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NPS Photo by Michael Quinn
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958 Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park will Celebrate Wildlife Day on Saturday, May 7 this year; and television host Jack Hanna will be joining in the celebration. Celebrate Wildlife Day is an annual event that provides an opportunity for Grand Canyon National Park visitors to become acquainted with the unique wildlife of Arizona and the Grand Canyon, and to learn about the work of wildlife biologists. During the celebration, the Shrine of the Ages will be transformed into an exhibit hall with posters and interactive exhibits, educational demonstrations and live animals from the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center in Phoenix, Arizona. This year, there will also be talks and outdoor activities for the entire family on topics including: the endangered humpback chub, ravens, mountain lions, reptiles and amphibians, telemetry, and tracks and scat. Jack Hanna is currently the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and host of the Emmy Award winning television series Jack Hanna's Into the Wild. He has dedicated his professional career to educating the public about wild animals and the places they live. Previously, he hosted the television series Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures and directed the Columbus and Central Florida Zoos. He has also written numerous children's books. Hanna will be this year's featured presenter at Celebrate Wildlife Day and will provide his program twice in order to assure ample opportunity for everyone to attend. "We are thrilled that Mr. Hanna will be joining us this year. His enthusiasm and extensive knowledge will add a whole new dimension to our celebration; and we expect his programs to be very popular with our visitors," said Lori Rome, Supervisory Park Ranger and member of the Celebrate Wildlife Day planning committee. Grand Canyon visitors and residents are invited to join the celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are encouraged to attend one of Hanna's special programs, offered at 3 p.m. and at 8 p.m. All programs and activities will be free of charge and will take place at the Shrine of the Ages. To reach the Shrine of the Ages, visitors may walk along the rim from hotels in Grand Canyon Village (about 1.5 miles), take the Blue Route/Village Route shuttle bus, or park in Lot A. Celebrate Wildlife Day is made possible through a partnership between the National Park Service, the Grand Canyon Association, Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Grand Canyon Unified School District, Leave No Trace Center of Outdoor Ethics, Xanterra Parks And Resorts, Grand Canyon Railway and Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts. For a copy of the event schedule or to learn more about Celebrate Wildlife Day, please visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/wildlife-day.htm, or call Park Ranger Lori Rome at 928-638-7783 or Public Affairs Specialist Shannan Marcak at 928-638-7958. -NPS- |
Last updated: February 24, 2015