Oh animals they are amazing they’re loving exciting unconditional once
loving exciting unconditional once
loving exciting unconditional once establishes a human animal bond is truly
establishes a human animal bond is truly
establishes a human animal bond is truly one like no other and I don’t know I
one like no other and I don’t know I
one like no other and I don’t know I know that some of my closest and most
know that some of my closest and most
know that some of my closest and most consistent relationships have been with
consistent relationships have been with
consistent relationships have been with animals take a minute and think about
animals take a minute and think about
animals take a minute and think about your first or most impactful final
your first or most impactful final
your first or most impactful final experience was it in nature a chance
experience was it in nature a chance
experience was it in nature a chance encounter with a black tailed deer or
encounter with a black tailed deer or
encounter with a black tailed deer or nuthatch
nuthatch
nuthatch was it praying through the glass of an
was it praying through the glass of an
was it praying through the glass of an aquarium or looking into the eyes and
aquarium or looking into the eyes and
aquarium or looking into the eyes and exotic species you’ve never seen before
exotic species you’ve never seen before
exotic species you’ve never seen before I mean maybe it was a time you held your
I mean maybe it was a time you held your
I mean maybe it was a time you held your first hamster or meeting a friendly or
first hamster or meeting a friendly or
first hamster or meeting a friendly or an aggressive canine it’s the diversity
an aggressive canine it’s the diversity
an aggressive canine it’s the diversity of these experiences that shape the
of these experiences that shape the
of these experiences that shape the roles that animals play in our lives I
roles that animals play in our lives I
roles that animals play in our lives I know that my first impactful experience
know that my first impactful experience
know that my first impactful experience took place between myself and a
took place between myself and a
took place between myself and a chimpanzee I was 11 years old and I was
chimpanzee I was 11 years old and I was
chimpanzee I was 11 years old and I was off to the zoo with a backpack full of
off to the zoo with a backpack full of
off to the zoo with a backpack full of apples and oranges off to feed the
apples and oranges off to feed the
apples and oranges off to feed the animals this is at a time when we’re
animals this is at a time when we’re
animals this is at a time when we’re still allowed to do so and I remember
still allowed to do so and I remember
still allowed to do so and I remember approaching the chimpanzee exhibit and
approaching the chimpanzee exhibit and
approaching the chimpanzee exhibit and tossing an apple into one of them one of
tossing an apple into one of them one of
tossing an apple into one of them one of them proceeded to catch it and members
them proceeded to catch it and members
them proceeded to catch it and members of his cohort came over to see who would
of his cohort came over to see who would
of his cohort came over to see who would toss this Apple now I watched them from
toss this Apple now I watched them from
toss this Apple now I watched them from up above and they came over and looked
up above and they came over and looked
up above and they came over and looked up and the chimp who was eating the
up and the chimp who was eating the
up and the chimp who was eating the Apple scanned the wall there were must
Apple scanned the wall there were must
Apple scanned the wall there were must have been about 50 visitors saw me
have been about 50 visitors saw me
have been about 50 visitors saw me locked eyes with me and pointed at me
locked eyes with me and pointed at me
locked eyes with me and pointed at me it was amazing it was humbling it blew
it was amazing it was humbling it blew
it was amazing it was humbling it blew my mind and I guess you could say that
my mind and I guess you could say that
my mind and I guess you could say that that’s where my lifelong love of animals
that’s where my lifelong love of animals
that’s where my lifelong love of animals began I’ve had a pretty awesome career
began I’ve had a pretty awesome career
began I’ve had a pretty awesome career path and it’s carpets way from wildlife
path and it’s carpets way from wildlife
path and it’s carpets way from wildlife biology to teaching in a formal setting
biology to teaching in a formal setting
biology to teaching in a formal setting and eventually returning to my roots of
and eventually returning to my roots of
and eventually returning to my roots of becoming a zoologist and education
becoming a zoologist and education
becoming a zoologist and education director as well as the director of a
director as well as the director of a
director as well as the director of a small walkthrough area at Wildlife
small walkthrough area at Wildlife
small walkthrough area at Wildlife Safari I’m living the dream I get to
Safari I’m living the dream I get to
Safari I’m living the dream I get to work hands-on every day with these
work hands-on every day with these
work hands-on every day with these animals all while being able to educate
animals all while being able to educate
animals all while being able to educate about the importance of wildlife
about the importance of wildlife
about the importance of wildlife conservation and wild connections I’ve
conservation and wild connections I’ve
conservation and wild connections I’ve seen and lived through some pretty
seen and lived through some pretty
seen and lived through some pretty amazing experiences bird Bites bear
amazing experiences bird Bites bear
amazing experiences bird Bites bear bites animal births animal deaths and
bites animal births animal deaths and
bites animal births animal deaths and there’s one story that I want to share
there’s one story that I want to share
there’s one story that I want to share with you today this is a story of
with you today this is a story of
