Page 16 - August 2016 Life In Naples Magazine
P. 16
PANTHER PRIDE “Hodges University serves so many portions of the population, and
many of the people at Hodges who are pursuing a higher degree are already
ORGANIZATION BRINGS working within the community. They can easily share information with
others and that is useful for us,” Seamples explained.
AWARENESS TO
Educating drivers on the importance of slowing down to prevent panther
PANTHER fatalities on the road, as well as allowing parents to educate their children about
panthers and preservation efforts are just some of the ways Seamples sees the
CONSERVATION EFFORTS Hodges University community playing a role in saving the Florida panther.
I n an effort to promote community engagement “This is an effort that is happening very close to home. It is important that
among Hodges University students, faculty, staff and we have volunteers who can tell the story of the Florida panther,” she added.
alumni, the university has established Panther Pride.
In partnership with the Naples Zoo, Panther Pride officials With the creation of Panther Pride, Hodges and Naples Zoo officials plan
and volunteers will work to support panther conservation to coordinate various opportunities for members of the Hodges community
efforts in Southwest Florida. to educate, volunteer and be a part of panther conservation efforts in our area.
Inspired by an article featuring University of Missouri “We encourage students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Hodges
students working together to support conservation efforts University to join the Panther Pride team at one of our upcoming events,”
for the Bengal tiger, which is their school mascot, Hodges’ said Turner.
Dean of Students, Dr. Marcia Turner, presented a similar
idea to Hodges University officials. On Saturday, November 5, Naples Zoo will host the Florida Panther
Festival. In its fifth year, the family friendly event will include presentations
“Since our mascot, Hugo, is a panther, and since these in Safari Canyon focusing on panthers and conservation efforts, as well
animals are an endangered species,our efforts will be focused as talks from wildlife experts who will discuss pythons, bears, coyotes and
on panther conservation here in Southwest Florida,” said alligators.
Turner.
Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in “walking the
Hodges’ Chief Marketing Officer Karen Grebing panther mile” through the Gordon River Greenway Park and there will be a
agreed with the idea, saying, “I believe supporting panther field trip to the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve from 8:30
preservation is an excellent [project] choice. It is a very a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 6.
worthwhile cause that easily fits with our university mascot
and will be a wonderful story to tell.” Hodges University is requesting volunteers from our student and
alumni community to assist in conducting surveys to guests who arrive for
Grebing contacted Marci Seamples, the zoo’s director the festival. Volunteers will be stationed at the entrances and exits.
of development, to find out ways Hodges could help in
conservation efforts. Visit www.floridapantherfestival.com for complete details. For more
information on the Panther Pride organization, contact Nicole Roe at
“After speaking with Karen, we immediately began nroe@hodges.edu. To learn more about Uno and panther conservation in
working to schedule a meeting with Panther Pride Florida, visit www.napleszoo.org.
committee members to discuss opportunities for Hodges
and the Naples Zoo to work together on raising awareness
about panther conservation through volunteer opportunities
and community engagement,” said Seamples.
The Naples Zoo houses the only Florida panther, which
is named Uno. Uno arrived at the Naples Zoo in December
2014 after being shot and left to die. Rescued in October
2014 by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation biologists,
Uno, who was left blinded as a result of his injuries, received
proper care and treatment at the Animal Specialty Hospital
of Florida and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo before arriving at
Naples Zoo.
16 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2016
