SAN DIEGO–In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, San Diego Zoo Global is launching a Virtual Earth Day Celebration, where online visitors can participate in fun activities and gain access to educational resources—all while learning ways to better co-exist with nature. Earth Day is celebrated globally on April 22.
To expand global awareness of Earth Day, San Diego Zoo Global is partnering with the Earth Day Network, the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to drive positive action for the planet. Each year, the Earth Day Network—organizer of the original Earth Day—selects an environmental priority to engage people worldwide. This year, the enormous challenges—but also the vast opportunities—of acting on climate change have been identified as the most pressing issue for the 50th anniversary year. More frequent droughts, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans brought on by climate change can directly affect animals and plants, and the places they live.
“San Diego Zoo Global is honored to partner with the Earth Day Network to bring about awareness of and celebrate Earth Day 2020,” said Paul Baribault, president/CEO of San Diego Zoo Global. “Our organizations share a mutual goal of maintaining a healthy planet. As stewards dedicated to the conservation of wildlife around the world, San Diego Zoo Global recognizes the ramifications of climate change and its impact on endangered wildlife and habitats. On Earth Day and every day, we are honored to share our science-based, educational resources with millions of people worldwide. Working together, we can make simple lifestyle changes that can add up to big benefits for our environment.”
On Earth Day, online visitors are invited to participate in the Earth Day Network’s EARTHRISE, a global digital mobilization designed to drive actions big and small, giving diverse voices a platform and demanding bold action for people and the planet. Over 24 hours, EARTHRISE will fill the digital landscape with global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more.
At 11:30 a.m., San Diego Zoo Global ambassador Rick Schwartz will participate in EARTHRISE, introducing the dedicated team of researchers and wildlife care specialists at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center. Online viewers can learn about the importance of conserving species and find out more about San Diego Zoo Global’s efforts to save the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction. Visit EarthDay.org.
Immediately after the EARTHRISE online broadcast, at noon, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Facebook Live feed will give the public an opportunity to ask questions and learn more from the researchers and wildlife care specialists at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center. To access the broadcast, visit Facebook.com/SDZSafariPark.
During the Zoo’s Virtual Earth Day Celebration April 13 to 22, visitors to SanDiegoZoo.org can discover more about the Earth’s diverse wildlife species through live streaming cams, videos, activities and more.
