On May 15th, our local Natural Science Center hosted Jack Hanna, well-known wildlife correspondent at a gala event to help raise funds for the future growth of the center. Appropriately enough this was also National Endangered Species Day and in addition to an African porcupine, cheetah, python, owl, baby kangaroo and alligator that he brought in, he also stressed the importance of animal preservation and impact on the environment.
I have been going to this museum since I was a little girl and really all we had was a dusty ole buffalo and turtle or two. By the time I was a high school intern, a dinosaur gallery had been added as well as a monkey exhibit, a new petting zoo area and gift shop. I then learned that dusty buffalo still out in the field was named “Bo”.
Now I serve on the Board of Trustees and today we are an AZA accredited facility with a state-of-the-art OmniSphere and our zoo has transformed into Animal Discovery with a pair of tigers, maned wolves, gibbons and howler monkeys to name a few.
Earlier this past week, our Executive Director and board went before City Council to ask that a $20 million bond referendum be put on the ballot for public consideration. This will allow for a total renovation of the center, complete Animal Discovery and build an exclusive SciQuarium which will truly make us a one-of-a-kind science destination in our state having an even more positive impact on our community. Our city council voted unanimously to move forward with our request and we are hopeful our community will agree as well.
My fellow blogger - Mom Goes Green – has also written a post about her zoo in Columbus (ironically the zoo Jack helped grow and now is the Director Emeritus) and I share her sentiments. To keep nature, science and the environment at the forefront of our communities, we need to promote the growth and importance of supporting these entities on a local level. The impact they have on a local economy and the minds of little people is truly vital to a more sustainable community and collectively our world.
These days, my two boys love going to the Natural Science Center and I love getting to experience it again through their eyes – only better this time around. And as for buffalo “Bo”…well if he were still around, I’m sure he would feel the same way too.
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