The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden kicks-off its annual Barrows Conservation Lecture Series this month. Over the years, the series has brought dozens of internationally acclaimed scientists, explorers and naturalists into town to address wildlife issues and global conservation efforts.
Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard talks with each of this year?'s five Barrows Lecture Series speakers. All lectures will be held in the Zoo's Frisch?'s Theater in the Harold C. Schott Education Center. Attendees are advised to park in the Education Center lot. All lectures begin promptly at 7 p.m. For more information and ticketing, click here.
March 23: CEO of Zoos Victoria and Melbourne Zoo Director Jennifer Gray is the first speaker in the Barrows Lecture Series. Many Australian species require specialist intervention, particularly captive breeding. Dr. Gray will present ?TDevils and Bandicoots -? How Zoos Can Deliver Compassionate Conservation.
April 13: Suzana and Claudio Padua will present ?30 Years of Integrated Conservation Work in Brazil: from a project to save black-lion tamarins from extinction, to IPE, an organization that works throughout the country.? Dr. Suzana Padua was one of the co-founders and is the president of IPÊ ? Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (Institute for Ecological Research), a Brazilian non-profit organization that works for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development.
April 20: Kenyan wildlife photographer Greg du Toit will present ?Blood, Sweat and Photographic Tears? on April 20. The presentation will include unbelievable wildlife imagery as the photographer shares his extensive knowledge of one of Africa?s wildest regions, deep within the heart of Kenya?s south rift valley.
May 4: Dr. Joy Reidenberg presents ?Why Whales are Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful?. Dr. Reidenberg will discuss what makes whales, dolphins and porpoises unique, and what we can learn from them to benefit human medicine and technology.
May 11: Ornithologist and author Scott Weidensaul will present the final talk in the Barrows Lecture Series. During ?Messing Around with Birds (For Fun and Science),? you will hear about many of his research projects, from banding hawks to studying the migration of western hummingbirds. And you will learn how you can contribute to bird conservation, and have fun while doing it.