LOCAL FAMILY FUN
Wild about Conservation Local opportunities to learn and help BY ERIN PAGE . PHOTOS PROVIDED.
“I want my son to live in a world where he can find horned lizards and encounter swamp rabbits because animals make our lives richer. You may think some animals don’t have much of a purpose — like opossums — but they can eat thousands of ticks every night. Practically, having a diversity of species keeps us healthier as humans.” Dr. Hayley Lanier, assistant curator of mammals at Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
(ABOVE) THE OKC ZOO AND SAM NOBLE MUSEUM ESTABLISHED A “HEAD START” PROGRAM TO REVITALIZE THE POPULATION OF TEXAS HORNED LIZARDS IN THE METRO. PHOTO COURTESY OF OKC ZOO.
One in eight species are currently susceptible to extinction specifically due to human impact on the environment. Habitat loss, pollution and climate change threaten these endangered species. This data, released in a 2019 report by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, has spurred efforts to preserve biodiversity because when species face extinction, humanity suffers. The teams at three local attractions are pioneering unique conservation efforts by working together. The Oklahoma City Zoo, SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology and Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History are on a mission to protect our biodiversity — and they provide many opportunities for local families to help. “We don’t even know the full effects as to what the loss of biodiversity would do, but there are cascading effects,” said Ashley Mason-Burns- Meerschaert, director of museum operations & education at Museum of Osteology. “The hope is that we will inspire people to preserve and conserve species now.” Partnerships protecting biodiversity Members of the OKC Zoo’s leadership team coauthored a 2022 research paper in BioScience that outlines how collaboration between Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) members and natural history museums can enhance humans’ understanding of wildlife. The Zoo’s partnerships with local museums began with the need to dispose of animals after they die in a way that could also extend the
purpose of their lives. The Museum of Osteology has been cleaning specimens for the Zoo for several decades, then adding those specimens to their collection. When a specimen from the Zoo is donated to the Sam Noble Museum, it may be displayed for educational purposes (like great silverback gorilla Bom Bom on display in the lobby) or preserved as a bio fact so it can be handled by visitors during educational programs. The majority of the specimens are prepared for research, and they are available to the scientific community globally as part of the museum’s extensive collection. “They can go on to have another purpose,” said Dr. Jennifer D’Agostino, OKC Zoo’s director of veterinary services. “They can still be used for conservation, research and educational purposes so their story continues forever.” THE COLLECTIONS TEAM AT THE SAM NOBLE MUSEUM RECEIVES REQUESTS FROM RESEARCHERS AROUND THE WORLD TO STUDY BIODIVERSITY AND DIRECT CONSERVATION EFFORTS. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM NOBLE MUSEUM.
58 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JAN-FEB 2023
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator