IRF Team participates in Strategic Planning Conservation Workshop

IRF program officer Bill Konstant with board members John Lukas and Rick Barongi
IRF program officer Bill Konstant with board members John Lukas and Rick Barongi

Four members of the IRF team, board members John Lukas and Rick Barongi, advisory board member Steve Shurter, and program officer Bill Konstant, recently participated in a strategic planning conservation workshop at Florida’s Jacksonville Zoo.  The four were among 26 specialists whose expertise was drawn upon to help the zoo in develop a program best suited to the institution’s strengths and potential. In addition to white rhinos, the Jacksonville Zoo is home to many other species that are also threatened in the wild, including several endangered large cats.
A white rhino relaxes in its exhibit under the shade of a few palm trees.
A white rhino relaxes in its exhibit under the shade of a few palm trees.

An innovative exhibit due to open in Spring 2014 will house two tiger species, including the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.
An innovative exhibit due to open in Spring 2014 will house two tiger species, including the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.

A two-week-old Amur leopard cub receives its first health check-up. As many as 50 Amur leopards are now believed to survive in the wild, roughly the same as the number of Javan rhinos left in the world.
A two-week-old Amur leopard cub receives its first health check-up. As many as 50 Amur leopards are now believed to survive in the wild, roughly the same as the number of Javan rhinos left in the world.

Less than 160 wild Florida panthers are believed to remain in the wild – about the same as the number of Sumatran and Javan rhinos combined.
Less than 160 wild Florida panthers are believed to remain in the wild – about the same as the number of Sumatran and Javan rhinos combined.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *