Posts in category Wildlife Heroes

Jack Hanna

Dec28
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Morgan

 

Photo Source: jackhanna.com


Jack Bushnell Hanna was born on January 2, 1947. From the beginning, a life filled with animals and wildlife was destined for Jack, who first began working for his family’s veterinarian at age 11.  It is here where Jack learned the ins and outs of working with animals, including cleaning cages, medical procedures, etc… which would prove to be invaluable experiences for him later in his career.

Eventually, Jack became the director of the Central Florida Zoo (the zoo Zach and I volunteered for 6 years).  This was a dream job and the first of many dealing with wildlife and conservation on a large scale. It was from 1973-1975 that Jack directed the zoo and during this time, a lot of work was needed, including improving animal exhibits and bringing more visitors in. Even today, the Central Florida Zoo still remains what many would call a “small zoo”, when compared to the Miami Metro Zoo, Animal Kingdom, National Zoo, etc… However, through the years, Jack’s dream lives on and the Central Florida Zoo has grown, adding educational programs, new animals, encounters, and events that make a visit essential for all animal lovers.

Next for Jack was the Columbus Zoo, where, he was made director in 1978.  During these early years as director, significant improvements were made for both the animals directly and the zoo as a whole. Exhibits were made to look like wild habitats for the benefit of the zoo guests, but more importantly, for the benefit of the animals. Jack also made a goal of providing visitors with exciting, educational events, which served to increase attendance dramatically. The benefits of his leadership can be seen today, as the Columbus Zoo is one of the premier zoological institutions in the world.

Finally, it is his appearance on the news, late night TV, and wildlife documentaries, which Jack is best known for.  Jack Hanna was among the first wildlife educators to capture the attention of millions and in turn, get people excited for wildlife and conservation. His shows, including Animal Adventures, Into the Wild, and Wild Countdown have been extremely successful in reaching everyone from children to adults. Through each of the series, viewers can see wild crocodiles in Australia, tour the best zoos in the US, or join an Anti-poaching patrol in Africa with countless other experiences and adventures in between.

When one can teach people why wildlife is important and at the same time create a love for animals on a small scale, even with just one person, it is special. However, when one rises to share this love of conservation and wildlife with millions, it is nothing short of amazing. Jack Hanna has inspired many to do something for wildlife; it is safe to say a majority of people working in zoos or the conservation field have seen his shows and loved them.  Jack is one of my original inspirations and one of the reasons I care so much about wildlife today.  So go out there and share your love of wildlife as Jack has, and the world, with all the animals in it, will be a better place!

Here is a photo of Zach, Harrison, and I with Jack Hanna at a fundraiser for the Central Florida Zoo. We were even wearing Kaki to be like Jack.

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Damien Mander

Dec20
2011 1 Comment Written by Zach

Leader of IAPF’s “Green Army”

There is a war happening right now. Blood has been spilt and the death tolls are rising. This war, is the battle against poaching, and the situation has never been more desperate than at present. Rhinos and elephants are being slaughtered for their horns to be turned into ivory carvings, knife handles, and false medicines. Animals are being captured from the wild to be turned into pets, and top predators are being poisoned or hunted down to eliminate their presence near the ever encroaching human developments. Few are prepared to fight in this cause against the ever bolder poachers, now armed with AK-47s and other high powered weapons. The front line is being pushed back, and the enemy is gaining ground.

One person who is not willing to let this happen is Damien Mander, CEO and founder of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation. The IAPF is located in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, an area well known for its magnificent wildlife and spectacular scenery.

No one knows the plight of these animals better, nor is more qualified than Mander who is a former Australian military veteran, serving as a Navy diver and later as an Army Commando in Iraq. His love of wildlife along with his vast experience in the armed forces makes him the perfect leader for his “green army” of anti-poaching rangers.

Along with IAPF’s daily patrols, their other initiatives include school group education on wildlife importance and a free Ranger training academy where the perspective wildlife warriors are trained in all aspects of counter-poaching including unarmed combat, tracking, arresting procedures, evidence gathering, and rifle training during their twelve week program.

The IAPF was funded by Mander’s own finances after he sold nearly everything he owned in a huge sacrifice to deliver these animals in peril from the threat of extinction. He is a true wildlife hero, fighting on the front lines of this war on wildlife trafficking and poaching, which is now the third largest criminal trade in the world.

Animals like rhinos are sensitive creatures and “Female rhinos that lose their calves to poachers go through a period of mourning, in which they will frequently return to their dead calf’s carcass.” says the IAPF’s website. Poachers know this, and will use it to their advantage, killing the mother when she returns to her young calf, thus taking yet another special creature from this earth.

Mander’s ultimate goal is to have thousands of troops protecting wildlife throughout southern Africa. His “Green Army” will be patrolling day and night, fighting back against the war on poaching. There is no question that he had made a difference and will hopefully continue gaining ground against the poachers for the wildlife and for Africa!

Here are some additional resources to find out more about IAPF and Africa’s poaching crisis.

IAPF video promo:

Damien Mander of IAPF on 60 minutes:

http://www.iapf.org/en/

http://www.bushmeat.org/

 

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Steve Irwin

Dec09
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Morgan

         The Greatest Wildlife Warrior

Some people say the animals cried after Steve Irwin’s death. It was a death that took everyone by surprise, it was unexpected and tragic, and not only for his family friends but also for the animals he loved. There are very few people that change this world; very few people who make the whole world a better place; however, Steve Irwin was one of those people. He was loved by so many all over the world in the way we love our family. To many people he symbolized what it meant to actively save wildlife; to the animals he was a hero.

Crocs, Snakes, Sharks, Spiders and all dangerous animals were Steve’s passion. He loved them and would do anything for their protection and well-being. Steve risked his life every single day to make sure the world did not hate and fear the apex predators. Many people who work with these animals do it to show off, to show they are “more powerful” than the animals of many people’s nightmares. This was not the case with Steve; he got in the water with a croc, grabbed a snake, and swam with sharks all to get us to understand these animals. Steve always said the greatest reason we fear wildlife is because we do not understand it, that we can only love what we understand. This is why he worked so closely with these animals, talking about them, piquing our interests till one day everyone would love crocs, sharks, and snakes too – that was his dream.

While Steve was most famous for his wildlife documentaries, he also managed one of the most successful zoos in the world. He himself along with his parents started the Australia zoo, which sits today over a hundred acres on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Queensland. It is like an Eden for wildlife who is sick, injured, misunderstood, and persecuted. Crocs bask in their billabongs, roos hop across the lush, grassy fields, birds fly wherever they please, and tigers stretch out lazily under the shade of the many trees that cover the zoo like a green umbrella. Not a leaf is out of place, walkways are swept clean, and enclosures are immaculate. In his time, Steve made sure this zoo was absolutely perfect and his legacy has lived on. The zoo is not only a part of Steve’s dream to educate people on the beauty of wildlife but also a place where critically endangered species are saved. Steve created programs for species such as Fijian crested iguanas, Tasmanian devils, and Sumatran Tigers so that we never have to see an extinction of these animals. Through his zoo, he has created an environment where animals thrive and species survive, the Australia Zoo is one of Steve Irwin’s gifts to the planet and to animals.

Unlike the Zoo and Documentaries Steve created, the work he did with land conservation is not as well known by most. It was Steve’s mission to put all the money he earned back into conservation, which meant the zoo, the breeding programs, and also the land he bought to save from development. He bought thousands of acres to save from the greedy people that would destroy the land animals depended on. Habitat destruction is the number one cause of species extinction and Steve would not let that happen to the animals he loved. All over the world he bought pristine patches of forests, deserts, and scrubland all so the animals would have a home too.

Steve Irwin had a selfless devotion to wildlife. Everything he did was for animals whether it was rescuing a croc, teaching people about Tasmanian devils, pulling over to help a lizard cross the road, or nursing a kangaroo joey back to heath. There are few people in this world that made a difference like Steve Irwin. He changed the way we thought about wildlife, made us love all animals, and helped us to understand them. Steve Irwin was truly a wildlife warrior!

- Morgan Cooney

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