with you today this is a story of pancake pancake and her sister were born
pancake pancake and her sister were born
pancake pancake and her sister were born at wildlife safari weighing in at only a
at wildlife safari weighing in at only a
at wildlife safari weighing in at only a few ounces and it was a highly
few ounces and it was a highly
few ounces and it was a highly anticipated birth through everyone
anticipated birth through everyone
anticipated birth through everyone involved keepers spent many sleepless
involved keepers spent many sleepless
involved keepers spent many sleepless nights watching the monitors for the
nights watching the monitors for the
nights watching the monitors for the tell-tale science of contractions from
tell-tale science of contractions from
tell-tale science of contractions from the mother and while the birth was
the mother and while the birth was
the mother and while the birth was textbook we began to notice that a
textbook we began to notice that a
textbook we began to notice that a couple days later they weren’t gaming
couple days later they weren’t gaming
couple days later they weren’t gaming the weight that they should have it then
the weight that they should have it then
the weight that they should have it then at the anticipated rate and seemed to
at the anticipated rate and seemed to
at the anticipated rate and seemed to overall to be struggling to survive now
overall to be struggling to survive now
overall to be struggling to survive now a zoologist the decisions that we make
a zoologist the decisions that we make
a zoologist the decisions that we make are difficult if not impossible at times
are difficult if not impossible at times
are difficult if not impossible at times and it’s only through really
and it’s only through really
and it’s only through really understanding our animals that were able
understanding our animals that were able
understanding our animals that were able to make the best decisions for them this
to make the best decisions for them this
to make the best decisions for them this situation was particularly sensitive as
situation was particularly sensitive as
situation was particularly sensitive as we had such high hopes that pancake and
we had such high hopes that pancake and
we had such high hopes that pancake and her sister would grow up to join the
her sister would grow up to join the
her sister would grow up to join the breeding population of their species in
breeding population of their species in
breeding population of their species in zoos you see in the wild
zoos you see in the wild
zoos you see in the wild 90% of cheetahs don’t make it to four
90% of cheetahs don’t make it to four
90% of cheetahs don’t make it to four months of age a lot of this is due to
months of age a lot of this is due to
months of age a lot of this is due to predation but a lot of it is also due to
predation but a lot of it is also due to
predation but a lot of it is also due to the fact that they have such a small
the fact that they have such a small
the fact that they have such a small gene pool it makes their immune systems
gene pool it makes their immune systems
gene pool it makes their immune systems compromised and susceptible to disease
compromised and susceptible to disease
compromised and susceptible to disease so with all this in mind we had to make
so with all this in mind we had to make
so with all this in mind we had to make a decision quickly and we knew that this
a decision quickly and we knew that this
a decision quickly and we knew that this decision would impact not only
decision would impact not only
decision would impact not only pancake her sister the keepers but also
pancake her sister the keepers but also
pancake her sister the keepers but also the cheetah species as a whole as well
the cheetah species as a whole as well
the cheetah species as a whole as well as everyone else who would get to meet
as everyone else who would get to meet
as everyone else who would get to meet them so with this in mind we decided to
them so with this in mind we decided to
them so with this in mind we decided to pull pancake and her sister from her mom
pull pancake and her sister from her mom
pull pancake and her sister from her mom a mere hours later we lost her sister
a mere hours later we lost her sister
a mere hours later we lost her sister and through this tragic loss we
and through this tragic loss we
and through this tragic loss we discovered that pancakes mom actually
discovered that pancakes mom actually
discovered that pancakes mom actually wasn’t producing milk and had we not
wasn’t producing milk and had we not
wasn’t producing milk and had we not pulled them it’s very likely that
pulled them it’s very likely that
pulled them it’s very likely that pancake would have succumbed to the
pancake would have succumbed to the
pancake would have succumbed to the exact same fate as her sister now we had
exact same fate as her sister now we had
exact same fate as her sister now we had to play the role of Henry’s and pancake
to play the role of Henry’s and pancake
to play the role of Henry’s and pancake and this entailed having someone with
and this entailed having someone with
and this entailed having someone with her for 24 hours a day seven days a week
her for 24 hours a day seven days a week
her for 24 hours a day seven days a week for the first six months of her life
for the first six months of her life
for the first six months of her life and as a result pancake lives a life
and as a result pancake lives a life
and as a result pancake lives a life that’s quite different from those
that’s quite different from those
that’s quite different from those cheetahs that are in the wild now
cheetahs that are in the wild now
cheetahs that are in the wild now pancake is the face of and sheds light
pancake is the face of and sheds light
pancake is the face of and sheds light on the myriad of threats that wild
on the myriad of threats that wild
on the myriad of threats that wild cheetahs face many of which are human
cheetahs face many of which are human
cheetahs face many of which are human wildlife conflict
wildlife conflict
wildlife conflict cheetahs right now are being killed to
