good afternoon it’s great to be here at TEDx flower city and I’m happy to have
TEDx flower city and I’m happy to have
TEDx flower city and I’m happy to have an opportunity to speak with all of you
an opportunity to speak with all of you
an opportunity to speak with all of you about what I think the killings of Cecil
about what I think the killings of Cecil
about what I think the killings of Cecil the lion and Harambee the gorilla should
the lion and Harambee the gorilla should
the lion and Harambee the gorilla should have taught us june thirtieth 2015
have taught us june thirtieth 2015
have taught us june thirtieth 2015 american dentist and trophy hunter
american dentist and trophy hunter
american dentist and trophy hunter walter palmer using a crossbow shoots
walter palmer using a crossbow shoots
walter palmer using a crossbow shoots Cecil a 13 year old lion living in the
Cecil a 13 year old lion living in the
Cecil a 13 year old lion living in the Hawaiian National Park in Zimbabwe Cecil
Hawaiian National Park in Zimbabwe Cecil
Hawaiian National Park in Zimbabwe Cecil is wounded but not killed over the next
is wounded but not killed over the next
is wounded but not killed over the next 40 hours Palmer and his guides hunt down
40 hours Palmer and his guides hunt down
40 hours Palmer and his guides hunt down Cecil to finish the kill social media
Cecil to finish the kill social media
Cecil to finish the kill social media erupts there are calls for the death of
erupts there are calls for the death of
erupts there are calls for the death of Walter Palmer the destruction of his
Walter Palmer the destruction of his
Walter Palmer the destruction of his business his home address is given out
business his home address is given out
business his home address is given out and it suggested he kill himself may 28
and it suggested he kill himself may 28
and it suggested he kill himself may 28 2016 a three-year-old boy at the
2016 a three-year-old boy at the
2016 a three-year-old boy at the Cincinnati Zoo manages to climb into the
Cincinnati Zoo manages to climb into the
Cincinnati Zoo manages to climb into the gorilla enclosure zookeepers act swiftly
gorilla enclosure zookeepers act swiftly
gorilla enclosure zookeepers act swiftly and determined that in order to ensure
and determined that in order to ensure
and determined that in order to ensure the boys safety they have to shoot to
the boys safety they have to shoot to
the boys safety they have to shoot to kill Harambee a 17 year old gorilla and
kill Harambee a 17 year old gorilla and
kill Harambee a 17 year old gorilla and social media erupts mourning the loss of
social media erupts mourning the loss of
social media erupts mourning the loss of Harambee questioning the zoo’s decision
Harambee questioning the zoo’s decision
Harambee questioning the zoo’s decision and placing the blame squarely on
and placing the blame squarely on
and placing the blame squarely on intensive bad parents for those of us
intensive bad parents for those of us
intensive bad parents for those of us who work in conservation organizations
who work in conservation organizations
who work in conservation organizations these events gave us a glimmer of hope
these events gave us a glimmer of hope
these events gave us a glimmer of hope that there might be a light cast on the
that there might be a light cast on the
that there might be a light cast on the bigger issues related to wildlife and
bigger issues related to wildlife and
bigger issues related to wildlife and instead the social media response made
instead the social media response made
instead the social media response made resoundingly clear we are disconnected
resoundingly clear we are disconnected
resoundingly clear we are disconnected from nature we are very comfortable
from nature we are very comfortable
from nature we are very comfortable public shaming strangers about what we
public shaming strangers about what we
public shaming strangers about what we perceive as poor parenting or the
perceive as poor parenting or the
perceive as poor parenting or the horrors of canned hunting but as humans
horrors of canned hunting but as humans
horrors of canned hunting but as humans we’re not so good at digging a little
we’re not so good at digging a little
we’re not so good at digging a little deeper to discover what is really high
deeper to discover what is really high
deeper to discover what is really high opening with the issues and in this case
opening with the issues and in this case
opening with the issues and in this case the issues of what’s happening in
the issues of what’s happening in
the issues of what’s happening in wildlife a report from the wildlife
wildlife a report from the wildlife
wildlife a report from the wildlife World Wildlife Federation that just came
World Wildlife Federation that just came
World Wildlife Federation that just came out a week or two ago suggests that
out a week or two ago suggests that
out a week or two ago suggests that using 1970 as a base we are on track to
using 1970 as a base we are on track to
using 1970 as a base we are on track to lose two-thirds of our wild animal
lose two-thirds of our wild animal
lose two-thirds of our wild animal population by the year twenty twenty so
population by the year twenty twenty so
population by the year twenty twenty so let’s talk about Harambee hashtag
let’s talk about Harambee hashtag
let’s talk about Harambee hashtag Harambee has taken on a life of its own
Harambee has taken on a life of its own
Harambee has taken on a life of its own thirteen thousand tweets in just the
thirteen thousand tweets in just the
thirteen thousand tweets in just the last month almost none of which had
last month almost none of which had
last month almost none of which had anything to do with Harambee the gorilla
anything to do with Harambee the gorilla
anything to do with Harambee the gorilla or the gorillas in Africa or the role
or the gorillas in Africa or the role
or the gorillas in Africa or the role that zoos play in saving gorillas from
that zoos play in saving gorillas from
that zoos play in saving gorillas from extinction there are 100,000 gorillas
extinction there are 100,000 gorillas
extinction there are 100,000 gorillas remaining in Africa there are three
remaining in Africa there are three
remaining in Africa there are three species all considered critically
species all considered critically
species all considered critically endangered because they have seen a
endangered because they have seen a
endangered because they have seen a population decline of eighty percent in
population decline of eighty percent in
population decline of eighty percent in just three generations there are eight
just three generations there are eight
just three generations there are eight hundred and eighty mountain gorillas
hundred and eighty mountain gorillas
hundred and eighty mountain gorillas remaining you know gorillas and really
remaining you know gorillas and really
remaining you know gorillas and really all men animals reside in zoos not to
all men animals reside in zoos not to
all men animals reside in zoos not to entertain but to educate their real
entertain but to educate their real
entertain but to educate their real purpose is to connect with our guests to
purpose is to connect with our guests to
purpose is to connect with our guests to inspire them to care to move them to
inspire them to care to move them to
inspire them to care to move them to wanting to behave in more sustainable
wanting to behave in more sustainable
wanting to behave in more sustainable ways for this planet the mission at the
ways for this planet the mission at the
ways for this planet the mission at the Seneca Park Zoo is simplified to connect
Seneca Park Zoo is simplified to connect
Seneca Park Zoo is simplified to connect care conserve and while we don’t yet
care conserve and while we don’t yet
care conserve and while we don’t yet have gorillas at the Seneca Park Zoo
have gorillas at the Seneca Park Zoo
have gorillas at the Seneca Park Zoo they are in the plans and how can you
they are in the plans and how can you
they are in the plans and how can you look into the eyes of a gorilla and not
look into the eyes of a gorilla and not
look into the eyes of a gorilla and not feel a connection and that ought to move
feel a connection and that ought to move
feel a connection and that ought to move you to want to know more about the
you to want to know more about the
you to want to know more about the issues faced by these majestic creatures
issues faced by these majestic creatures
issues faced by these majestic creatures in Africa and for gorillas in the Congo
in Africa and for gorillas in the Congo
in Africa and for gorillas in the Congo that means being poached for bush meat
that means being poached for bush meat
that means being poached for bush meat and because they have a low reproductive
and because they have a low reproductive
and because they have a low reproductive rate even a small amount of hunting
rate even a small amount of hunting
rate even a small amount of hunting leads to population decline where
leads to population decline where
leads to population decline where there’s human overpopulation there’s
there’s human overpopulation there’s
there’s human overpopulation there’s habitat encroachment and habitat
habitat encroachment and habitat
habitat encroachment and habitat destruction and even though many of
destruction and even though many of
destruction and even though many of these animals live in national parks
these animals live in national parks
these animals live in national parks those parts themselves are threatened by
those parts themselves are threatened by
those parts themselves are threatened by her interests and oil exploration the
her interests and oil exploration the
her interests and oil exploration the human story of exploitation of Natural
human story of exploitation of Natural
human story of exploitation of Natural Resources for our own economic gain is
Resources for our own economic gain is
Resources for our own economic gain is not a new one and it is universal and
not a new one and it is universal and
not a new one and it is universal and while I have not been to the Congo I
while I have not been to the Congo I
while I have not been to the Congo I have been to Madagascar and the story
have been to Madagascar and the story
have been to Madagascar and the story there is really the same more than
there is really the same more than
there is really the same more than eighty percent of Madagascar is
eighty percent of Madagascar is
eighty percent of Madagascar is deforested 103 species of lemur all
deforested 103 species of lemur all
deforested 103 species of lemur all endangered due to habitat loss but how
endangered due to habitat loss but how
endangered due to habitat loss but how do you look at a villager and ask him to
do you look at a villager and ask him to
do you look at a villager and ask him to not cut down the trees for timber and
not cut down the trees for timber and
not cut down the trees for timber and fuel and not turn the forests into rice
fuel and not turn the forests into rice
fuel and not turn the forests into rice paddies so he can feed his family he’s
paddies so he can feed his family he’s
paddies so he can feed his family he’s living on the equivalent of two dollars
living on the equivalent of two dollars
living on the equivalent of two dollars a day how can you tell him the life of a
a day how can you tell him the life of a
a day how can you tell him the life of a lemur is more important than that we
lemur is more important than that we
lemur is more important than that we have to stop pointing our fingers over
have to stop pointing our fingers over
have to stop pointing our fingers over there and start looking at the root
there and start looking at the root
there and start looking at the root causes of mass extinction and I can
causes of mass extinction and I can
causes of mass extinction and I can promise you it’s not canned hunting so
promise you it’s not canned hunting so
promise you it’s not canned hunting so let’s talk about Cecil for a minute the
let’s talk about Cecil for a minute the
let’s talk about Cecil for a minute the wild of Born Free that romantic notion
wild of Born Free that romantic notion
wild of Born Free that romantic notion of in the wild it doesn’t exist much
of in the wild it doesn’t exist much
of in the wild it doesn’t exist much outside of our own imaginations where
outside of our own imaginations where
outside of our own imaginations where Lions roam free there are nuisance
Lions roam free there are nuisance
Lions roam free there are nuisance animals they take down livestock that
animals they take down livestock that
animals they take down livestock that people depend on where elephants roam
people depend on where elephants roam
people depend on where elephants roam free they destroy mass amounts of
free they destroy mass amounts of
free they destroy mass amounts of vegetation and so we create national
vegetation and so we create national
vegetation and so we create national parks sanctuaries preserves in a way to
parks sanctuaries preserves in a way to
parks sanctuaries preserves in a way to manage the species manage populations
manage the species manage populations
manage the species manage populations and ensure that humans and animals can
and ensure that humans and animals can
and ensure that humans and animals can live together in shared space and we
live together in shared space and we
live together in shared space and we invite tourists in for safari and yet
invite tourists in for safari and yet
invite tourists in for safari and yet about every 20 minutes an elephant is
about every 20 minutes an elephant is
about every 20 minutes an elephant is poached for its ivory so by my watch
poached for its ivory so by my watch
poached for its ivory so by my watch that’s about 50 51 so far today at the
that’s about 50 51 so far today at the
that’s about 50 51 so far today at the rate of 96 elephants today that’s about
rate of 96 elephants today that’s about
rate of 96 elephants today that’s about 35,000 a year there are just three
35,000 a year there are just three
35,000 a year there are just three hundred and fifty thousand African
hundred and fifty thousand African
hundred and fifty thousand African elephants remaining so if nothing
elephants remaining so if nothing
elephants remaining so if nothing changes at this rate we’re looking at
changes at this rate we’re looking at
changes at this rate we’re looking at extinction in about ten years you know
extinction in about ten years you know
extinction in about ten years you know this leads to a role that Zeus plays
this leads to a role that Zeus plays
this leads to a role that Zeus plays that I would venture most of you don’t
that I would venture most of you don’t
that I would venture most of you don’t know about accredited
know about accredited
know about accredited zoos participate in cooperative and
zoos participate in cooperative and
zoos participate in cooperative and collaborative reading programs that are
collaborative reading programs that are
collaborative reading programs that are designed to sustain a species enough
designed to sustain a species enough
designed to sustain a species enough genetic diversity in that species to
genetic diversity in that species to
genetic diversity in that species to sustain the population in conservation
sustain the population in conservation
sustain the population in conservation care for the next 100 years this isn’t
care for the next 100 years this isn’t
care for the next 100 years this isn’t done to perpetuate the existence of zoos
done to perpetuate the existence of zoos
done to perpetuate the existence of zoos it’s to ensure the viability of that
it’s to ensure the viability of that
it’s to ensure the viability of that species in natural range so the Seneca
species in natural range so the Seneca
species in natural range so the Seneca Park Zoo participates in more than 30
Park Zoo participates in more than 30
Park Zoo participates in more than 30 Species Survival plans we’ve been
Species Survival plans we’ve been
Species Survival plans we’ve been involved with assisted reproduction for
involved with assisted reproduction for
involved with assisted reproduction for snow leopards African elephants polar
snow leopards African elephants polar
snow leopards African elephants polar bears we’ve also been involved in
bears we’ve also been involved in
bears we’ve also been involved in reintroducing native species into
reintroducing native species into
reintroducing native species into natural range such as north american
natural range such as north american
natural range such as north american river otter and lake sturgeon there are
river otter and lake sturgeon there are
river otter and lake sturgeon there are more than 30 species that exist today
more than 30 species that exist today
more than 30 species that exist today that were once extinct that are now back
that were once extinct that are now back
that were once extinct that are now back in natural range due primarily due to
in natural range due primarily due to
in natural range due primarily due to the work of zoos Mexican wolves golden
the work of zoos Mexican wolves golden
the work of zoos Mexican wolves golden lion tamarins the California condor so
lion tamarins the California condor so
lion tamarins the California condor so let’s go back to Seneca Park Zoo and
let’s go back to Seneca Park Zoo and
let’s go back to Seneca Park Zoo and Cecil most of the animals that you see
Cecil most of the animals that you see
Cecil most of the animals that you see in a zoo were born in a zoo there are
in a zoo were born in a zoo there are
in a zoo were born in a zoo there are rescued and rehabilitated animals that
rescued and rehabilitated animals that
rescued and rehabilitated animals that can’t be released but by and large when
can’t be released but by and large when
can’t be released but by and large when you come to the zoo and see an animal
you come to the zoo and see an animal
you come to the zoo and see an animal that animal was born in a zoo however to
that animal was born in a zoo however to
that animal was born in a zoo however to ensure enough genetic diversity in a
ensure enough genetic diversity in a
ensure enough genetic diversity in a small breeding population we have to
small breeding population we have to
small breeding population we have to occasionally introduce new genetics so
occasionally introduce new genetics so
occasionally introduce new genetics so are Lions came here from Africa in 2012
are Lions came here from Africa in 2012
are Lions came here from Africa in 2012 in Africa they were considered surplus a
in Africa they were considered surplus a
in Africa they were considered surplus a national park can only sustain so many
national park can only sustain so many
national park can only sustain so many Lions and our three lions were three
Lions and our three lions were three
Lions and our three lions were three lions too many they could have become
lions too many they could have become
lions too many they could have become part of a canned hunt but instead they
part of a canned hunt but instead they
part of a canned hunt but instead they came here to Cepeda sustainable breeding
came here to Cepeda sustainable breeding
came here to Cepeda sustainable breeding population and in fact their offspring
population and in fact their offspring
population and in fact their offspring have already had offspring much of what
have already had offspring much of what
have already had offspring much of what I’ve just shared with you was new to me
I’ve just shared with you was new to me
I’ve just shared with you was new to me before I met I came to the zoo when I
before I met I came to the zoo when I
before I met I came to the zoo when I took the job at the zoo I knew only that
took the job at the zoo I knew only that
took the job at the zoo I knew only that I was being called to a new life my
I was being called to a new life my
I was being called to a new life my father taught me that our job well were
father taught me that our job well were
father taught me that our job well were on this planet is to leave the world a
on this planet is to leave the world a
on this planet is to leave the world a better place
better place
better place than we found it and this job allows me
than we found it and this job allows me
than we found it and this job allows me to do that I am driven by the knowledge
to do that I am driven by the knowledge
to do that I am driven by the knowledge that what I do every day saves animals
that what I do every day saves animals
that what I do every day saves animals from extinction and I’m driven by the
from extinction and I’m driven by the
from extinction and I’m driven by the knowledge that what all of you do every
knowledge that what all of you do every
knowledge that what all of you do every day can save animals or destroy I’m not
day can save animals or destroy I’m not
day can save animals or destroy I’m not asking each of you to leave your lives
asking each of you to leave your lives
asking each of you to leave your lives and take up the cause the way that I did
and take up the cause the way that I did
and take up the cause the way that I did but I am asking you to take some action
but I am asking you to take some action
but I am asking you to take some action even if that action is only learning
even if that action is only learning
even if that action is only learning more about the real issues we are
more about the real issues we are
more about the real issues we are disconnected from nature and so we blame
disconnected from nature and so we blame
disconnected from nature and so we blame bad parenting and canned hunting when
bad parenting and canned hunting when
bad parenting and canned hunting when the truth is we are living in ways that
the truth is we are living in ways that
the truth is we are living in ways that are unsustainable for this planet and so
are unsustainable for this planet and so
are unsustainable for this planet and so my job it becomes in part reconnecting
my job it becomes in part reconnecting
my job it becomes in part reconnecting people with nature getting dirt under
people with nature getting dirt under
people with nature getting dirt under our fingernails so that the dirt under
our fingernails so that the dirt under
our fingernails so that the dirt under the fingernails nourishes us and
the fingernails nourishes us and
the fingernails nourishes us and inspires us and maybe with dirt under
inspires us and maybe with dirt under
inspires us and maybe with dirt under our fingernails were a little less
our fingernails were a little less
our fingernails were a little less likely to cast aspersions on social
likely to cast aspersions on social
likely to cast aspersions on social media so what should we have learned
media so what should we have learned
media so what should we have learned from the killings of Cecil and Harambee
from the killings of Cecil and Harambee
from the killings of Cecil and Harambee I think what we should have learned is
I think what we should have learned is
I think what we should have learned is that we’re living in the midst of a mass
that we’re living in the midst of a mass
that we’re living in the midst of a mass extinction caused by human action and
extinction caused by human action and
extinction caused by human action and that each one of us has a responsibility
that each one of us has a responsibility
that each one of us has a responsibility and the ability to turn it around thank
and the ability to turn it around thank
and the ability to turn it around thank you very much
”
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