Riverbanks Zoo Celebrates National Endangered Species Day

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden celebrated National Endangered Species Day on Friday and launched a new program, Save the Animals from Extinction or ‘SAFE.’ For the tiger, it was just another day at the zoo, but for visitors it was a special day to learn about protecting wildlife. Riverbanks Zoo celebrated National Endangered Species day and launched a new program, ‘Saving Animals from Extinction.’ The program focuses it’s efforts on saving animals that are considered at greater risk of extinction, such as elephants and sea turtles. “We want to keep these populations in the wild thriving, we don’t want animals to disappear,” explained Public Relations Manager Susan O’Cain. “We want people to be able to come to zoos and aquariums and see their favorite animals.” This year the zoo is highlighting 10 animals at risk of extinction. O’ Cain said the animals are in danger for a variety of reasons including pollution and loss of habitat. “For instance, with elephants there’s a huge demand on ivory so because that demand is there, there is illegal poaching that’s taking place,” explained O’Cain. One of the easiest ways to help conserve animal populations is to cut down on the number of shopping bags we use. Zoo officials said the average shopper uses 500 shopping bags in one year. “Reduce, re-use, recycle. You hear it a lot but it says so much,” said O’Cain. “By taking that step you are cutting down on pollution, you are cutting down on debris getting into our waterways that some animals that live in the oceans can’t tell the difference.” While Friday was a designated day to pay special attention to endangered species, zoo officials said we should practice animal conservation 365 days a year.