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2012 Call of the Wild Speaker Series
Enjoy an evening of scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, breathtaking photographs and first-hand stories from conservationists on the frontlines in the battle to help save the world’s wildlife. With conservation and environmental issues becoming hot-button topics for debate across the world, the Houston Zoo’s Call of the Wild Speaker Series offers a forum for global conservation leaders to share their knowledge, concerns and plans for the future.
The Call of the Wild Speaker Series is generously sponsored by Charles T. Bauer Foundation, The Tapeats Fund, Martel and Speros Conservation Endowment, and United Airlines The Official Airline of the Houston Zoo.
Wednesday February 15, 2012
Saving lemurs and the other species on the verge of extinction in Madagascar
Featuring Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy
Event begins at 7:00 p.m.
Doors through Gate 8 open at 6:30 p.m.
Purchase tickets:
$10 Students (ID required), Seniors (65 and over) and Children (12 years and over).
$12 for Zoo Members (amount will be discounted at the end of check out process)
$18 for non-members
please contact group.reservations@houstonzoo.org
Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy is a Malagasy primatologist and conservationist Born and raised in Madagascar. He earned his PhD from Stony Brook University in 2002 for his study of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs at Manombo. An Associate Professor at the University of Antananarivo, Jonah supervises student research projects and trains students to tackle current issues in conservation. Jonah has been Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Training & Conservation Coordinator for Madagascar since 2002, responsible for building the conservation capacity of the staff and partners at Durrell-Madagascar sites. Jonah is also a co-author of Conservation International's Lemurs of Madagascar Field Guides.
Special Book Signing Offer: Lemurs of Madagascar 3rd Edition is now available and we will have limited quantities for pre-order here which Jonah will be happy to sign at the speaker event. This 762 page Field Guide updates the 2006 edition and covers all 101 species and sub-species of Lemurs and is illustrated with over 500 color drawings. Its four appendices include national maps depicting island topography, cities, rivers and protected areas; descriptions and representative photos of Madagascar's principal terrestrial habitats.
Friday March 9, 2012
A Window into the Global Amphibian Crisis: Discovering the Biology of North America's Most Secretive Frog as it Approaches Extinction.
Featuring Dr. Michael Lannoo. Indiana University School of Medicine
Purchase tickets:
$10 Students(ID required), Seniors (65 and over) and Children (12 years and over).
$12 for Zoo Members(amount will be discounted at the end of check out process)
$18 for non-members
"Whether as author, university professor, muddied researcher in a marsh, featured Discovery.com expert talking with kids about amphibian declines, or opponent in the political arena with Minnesota Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura regarding the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's plan to drop funding for most deformed frog research, Dr. Michael "The Thinker" Lannoo loses no opportunity to go to the mat for amphibians."
-Chicago Field Museum
Crawfish Frogs, a Texas native species, have been described as the most secretive frogs in North America. For the past three years Dr. Lannoo and his graduate students have been undertaking a variety of projects designed to learn the important aspects of the population biology and landscape use of this unusual animal in Indiana. The ultimate goal is to manage this species to prevent its extinction. In 2001, Dr, Lannoo was awarded the Parker/Gentry Award for Excellence and Innovation in Conservation Biology by the Field Museum of Natural History, in Chicago. This award honors “an outstanding individual, team or organization whose efforts are distinctive and courageous and have had a significant impact on preserving the world's natural heritage, and whose actions and approaches can serve as a model to others.”
Thursday April 5, 2012
Polar Ecology: Puffins and Penguins in a Changing World
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Featuring Ian Bullock, Seabird Biologist with Oceanites Antarctic Penguin Monitoring Programme
- Event begins at 7:00 p.m.
- Doors through Gate 8 open at 6:30 p.m.
- Light refreshments will be served
Purchase tickets:
$10 Students(ID required), Seniors (65 and over) and Children (12 years and over).
$12 for Zoo Members(amount will be discounted at the end of check out process)
$18 for non-members
Ian's research experience extends to both Arctic and Antarctic regions, where a changing environment is now impacting polar seabird populations. Ian Bullock worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Europe's largest conservation charity) for 25 years, monitoring seabird populations, carrying out research projects on threatened species, and wardening island nature reserves. Since 2003 has travelled annually to both polar regions and from 2004 joined Oceanites penguin monitoring team in Antarctica.
The Call of the Wild Speaker Series
is generously sponsored by:
