Renowned Biologist to Headline Zoo Atlanta’s Evening Adventure
Dr. Willie Smits joins popular Discovery Talk Series
ATLANTA – August 31, 2009 – The city’s best-kept secret in evening adventures take guests on an exploration in the world of orangutans on September 3, 2009, with a presentation by one of the world’s most prominent champions for orangutan conservation. Zoo Atlanta is privileged to welcome Dr. Willie Smits to the compelling fourth installment of the all-new 2009 Discovery Talk Series. A respected biologist and conservationist based in Indonesia, Smits is Chairman of the Masarang Foundation and founder of Borneo Orangutan Survival, an international organization operating the world’s largest rehabilitation centers for the critically endangered Asian apes.
Complete with exclusive after-hours exhibit visits and complimentary drinks preceding discussions tackling some of the 21st century’s most pressing conservation and wildlife topics, the Discovery Talk Series is rapidly gaining popularity as one of Atlanta’s best and most affordable cultural activities. On September 3, guests begin with an up close introduction to the evening’s foremost primates with a visit to the Zoo’s own orangutan habitat.
Zoo Atlanta is home to the nation’s largest collection of orangutans, with 10 individuals living in separate family groups. The outlook is grim for their wild counterparts, which scientists predict could go extinct within a decade without focused conservation efforts. Smits will provide fascinating insights into field initiatives devoted to reversing a tragic outcome, with dramatic food for thought for individuals and consumers making daily decisions affecting the future of orangutans. For more information on the work of Dr. Smits and his colleagues in Borneo, visit Orangutan Outreach at redapes.org.
Orangutan habitat visits begin at 6 p.m.; Discovery Talk begins promptly at 7 p.m. in the Zoo’s Action Resource Center (ARC). The Discovery Talk Series is free for Adventure Pack Members and up; $5 for Family and Companion Members; $7 for non-Members. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Visit zooatlanta.org for registration and event details.
