators began failing and staff had to abandon the facility due to the instability of the area. Audubon Zoo is now an island and functioning on a staff of 11, one of them being a friend of mine, that remained behind during the storm to care for their entire collection and protect their perimeter fenceline as looters are trying to enter grounds. There are a lot of people in need, but please consider making a donation for these facilities and their staff. Both human and animal will benefit from anything you're able to contribute. If you are unable to contribute, please pass this along to others that might.
Thanks.
Sprina
AZA ACCREDITED ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS RALLY TO AID NEW ORLEANS
ZOO AND AQUARIUM COLLEAGUES, ANIMALS AFTER HURRICANE
DISASTER
SILVER SPRING, MD – Members of the American Zoo and
Aquarium Association (AZA) are responding to their New
Orleans colleagues' need for help following the devastating
impact of Hurricane Katrina this week. The 211-accedited-
member association today announced plans – including a
national fundraising initiative -- to help the Audubon
Nature Institute, which includes the Audubon Zoo, the
Aquarium of the Americas, and the Audubon Center for
Research of Endangered Species (ACRES). The facilities and
their staff, like all New Orleanians, are struggling in the
aftermath of the disaster.
"The Audubon Nature Institute staff in New Orleans are not
only colleagues, but they are also our friends, and we all
share a passion for the animals in our care," said Bill
Foster, DMV, president of the AZA board of directors and
director of the Birmingham Zoo. "The AZA community is
committed to helping our colleagues in New Orleans as they
move beyond this tragedy and begin to rebuild their homes,
their lives and the wonderful facilities of the Audubon
Nature Institute."
Dr. Foster asked Kevin Bell, President and CEO of Lincoln
Park Zoo in Chicago, to spearhead the AZA member fund drive
to help provide immediate and long-term relief to the staff
and their families, the animals and the facilities in New
Orleans. Bell said that in response to the overwhelming zoo
and aquarium community interest in aiding the Audubon
Nature Institute, a program is now in place enabling AZA
members as well as the general public to donate.
To make a donation, people can visit the Lincoln Park Zoo
web site at http://www.lpz.org and click on hurricane
relief, or mail a check, made out to The Lincoln Park
Zoological Society, and send it to: Lincoln Park Zoo, P.O.
Box 14903, Chicago IL 60614, Attention: Hurricane Katrina
Relief.
All donations will be channeled directly to aid the zoo and
aquarium and their staff members in New Orleans. The
Executive Committee of the AZA Board of Directors will
handle the distribution of these funds.
In addition to the fund drive, AZA is coordinating relief
efforts that will provide animal food, veterinary medicine,
fuel and other supplies directly to the facilities in New
Orleans. "Getting help to our colleagues is problematic at
this time due to emergency restrictions," noted
Foster. "However we are preparing our plan and will be
ready with immediate assistance when supply routes are
open."
AZA is providing frequent updates on the zoo and aquarium
situation in New Orleans at
http://www.aza.org/Newsroom/hurricaneupdate/
This is a press release from the AZA, American Zoo and Aquarium Association, regarding gathering funds to aid the zoos that have been directly impacted by the hurricane. The Aquarium of the Americas has lost most of their animals as generators began failing and staff had to abandon the facility due to the instability of the area. Audubon Zoo is now an island and functioning on a staff of 11, one of them being a friend of mine, that remained behind during the storm to care for their entire collection and protect their perimeter fenceline as looters are trying to enter grounds. There are a lot of people in need, but please consider making a donation for these facilities and their staff. Both human and animal will benefit from anything you're able to contribute. If you are unable to contribute, please pass this along to others that might.
Thanks.
Sprina
AZA ACCREDITED ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS RALLY TO AID NEW ORLEANS
ZOO AND AQUARIUM COLLEAGUES, ANIMALS AFTER HURRICANE
DISASTER
SILVER SPRING, MD – Members of the American Zoo and
Aquarium Association (AZA) are responding to their New
Orleans colleagues' need for help following the devastating
impact of Hurricane Katrina this week. The 211-accedited-
member association today announced plans – including a
national fundraising initiative -- to help the Audubon
Nature Institute, which includes the Audubon Zoo, the
Aquarium of the Americas, and the Audubon Center for
Research of Endangered Species (ACRES). The facilities and
their staff, like all New Orleanians, are struggling in the
aftermath of the disaster.
"The Audubon Nature Institute staff in New Orleans are not
only colleagues, but they are also our friends, and we all
share a passion for the animals in our care," said Bill
Foster, DMV, president of the AZA board of directors and
director of the Birmingham Zoo. "The AZA community is
committed to helping our colleagues in New Orleans as they
move beyond this tragedy and begin to rebuild their homes,
their lives and the wonderful facilities of the Audubon
Nature Institute."
Dr. Foster asked Kevin Bell, President and CEO of Lincoln
Park Zoo in Chicago, to spearhead the AZA member fund drive
to help provide immediate and long-term relief to the staff
and their families, the animals and the facilities in New
Orleans. Bell said that in response to the overwhelming zoo
and aquarium community interest in aiding the Audubon
Nature Institute, a program is now in place enabling AZA
members as well as the general public to donate.
To make a donation, people can visit the Lincoln Park Zoo
web site at http://www.lpz.org and click on hurricane
relief, or mail a check, made out to The Lincoln Park
Zoological Society, and send it to: Lincoln Park Zoo, P.O.
Box 14903, Chicago IL 60614, Attention: Hurricane Katrina
Relief.
All donations will be channeled directly to aid the zoo and
aquarium and their staff members in New Orleans. The
Executive Committee of the AZA Board of Directors will
handle the distribution of these funds.
In addition to the fund drive, AZA is coordinating relief
efforts that will provide animal food, veterinary medicine,
fuel and other supplies directly to the facilities in New
Orleans. "Getting help to our colleagues is problematic at
this time due to emergency restrictions," noted
Foster. "However we are preparing our plan and will be
ready with immediate assistance when supply routes are
open."
AZA is providing frequent updates on the zoo and aquarium
situation in New Orleans at
http://www.aza.org/Newsroom/hurricaneupdate/