FOCUS ON FOSSILS WEEK AT BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK: DISCOVERY CHANNEL BRINGS ANCIENT LIFE TO SCREEN

Superintendent William Supernaugh announces that Badlands National Park is one of 15 National Parks to receive a copy of a new visitor center film based on the Discovery Channel's Emmy-award winning program When Dinosaurs Roamed America. Working closely with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service, this animated film was produced by the Discovery Channel as part of their commitment as a Proud Partner of America's National Parks. A portion of the film will be shown with the Badlands National Park orientation video Buried Fossils, Living Prairie beginning July 13, the kick off for the eighth annual Focus on Fossils Week at South Dakota's largest national park.

Focus on Fossils Week is conducted by paleo-education interns each year during July to bring current research into the fossil past to the public and provide an expanded opportunity for education into the park's primary legislative purpose – protection and research into paleontological resources. The 2003 Focus on Fossils Week is July 13 through 19, 2003 and includes a special exhibit, as well as special programs. 2003 also marks the tenth anniversary of excavation at the Big Pig Dig, a collection of fossils discovered by visitors in 1993 that has yielded over 8000 bones of fossilized animals, primarily mammals.

There's always that quick moment of disappointment when we tell visitors that dinosaurs never roamed the White River Badlands, notes Chief of Resource Education Marianne Mills. However, when we show them the sometimes bizarre, sometimes familiar creatures that called this place home, they are caught up in the realization that fossils aren't just dinosaurs but includes mammals, birds, and other reptiles. Badlands provides a bridge from the age of dinosaurs into the time of humans – the unfamiliar to the familiar.

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The full twenty minute version of When Dinosaurs Roamed America is available on VHS videotape for loan to educational groups, such as schools, home schoolers, and community service groups. To borrow a copy of the film, those interested should contact the Division of Resource Education at (605) 433 – 5245. A reservation form is posted at the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/badl Requests can also be faxed to (605) 433 – 5248 or emailed to badl_interpretation@nps.gov Requestors should include their name, their organization's name, and the dates they wish to borrow the VHS video. There is no cost to borrow the video other than return postage. The video also teaches the importance of land preservation in preventing other species extinction, as well as how important it is for park visitors to leave all fossils on public lands to allow for further study of the adaptation of life to change over time.

We are pleased to present this film to Badlands National Park, said Carrie Passmore, Senior Vice President, Public Partnerships of Discovery Communications, Inc. As a Proud Partner of America's National Parks, we are committed to increasing access to information related to National Parks through innovative technology and the highest quality programming. The goal is to connect American to their National Parks – and Discovery is proud of our continuing contribution.

The National Park Foundation is the Congressionally chartered nonprofit partners of America's National Parks. Created by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation strengthens the enduring connection between the American people and their National Parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. Over the past seven years, the National Park Foundation has raised more than $130 million in support for America's National Parks. For more information visit www.nationalparks.org

Badlands National Park was established by Congress as a national monument in 1939 with its primary purpose to study the rich mammal fossil beds from the Oligocene geologic epoch, as well as protect the dramatically carved formations that are the definitive badland formations of the world. In 1978, Congress redesignated the area as a national park. Today, Badlands National Park consists of nearly 244,000 acres of badlands and prairie. Virtual park visitors will find the park's activity guide, The Prairie Preamble, as well as trip planning information and background on the park's purpose and activities at the park's website http://www.nps.gov/badl Information requests can be sent to badl_information@nps.gov

The Badlands National Park Internship Program in 2003 is sponsored by the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program, a Congressionally mandated program providing national parks with a vehicle to use entrance fee dollars locally for critical projects. The 2003 Focus on Fossils Week intern is Kathryn Price, a senior geology student at Kent State University in Ohio. Additional funding for the Focus Week is provided by Badlands Natural History Association, the park's nonprofit education partner dedicated to supporting public education on park resource issues.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, to current global operations in more than 155 countries and territories with over 830 million cumulative subscribers. DCI's 33 networks including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Civilization, The Science Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, Discovery Home and Leisure, and Discovery en Espanol.