Wildlife Exhibits Help Bring Public Closer to Nature

Residents of the province will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with nature through exhibits that highlight wildlife in Newfoundland and Labrador. From April 11 to 14, the Department of Environment and Conservation will host an exhibit at the Village Mall in St. John’s. The exhibit is part of National Wildlife Week 2012 which is being celebrated from April 8 to 14.

“Wildlife comprises much more than the many animals that come to mind when the word is mentioned, and we often tend not to think about the immeasurable populations of plants, animals and microorganisms, all of which have an impact on our daily lives,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “There are many aspects of wildlife we don’t consider on a regular basis, such as their connection to the clothing we wear, the building materials we use to construct our homes, and even our emotional well-being. I encourage the public to learn a little more about wildlife in our province by visiting these exhibits.”

Along with Provincial Government representatives, partnering organizations such as Friends of Salmonier Nature Park, Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador, Multi-Materials Stewardship Board and Parks Canada will also host exhibits at the Village Mall. The public are invited to visit the displays, enter contests, hear presenters share stories about wildlife, view a live anole which found its way to Salmonier Nature Park in a very peculiar manner, and see life-sized taxidermy of a polar bear, coyote and wolf.

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 are invited to enter the Wildlife Week colouring contest and scavenger hunt for a chance to win great prizes, including the grand prize of a one-hour wildlife spotting helicopter trip.

A similar exhibit will take place at the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook from May 1 to 3.

For more information on events, please call 709-229-7888 or 637-2006, or visit www.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/wildlifeweek.html 

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Media contact:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca 

2012 04 10             9:45 a.m.