Oakland Zoo - Lecture "Hornbill Research, Conservation and Education in Thailand"
10/8/2006
WHAT: Join 2006 Chevron Conservation Award Winner, Dr. Pilai Poonswad, of the Hornbill Research Foundation, at Oakland Zoo for a slide-illustrated lecture, "Hornbill Research, Conservation and Education in Thailand." Hornbills are a keystone species in tropical forests. Learn about the efforts of the Hornbill Research Foundation and Oakland Zoo to save and protect habitat for these magnificent birds.
WHEN: Friday, October 6, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Oakland Zoo - Maddie’s Center for Science and Environmental Education in the Zimmer Auditorium – 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland - Parking is free.
COST: Free to the public; donations gratefully accepted. (All proceeds go directly to the Hornbill Research Foundation.)
INFO: The survival of Thailand’s forests and wildlife depends upon people understanding the importance of the forests to their lives, and experiencing an urgent need to conserve them. To develop this interest the Hornbill Research Foundation (HRF) began the Hornbill Nest Adoption Project, initiated by Poonswad, which provides local villagers with cash for protecting nests and birds instead of poaching them. One hundred percent of the funds collected through nest “adoptions” go to these guardians, who also collect valuable information for researchers. To date, the Oakland Zoo, zoo members, and friends have adopted 12 nests since 2001.
An offshoot of this program was the establishment of the Budo Hornbill Conservation & Education Center in Tapoh village. Today this Center, partly supported by the Oakland Zoo, is used by school groups to learn more about the local flora and fauna in their backyard.
For more information on the lecture, contact Amy Gotliffe at 510-632-9525 x 122 or visit the zoo’s Web site at www.oaklandzoo.org. To find out more about the Hornbill Research Foundation or the Hornbill Family Adoption Project, visit: http://web.utk.edu/~vchimcho/hornbill/index.html
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The award-winning Oakland Zoo is home to over 440 native and exotic animals. Nestled in the Oakland Hills, in the 525 acre Knowland Park, the Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road, off Highway 580.
