Ohlone Audubon Society

Serving Southern and Eastern Alameda County

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March Membership Meeting: Birds and Rhinoceros Poaching in South Africa and Botswana
Tuesday 05 March 2019, 07:30pm
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Birds and Rhinoceros Poaching: The Best and Worst of South Africa and Botswana

Presenter: Jill Hedgecock
Location: Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444 East Avenue, Livermore CA 94550
Meeting room: Palo Verde

South Africa and Botswana are home to 829 and 550 bird species, respectively. As amazing as Africa’s abundant wildlife is, in 2015, a new record was set for the largest number of rhinoceros poached, fueled by the demand for their horns in Asian markets as an ingredient for traditional medicine. An ounce of rhinoceros horn, made up of essentially the same material as our fingernails, keratin, is considered more valuable than gold. A single rhinoceros horn can sell for a half-million dollars. If the rate of poaching in 2015 is not curtailed, wild rhinoceros could become extinct within the next few decades. Recently, rhinoceros poaching numbers have been decreasing and is the reason that there is still hope for this species.

Jill Hedgecock will present the myriad solutions that are being considered to address the rhinoceros poaching problem as well as pictures of Africa’s colorful birds; for example, the shimmering blue starlings, multi-colored lilac rollers, vibrant bee-eaters, and the Big Five: rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard, as well as the Ugly Five.  Jill has long-standing roots with the Mount Diablo Audubon Society, serving as the International Conservation Coordinator in the early 1990s and a long-term leader of the Black Diamond Mine Christmas Count Circle. She has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco. Jill’s recently published novel: Rhino in the Room, will be available for purchase and signing. A portion of the book sales will go towards rhinoceros conservation and educational organizations: International Rhino Foundation and Rhino Record.

Directions: From Hwy 580 in Livermore, Exit First Street / Springtown Blvd., RIGHT to 1st Street, LEFT on N. Mines Road, RIGHT on East Ave. Note: The front of the building has a tall flag pole. There are two parking lots for this large complex. Meeting place has the address “4444 East Ave” on the building.

 

Membership Meetings

Tue Apr 02 @ 7:30PM - 09:00PM
General Meeting

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