Spring 2020 Habitat Issue

2 | March/April/May 2020 All life is connected. Through the work of the Detroit Zoological Society, we encourage people to be mindful of their impact on others, human and non-human alike. At our core, we believe that we have both a responsibility and a great opportunity to be helpful, bringing both awareness and solutions to environmental issues. We are taught in grade school that every action has a consequence. Some of those effects occur too far in the future for us to process in the grand scheme of our lives. However, we’re at a point where we can no longer ignore what has happened and is happening to our home. An environmental and ecological tragedy is unfolding before us. Since the beginning of our time on this planet, we have pushed forward, going after our desires and needs without always fully considering the consequences and problems that could follow. We have dramatically changed (and in some places destroyed) landscapes, released chemicals into our air and water, left plastic to envelop the planet and too often treated animals and nature as disposable assets. Did we purposely damage our planet? For the most part, no. But we have at times made short-sighted, even reckless decisions on our quest to live better and bigger. We have ignored early warning signs validating that we’ve unwittingly become our own planet’s enemy. The time has come for all, including those who remain in denial, to not only face reality, but also help stop biodiversity loss and climate change. Our warming climate is having more and more catastrophic effects around the world. Among them: unheard of high temperatures in Antarctica with massive glacial melting in polar regions, violent weather and flooding, and, as we’ve seen in Australia, soaring temperatures and dry conditions. The combination has fueled fires that have ravaged some of our most treasured environmental epicenters. Just months after we watched the Amazon rainforest burn, we witnessed Australia burn. About 15 million acres have been incinerated and up to 1 billion animals (not including invertebrates) have perished after unprecedented bushfires tore through the continent. The number of animals killed is unfathomable, but it’s a sobering statistic that will only rise as critical ecosystems there continue to collapse in the fires’ wake since surviving animals have no shelter and little vegetation left to eat. But those are only a few high-profile examples that have recently garnered the world’s attention, exacerbated by years of missed opportunities to help, rather than harm, our environment. We’re at the point in human history where we must act. The natural world is fundamentally at risk. As you know, DZS is committed to celebrating and saving wildlife . If damage to habitats around the world is not stopped, the dire predictions regarding species extinctions will leave us lonely on this planet. Even with all of the other conservation organizations combined, we can’t save wildlife without you and every other person. The issue of climate change is complex and it cannot be unpacked in 700 words or less. Going forward, we will provide many practical suggestions and possible solutions for how we can all live better and more environmentally conscious. We’re not perfect, and it’s unrealistic to completely overhaul our lives overnight, but we must dramatically reduce our ecological footprint — even if we start with small steps. From making a conscious effort to stop using plastic bags at a grocery store, to carrying around a refillable water jug, to adjusting the thermostat efficiently, there really are many practical ways that we can collectively make a big difference. If you want to join in on our Green Journey, we have a number of helpful resources on our website www.detroitzoo.org ; click on “About” and then navigate to our “Greenprint” section. You, too, can celebrate and save wildlife! From the Director Ron Kagan Executive Director/CEO Detroit Zoological Society Printed in the USA. The Detroit Zoological Society – a renowned leader in humane education, wildlife conservation, animal welfare and environmental sustainability – operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. The Detroit Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Habitat is produced quarterly for Members of the Detroit Zoological Society. PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT ArborOakland Group CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jennifer Thomas GRAPHIC DESIGN Jen Valente Design Copyright © 2020 Detroit Zoological Society All rights reserved. PLEASE CONTACT: Detroit Zoological Society 8450 W. 10 Mile Road Royal Oak, MI 48067 Phone: (248) 541-5717 Fax: (248) 541-2489 www.detroitzoo.org For questions about membership, please contact: info@dzs.org. facebook.com/detroitzoo youtube.com/detroitzoo twitter.com/detroitzoo instagram.com/detroitzoo H ABITAT Celebrating and Saving Wildlife T h e M a g a z i n e o f t h e D e t r o i t Z o o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y