Denver Zoo’s African penguins will “vanish” for two short periods today on the 10th anniversary of Endangered Species Day. (Photo : Denver Zoo/Facebook)
On Friday, May 15, penguins have gone "extinct" at the Denver Zoo which also marks Endangered Species Day.
Across the United States, different organizations and institutions are raising efforts via different events in order to spread awareness of the plight of the world's endangered animals. In 2006, Endangered Species Day was first declared by the U.S. Congress to raise added awareness about the numerous threats that different endangered animal species face across the planet.
The Endangered Species Coalition says that this event is a celebration of the nation's wildlife and their wild environments. This day is celebrated every third Friday during the month of May and all throughout this month that includes all zoos, aquariums and animal parks along with botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuaries. Eduational institutions such as museums and schools along with community centers and conservation organizations across the U.S. are encouraged to hold tours and special programs along with exhibits and activities for Endangered Species Day.
Among the events that took place to promote this day include the San Diego Zoo Safari Park which hosted a Rally4Rhinos to save these iconic mammals that are indigenous to Asia and Africa. The rhinoceros is apparently hunted once every eight hours and prior studies warn that these animals will soon be gone in the next 15 years. To date, the zoo is the home of Nola who is a 41 year old northern white rhino female who is one of five remaining in the whole world.
In Montana, Glacier National Park hosted classes for 100 students coming from three different schools. Their wildlife lessons include the importance of conserving species like the bald eagle and wolves including grizzly bears. The students also learned how wildfires can also become a pivotal factor in maintaining ecosystem health in the region.
However, these events are not just celebrated for large, cuddly animals where the Caterpillar Lab in Keene, New Hampshire has just created a special presentation dedicated to moths, butterflies and caterpillars.
In an effective publicity stunt, the Denver Zoo penguins have "disappeared" for a day to show zoo visitors how life would be like when these Antarctic animals would no longer walk the face of the planet.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there is an estimated 16,900 out of 44,800 species that are currently under the Red List of the endangered.
Biologists also believe that the planet is undergoing the sixth greatest extinction of the history and evolution of Earth. The last event occurred some 65 million years ago that ended the dinosaur age and now, scientists consider this modern day extinction of species happening at a faster rate.
However, man made climate change is also the major driving force of the disappearance of animal species. Greenhouse gas emissions trap more heat inside the planet that lead to further wildlife habitat destruction according to Endangered Species International.
