07/30 ~ The Eagle has Landed
Greater Vancouver Zoo - Press Release
Date:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED
Aldergrove – Skye, a 3 year old captive raised Golden Eagle, arrived at the Greater Vancouver Zoo recently from the African Lion Safari in Ontario to everyone’s delight!
Skye is the newest member of the “Radical Raptor Birds of Prey” team where educational free flying presentations are performed in the amphitheatre at the Zoo. The presentations which are headed up by Gary Worley have thrilled audiences at the Zoo for the last 3 years. Gary is recognized as one of the world’s most experienced Falconers and Birds of Prey handler, and has developed his presentations over the last 20 years to create a balance between learning about the birds while having some fun!
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Skye belongs to the hawk and eagle family; they have broad rounded wings and the colors of their feathers range from black-brown to dark brown. The Golden Eagle has extremely large eyes that take up most of the space of the eagle’s head and can see even better than a human with perfect vision. The Eagle’s eyes don’t move much in his head, but just like an owl they can rotate their head about 270 degrees. Ranchers have thought in the past years that the Golden Eagles were killing off their young sheep and goats, so many were shot from airplanes. But in the end the results showed that there was no evidence of that the eagles had attacked the rancher’s livestock but instead they found that rabbits were the main source of food for the eagles. Many eagles are killed yearly for their feathers, eagles land on exposed power lines, are captured in traps set for other animals or are poisoned by tainted bait. |
Gary’s daily presentation through mid-September provides an educational insight into the wonderful world of raptors and how we can help them to continue to survive in the wild. Also new to Gary’s educational programs to the public this year at the Zoo includes a 1 week Summer Camp for children aged 10 -14 years old that provides a whole week of learning and how to handle raptors including Hawks, Falcons and Owls. Gary feels that it is of the utmost importance that we educate the young about all living things that we share the earth with, and with the animal ambassadors that we have at the Greater Vancouver Zoo; it is a great place to experience first hand by seeing some of the world’s most amazing living creatures.
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Media Contact:
Jody Henderson
Marketing & Promotions Manager
Phone: 604.856.6825 x 33
Email: jhenderson@gvzoo.com
To learn more about the good things we do at the Zoo
visit us at: www.gvzoo.com or better yet come visit us in person!
Since 1970….dedicated to conservation, preservation & protection of endangered species!