San Diego Zoo Safari Park Celebrates History of Conservation with 40th Birthday Activities

   In May 1972, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park opened to the public, offering guests a chance to see animals in a new style of zoo - featuring large, open spaces and herds of animals.  Since its founding, the Safari Park has been heavily involved in the preservation of critically endangered species like the Arabian oryx, African elephant, California condor and cheetah.  To highlight both this significant anniversary and its conservation history, the Park is launching a special weekend of events highlighting Endangered Species Day (May 18).  The event, presented by Living Social, offers a host of activities themed around species conservation.

     "Being part of the national Endangered Species Day is an important part of our 40th birthday," said Bob McClure, director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.  "Launching our celebration on this important day helps us draw attention to a key component of the work we do here at the Park, saving species at risk of extinction."

     Beginning on Friday, May 18, Joan Embery will launch the conservation - themed activities in a special ceremony.  For the next three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), guests can enjoy fun activities for all ages to learn more about species conservation.

     Special activities include animal meet-and-greets and talks with national TV spokesman and Safari Park ambassador, Rick Schwartz, an endangered species scavenger hunt and 40th Anniversary Africa Tram tours highlighting endangered species.

     An additional highlight of the weekend will be the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Herbert Raffaele, chief of the division of international conservation, showcasing the U.S. Postal Service's fourth semipostal tiger stamp that benefits wildlife conservation. The Save Vanishing Species stamp will be available for sale at the Park. Proceeds of this sale go directly to conservation efforts for tigers and other species.

     "The Save Vanishing Species stamp offers the public a convenient way to save some of the world's most endangered animals, from African and Asian rhinos to the mountain gorilla to the leatherback marine turtle," said Raffaele. "Whether purchased for postage or as collector's items, this stamp makes it possible for those who cherish wildlife to become a partner in a global conservation program."

     Proceeds from the sale of the stamp will directly benefit the Wildlife Without Borders - Multinational Species Conservation Funds (MSCF), administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The MSCF program supports conservation efforts directed at certain endangered species worldwide considered to be of great importance to the American public and authorized by specific legislation. The five funds presently enacted by Congress are: the African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988; the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994; the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1998; the Great Apes Conservation Act of 2000; and the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004.

     "Since 1989, the Wildlife Without Borders - MSCF program has awarded more than 1,800 grants through its programs for international wildlife conservation providing critical funding to save these endangered species. It has also been a pleasure to support the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research's international conservation efforts with our grants," said Raffaele.

     The 7th annual national Endangered Species Day is May 18, 2012. Endangered Species Day was first held in 2006, following a U.S. Senate resolution. The purpose of Endangered Species day is to emphasize the importance of preserving the nation's rare, threatened, and endangered animal and plant species, highlight success stories of species recovery, and demonstrate everyday actions that people can take to help protect our disappearing wildlife and last remaining open spaces.

     A project of the Endangered Species Coalition (The Endangered Species Coalition is a national network of hundreds of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, business and community organizations working to protect our nation's disappearing wildlife and last remaining wild places.) Endangered Species Day 2012 is supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and National Park Service, along with a wide array of other organizations including National Audubon Society, San Diego Zoo Global, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, Garden Clubs of America, National Association of Biology Teachers, National Science Teachers Association, Boy Scouts of America, Earth Day Network and the North American Association for Environmental Education.

     Funding for wildlife conservation projects through Wildlife Without Borders is a $15.5 million suite of grants for wildlife conservation across the globe. For more information on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife Without Borders program, including detailed summaries of the 2011 grant projects for Latin America, the Caribbean, and other regions, visit www.fws.gov/international.

     Follow Wildlife Without Borders on Twitter @USFWSInternatl and on Facebook, USFWS_InternationalAffairs.

     The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube Channel, and download photos from our Flickr page.