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The
William Holden Wildlife Foundation Education Center
offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the
outdoors in a rare communication with nature often
unavailable to them in their own environment. It is
essential to build a respect and appreciation for both
the flora and fauna and the understanding of their
delicate balance. Nature is a renewable resource but
only if we assume the responsibility of its protection.
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To awaken an awareness
and understanding of the
balance of nature, and
the vital role the
animals play in the
environmental network.
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To teach ways to realize
conservation of both wildlife
and the environment in light of
man’s need to exploit both
resources through our Model
Gardens.
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Our
Model Gardens serve as
models for many projects
which can easily be
implemented by our visiting
school children when they
return home. We receive many
letters telling us of their
success with our methods and
that in addition to being a
great way to grow vegetables
or indigenous trees, they
often serve as a center of
interest not only for the
school, but for the entire
community. Our planting,
composting and conservation
endeavors are always
improving and we love to
share the latest.
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To enact specific wildlife
management studies as they
impact on the environment and
the world at large.
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To continue research in animal
reproduction for captive
breeding programs.
The
benefits of biological diversity,
and what we will lose as a result of
species extinction are well
documented – more than this it is a
widely accepted belief by tribal
people and corporate executives
alike. While championing the
conservation of bio-diversity is
easy — the actual application and
work it takes to accomplish it is
complex and requires great
dedication.
Captive breeding is an important
tool for species conservation. This
highly focused and labor intensive
endeavor is being accomplished by a
system of world wide organizations
that are participating in
cooperation with one another to
provide the best possible
circumstances for keeping gene pools
alive.
Captive breeding is far from ideal –
but it is rapidly improving and
provides the time to develop
strategies that will lead to
long-term survival. There are
roughly 500,000 mammals, birds,
reptiles and amphibians in captivity
in zoos throughout the world. [See
Rhino Story]
The International Species Inventory
System keeps genealogical
information on individual animals of
2,500 species of mammals and birds
that are located in Europe and North
American zoos making it possible to
arrange matings by computer and
thereby minimizing problems caused
by inbreeding.
Zoos, botanical gardens and aquaria
have found new purpose and
direction, providing a safety net
when other protective measures have
failed. At WHWF we have consistently
supported such programs and created
our own when the need arose
[See Bongo
Story].
Our closest ally has of course
always been the Mount Kenya Wildlife
Conservancy (formerly Mount Kenya
Game Ranch) and we continue to
sustain each other’s efforts on a
daily basis. Our students at the
Center find the Animal Orphanage a
valuable practical experience as
well as a joy. Conservation is often
very specific and personal when an
animal born in the wild is suddenly
left without a mother to care for
it. By keeping a vigilant eye out
for these vulnerable creatures, we
are doing our part – sometimes one
animal at a time. |
