Trevor Zoo Joins The KeepSafe Project

Jane Meigs
Local wildlife conservationists have combined forces with the Trevor Zoo and local businesses around the Hudson Valley to form the KeepSafe Project, an initiative dedicated to raising public awareness of the need to conserve endangered species and their natural habitat as part of maintaining the overall health of our planet.
Dr. Laurie Marker, known around the world for her efforts in the conservation of cheetahs and their habitat near Otjiwarongo, Namibia, will be the featured speaker at a special event on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Dr. Marker will discuss the ongoing struggle for survival of existing cheetah populations, the delicate balance between human needs and the habitat these wonderful creatures require, and conservation actions being taken to prevent the species from being lost forever.

Paola Bari is a local Hudson Valley artist that has always been in love with felines, especially the big cats. After a visit to southern Africa in 2010, where she was privileged to participate in bush tracking of leopards with the Leopard Project at the Phinda Game Reserve, she became an avid supporter and volunteer to aid conservation of her favorite large cat --- the cheetah --- at the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Each of the last two years she has traveled to Namibia to aid in the rescue, healing, and care of cheetahs and has witnessed the morning cheetah exercise program, where the fastest land animals can reach speeds of 70 mph. With her ties to artist communities in the Hudson Valley, the KeepSafe Project emerged as Bari’s vision of joining local and remote forces to help save endangered species and their habitats around the world.

The KeepSafe Project is symbolized by wooden “keepsake” boxes, representing the project mission to keep wildlife safe by protecting them and their natural environments. Artists from around the Hudson Valley, and students and faculty of the Millbrook School will transform one hundred keepsake boxes into works of art --- “KeepSafe” boxes --- in the months leading up to the May 4, 2013 event at Millbrook School. Given Bari’s Italian heritage, artists have also answered the call from the Milan, Italy region and from the Italian community in southern California.

The completed boxes will be on display in shops and local businesses throughout the region, including Woodstock, Millbrook, Poughkeepsie, and Beacon during the month of April. The boxes can be viewed online at www.keepsafeproject.com, along with biographies of the participating artists and additional information about the upcoming event here at Millbrook.

The KeepSafe event will be held from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Millbrook and will include a reception, refreshments, and a presentation and discussion session with Dr. Marker. Personal tours will be available of the Trevor Zoo, hosted by Millbrook students. During the reception, guests will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction of the KeepSafe boxes. Net proceeds from this effort will be shared between the Cheetah Conservation Fund, the International Crane Foundation, and the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society Red Wolf Recovery Project.
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