Zoo, Wildlife, and Conservation Careers Hosts Winter Clothing Drive for Wildlife Nonprofit in South America

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  Nonprofit leader smiles for a photo with the donations.
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In a heartwarming initiative aimed at supporting both people and wildlife, students from the Zoo, Wildlife, and Conservation Careers (ZWCC) program recently hosted a winter clothing drive to benefit children in Paraguay. The donations will be distributed by Dr. Rebecca Smith, a National Geographic Explorer and Executive Director of Para la Tierra, a wildlife nonprofit focused on conservation efforts in South America.

Dr. Smith joined the ZWCC class virtually from Paraguay on January 15, where she shared her primate research on hooded capuchin and howler monkeys. Her presentation also highlighted community outreach projects with local schools and the challenges faced in managing a nonprofit organization in South America. As part of the initiative, Dr. Smith will personally hand out the winter clothing donations to children in need, helping to keep them warm during the cold winter months.

Instructor Hannah Weigand, who has worked closely with Dr. Smith and Para la Tierra, shared a touching reflection on the importance of the drive. "In Paraguay, the Atlantic Forest is being rapidly deforested and less than 7% remains. It's easy to vilify those harming wildlife and the environment. However, people in these areas are often just trying to survive or lack the education to understand their impact," Weigand said.

Weigand continued, "How can we expect this community to learn about helping the Atlantic Forest and the monkeys when their basic needs are not met? By collecting winter clothes and working with Para la Tierra to distribute them, my students learned the importance of helping people to help animals."