cheetahs right now are being killed to
cheetahs right now are being killed to protect livestock they’re part of the
protect livestock they’re part of the
protect livestock they’re part of the illegal pet trade and they’re also
illegal pet trade and they’re also
illegal pet trade and they’re also enjoying an enormous habitat loss
enjoying an enormous habitat loss
enjoying an enormous habitat loss according to the Zoological Society of
according to the Zoological Society of
according to the Zoological Society of London the Wildlife Conservation Society
London the Wildlife Conservation Society
London the Wildlife Conservation Society and Panthera there’s a little over seven
and Panthera there’s a little over seven
and Panthera there’s a little over seven thousand cheetahs left in the wild to
thousand cheetahs left in the wild to
thousand cheetahs left in the wild to put these put things into perspective
put these put things into perspective
put these put things into perspective this is down from a hundred thousand
this is down from a hundred thousand
this is down from a hundred thousand cheetahs just over a century ago
cheetahs just over a century ago
cheetahs just over a century ago compounded with this is the fact that
compounded with this is the fact that
compounded with this is the fact that they’ve lost about 75% of their habitat
they’ve lost about 75% of their habitat
they’ve lost about 75% of their habitat so this brings us to cheetahs that exist
so this brings us to cheetahs that exist
so this brings us to cheetahs that exist in US zoos across the United States
in US zoos across the United States
in US zoos across the United States currently we have about 300 cheetahs
currently we have about 300 cheetahs
currently we have about 300 cheetahs that exist in these places many of which
that exist in these places many of which
that exist in these places many of which are backed by the association of zoos
are backed by the association of zoos
are backed by the association of zoos and aquariums or the aza the aza in
and aquariums or the aza the aza in
and aquariums or the aza the aza in conjunction of the Species Survival Plan
conjunction of the Species Survival Plan
conjunction of the Species Survival Plan cooperatively manages these cheetah
cooperatively manages these cheetah
cooperatively manages these cheetah populations in order to breed as many as
populations in order to breed as many as
populations in order to breed as many as possible to really increase their
possible to really increase their
possible to really increase their species diversity their genetic
species diversity their genetic
species diversity their genetic diversity now at wildlife safari were
diversity now at wildlife safari were
diversity now at wildlife safari were really good at doing this so much so
really good at doing this so much so
really good at doing this so much so that were the number two cheetah
that were the number two cheetah
that were the number two cheetah breeding facility in the world
– to date we’ve bred over 210 cheetah
– to date we’ve bred over 210 cheetah cubs and it’s only through the hard work
cubs and it’s only through the hard work
cubs and it’s only through the hard work as cheetah keepers and detailed
as cheetah keepers and detailed
as cheetah keepers and detailed observations were able to do so and
observations were able to do so and
observations were able to do so and while one day we do hope to be able to
while one day we do hope to be able to
while one day we do hope to be able to reintroduce these back into the wild
reintroduce these back into the wild
reintroduce these back into the wild right now we’re just working on really
right now we’re just working on really
right now we’re just working on really maintaining a sustainable captive
maintaining a sustainable captive
maintaining a sustainable captive cheetah population so why should we care
cheetah population so why should we care
cheetah population so why should we care I mean we all know we lead such
I mean we all know we lead such
I mean we all know we lead such incredibly busy lives why should we care
incredibly busy lives why should we care
incredibly busy lives why should we care about these species that are so far
about these species that are so far
about these species that are so far removed from our everyday lives why
removed from our everyday lives why
removed from our everyday lives why should we care that every single day
should we care that every single day
should we care that every single day we’re losing dozens of species dozens of
we’re losing dozens of species dozens of
we’re losing dozens of species dozens of plants mammal insect bird species and
plants mammal insect bird species and
plants mammal insect bird species and this is a conservative estimate we
this is a conservative estimate we
this is a conservative estimate we should care because without sea otters
should care because without sea otters
should care because without sea otters the level of sea urchins would rise so
the level of sea urchins would rise so
the level of sea urchins would rise so much that they eat all the kelp forests
much that they eat all the kelp forests
much that they eat all the kelp forests which give home and habitat and food to
which give home and habitat and food to
which give home and habitat and food to so many species of ducks geese and
so many species of ducks geese and
so many species of ducks geese and snails we should care because without
snails we should care because without
snails we should care because without African elephants the African savannah
African elephants the African savannah
African elephants the African savannah would not be a savanna
would not be a savanna
would not be a savanna as they fords the way for savanna
as they fords the way for savanna
as they fords the way for savanna grasses fertilized soils and provide
grasses fertilized soils and provide
grasses fertilized soils and provide homes and habitats for other herd
homes and habitats for other herd
homes and habitats for other herd species you should care because without
species you should care because without
species you should care because without insects and the role they play with
insects and the role they play with
insects and the role they play with flowering plants the world as we know it
flowering plants the world as we know it
flowering plants the world as we know it right now what ceased to exist in 50
right now what ceased to exist in 50
right now what ceased to exist in 50 years 50 years the entire delicate
years 50 years the entire delicate
years 50 years the entire delicate balance of our planet is being shifted
balance of our planet is being shifted
balance of our planet is being shifted and through the destruction of all these
and through the destruction of all these
and through the destruction of all these species were inadvertently destroying
species were inadvertently destroying
species were inadvertently destroying ourselves so what do we do how can you
ourselves so what do we do how can you
ourselves so what do we do how can you turn all this knowledge and words into
turn all this knowledge and words into
turn all this knowledge and words into action every single one of you guys can
action every single one of you guys can
action every single one of you guys can become citizen scientists you could
become citizen scientists you could
become citizen scientists you could visit sites such as universe org and
visit sites such as universe org and
visit sites such as universe org and participate in real world science pick
participate in real world science pick
participate in real world science pick out a project that you love you could
out a project that you love you could
out a project that you love you could learn how to count animals on a camera
learn how to count animals on a camera
learn how to count animals on a camera job
job
job stars identify rocks or plants you could
stars identify rocks or plants you could
stars identify rocks or plants you could visit an AZ accredited zoo or aquarium
aza donates 160 million dollars every
aza donates 160 million dollars every single year to both insets U and exit to
single year to both insets U and exit to
single year to both insets U and exit to conservation projects currently they’re
conservation projects currently they’re
conservation projects currently they’re funding over 2,500 projects in over a
funding over 2,500 projects in over a
funding over 2,500 projects in over a hundred countries you could go for a
hundred countries you could go for a
hundred countries you could go for a walk
walk
walk you could learn how to identify birds
you could learn how to identify birds
you could learn how to identify birds learn how to identify frog calls or in a
learn how to identify frog calls or in a
learn how to identify frog calls or in a very doable level plant some flowers for
very doable level plant some flowers for
very doable level plant some flowers for the bees refrain from pesticide use or
the bees refrain from pesticide use or
the bees refrain from pesticide use or if next time you see a spider or a
if next time you see a spider or a
if next time you see a spider or a beetle why not help it on its way in our
beetle why not help it on its way in our
beetle why not help it on its way in our increasingly urbanized and
increasingly urbanized and
increasingly urbanized and technology-driven world it’s so
technology-driven world it’s so
technology-driven world it’s so important that we make these wild
important that we make these wild
important that we make these wild connections and I know how difficult it
connections and I know how difficult it
connections and I know how difficult it is but we have to because in the lot in
is but we have to because in the lot in
is but we have to because in the lot in the words of Sir David Attenborough a
the words of Sir David Attenborough a
the words of Sir David Attenborough a lifelong advocate for our planet no
lifelong advocate for our planet no
lifelong advocate for our planet no one’s going to protect what they don’t
one’s going to protect what they don’t
one’s going to protect what they don’t care about no one’s going to care about
care about no one’s going to care about
care about no one’s going to care about what they’ve never experienced no one’s
what they’ve never experienced no one’s
what they’ve never experienced no one’s gonna care about we’ve never experienced
gonna care about we’ve never experienced
gonna care about we’ve never experienced but we have to pancake is
– pancakes presents she’s raising
– pancakes presents she’s raising awareness and playing a direct role in
awareness and playing a direct role in
awareness and playing a direct role in fighting extinction for our species
fighting extinction for our species
fighting extinction for our species without these wild connections we can
without these wild connections we can
without these wild connections we can allow ourselves to look the other way
allow ourselves to look the other way
allow ourselves to look the other way and remain silent contributors the loss
and remain silent contributors the loss
and remain silent contributors the loss of so many amazing living breathing
of so many amazing living breathing
of so many amazing living breathing species I want you to take a look at
species I want you to take a look at
species I want you to take a look at pancake I want you to look into our eyes
pancake I want you to look into our eyes
pancake I want you to look into our eyes and let it be this connection for you
and let it be this connection for you
and let it be this connection for you just as that chimpanzee was for me one
just as that chimpanzee was for me one
just as that chimpanzee was for me one that’s gonna inspire courage and
that’s gonna inspire courage and
that’s gonna inspire courage and advocate action one that’s going to make
advocate action one that’s going to make
advocate action one that’s going to make us be that positive change that we all
us be that positive change that we all
us be that positive change that we all know we can be right now because if not
know we can be right now because if not
know we can be right now because if not right now then when thank you
right now then when thank you
right now then when thank you [Applause]
”
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