The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans.
-Jim Fowler
All Evening Lectures will take place in the Zoo's Hanson Building at 7:00 p.m. with the exception of our lecture with Fairfield University students (held at Fairfield University at 7:00 p.m.). Refreshments will be served at each lecture. A $10 donation is suggested.
2020 Evening Lecture Dates & Topics
Zoo-Ology! (Fairfield University) Postponed, date TBD Discover the secret life of Zoo animals! Each year students from Fairfield University create study projects on Zoo animal behavior. Are Brook trout cannibals? Do Amur tigers recognize the keepers that raised them? What are the precursors to Maned wolf aggression? Can Spider monkeys and Giant anteaters co-exist in peace? What does the world look like from a turtle’s perspective? Discover the answers to these questions and more. DiMenna-Nyselius Library Auditorium room 101, Fairfield University, 1073 N Benson Rd, Fairfield |
The Bear Reality May 20 Bears around the world are facing a growing number of threats. Encroachment on and loss of habitat, illegal hunting and poaching, and a lack of understanding are all to pressures these amazing animals face. Through outreach and education, these magnificent creatures will become better understood. We will learn to respect them instead of fear them. Felicia Ortner will teach us how a strategy of coexistence between humans and bears can become a reality. |
Connecticut Bobcat Project June 17 The DEEP Wildlife Division initiated a bobcat study in 2017 to investigate bobcat habitat use in different housing densities in Connecticut. Biologists want to determine how the state's bobcats meet their needs in both rural and suburban areas, as well as how successful bobcats are at reproduction and survival. Each year 50 bobcats are collared answering questions related to the location, dispersal, migration, activity patterns, and home range of Connecticut’s top predator. These collars are programmed to automatically detach from the animals after 300 days. Melissa Ruszczyk will reveal stories of survival these cats are telling us through this project. |
Chemoreception in Marine Mammals July 15 The use of taste and smell is well documented in terrestrial animals and in many fish, sharks and rays, but has never been examined in fully aquatic mammals. It is thought that in whales, seals, and manatees there is olfactory detection at the water surface whereas detection within the water is mediated by taste buds. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the fully aquatic, endangered Florida manatee is capable of chemically sensing a female manatee in estrus. Dr Meghan Barboza explores the chemical sensing abilities of the manatee including describing how manatees receive and transmit sensory information below the surface of the sea. |
Maasai – The Lion Stewards of Kenya August 19 When most people think of Kenya, they envision scenes of iconic megafauna striding across the endless veldt, untouched by man or the pressure that mankind is placing on many landscapes across the globe. The reality is much more complicated than the idealized version of Kenya that is portrayed in nature documentaries or animated children’s movies. Despite the grim reality facing many species in Africa, the Maasai people have managed to coexist with large predators and even change their culture to become stewards of lions across Kenya. Join John Scott as he shares his experience in Kenya doing field work with the Maasai people and lions, and hear lessons we can learn from and apply with large carnivores that live in our own backyards. |
Ngogo Chimpanzee Project September 16 Kibale National Park contains the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda and one of the largest in East Africa, making it one of the few remaining strongholds for chimpanzees in the wild. The main threat to chimpanzees in Kibale is poaching, which has increased in frequency alongside increases in local human populations. To protect chimpanzees and other animals from illegal hunting, the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project was created. Founded by Dr. David Watts, the project employs local people, who patrol the park for snares and signs of poaching activity. Learn more about the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project’s mission of scientific research and the long-term study of the Ngogo community of chimpanzees, conservation of animal populations throughout the park, and the education of local people of all ages. |
The Benefit of Bats! October 2020 With over 1000 species of bats worldwide, the only flying mammal has fascinating tales to tell. Discover how bats help mankind, from pest control to pollination these special creatures make our lives better. Maureen Heidtmann will regale us with the many benefits of bats. As a wildlife rehabilitator she can also advise us on how to attract bats to our yards, what to do if you find a bat in your house and how to help injured or orphaned bats. |
